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John Doe’s: 11 Chilling Celluloid Killers
Real Nightmare Killers
Hey look it's John Doe covered in blood
Apologies to regular readers for the lack of fresh celluloid musings around these parts. John Doe has again relocated geographically and metaphysically. Fear not though instead of a blank page, here is the reprint of an article that appeared on www.cavecc.com a few years ago...rest assured JD will return shortly with original content in the near future.
All too often the modern incarnation of The Serial Killer seems more akin to a one dimensional comic book villain than a human being. With IQ’s in the thousands and the ability to out wit police at every turn the genre has become a battle of clichés and hammy over acting.
Psychotic, sociopathic or mass murderers, I’m enthralled by the extremes of the humanity. Lacking discipline, self serving, damaged individuals who fulfil there sick needs at the expense of lives and innocence.
I hate it when Hitler is portrayed not as person but as symbol of evil, not observing what shaped him. When psychos are shown as cool, educated and clever instead of delving into the true nature of what motivates and creates them. The mysterious nature of what makes someone hunt humans as prey.
Reminding us we are all part of the animal kingdom, here are a few films that I think are realistically presented. Examining the roots of the problem and most importantly telling a good story with challenging substance and performances.
Peter Lorre searches for his defect in Fritz Lang's M
Starring: Peter Lorre as Hans Beckert
The granddaddy of all screen portrayals to come, Peter Lorre is still the benchmark on which a chilling and conflicted killer is measured. The ahead of it’s time subject matter portraits a child killer and rapist but gives equal time to the vigilante society that has taken the law into its own hands. You will never forget the terror in Lorre’s eyes when he looks into the mirror in a vain hope of finding what evil lurks beneath the skin.
DVd cover of Truman Capote's In Cold Blood
Starring: Robert Blake as Perry Smith and Scott Wilson as Richard Hitchcock
Truman Capote famously got up close and personal with these two products of society. Mirroring the Leopold and Loeb case, alone either one is relatively harmless, but together the two form a whole that is capable of horrific violence. Thoughtful performances allow us to see just how confused and complex their relationship was.
See Also: Alfred Hitchcock’s Rope
Tony Curtis in The Boston Strangler
Starring: Tony Curtis as Albert DeSalvo
Based on the real life case, Tony Curtis plays against type and makes the skin crawl as the handyman with uncontrollable urges.
Richard Attenborough as John Christie in 10 Rillington Place
Starring: Sir Richard Attenborough as John Christie
Inspired by one of Britain’s most heinous crimes, the outwardly meek and timid Christie as portrayed by Attenborough is a cowardly man whose weak appearance catches his prey off guard.
See Also: Alfred Hitchcock’s Psycho
Michael Rooker as Henry Lee Lucas
Starring: Michael Rooker as Henry Lee Lucas
This cold film doesn’t offer judgment nor does it censor itself for the sake of entertainment. Shot documentary style we watch as real life killer Henry Lee Lucas is portrayed as a man who treats killing as just another urge like eating and sleeping.
See Also: The Last Horror Movie
Man Bites Dog
Girl meets Boy.
Brian Cox as Hannibal Lecter
Starring: Brian Cox as Hannibal Lecter
Hannibal Lecter’s first big screen appearance sees Brian Cox choosing to underplay the role adding a menace lacking in Hopkins comedic Over the Top interpretation. Calculating and ice cold, with no emotional attachment and completely self aware he aids in the hunting down of his own kind, the Tooth Fairy (Tom Noonan)
Rutger Hauer as The Hitcher
Robert Harmon’s The Hitcher (1986)
Starring: Rutger Hauer as John Ryder
Inspiring countless films and sadly a copy cat killer in Central Australia in the 80’s, the open road has never been so frightening. Madman John Ryder on paper may seem like a cardboard cut out, thanks to Rutger Hauers loaded delivery and solid direction there is a genuine menace that is lacking in later attempts at the same story.
DVD Cover for Citizen X
Starring: Jeffery DeMunn as Andrei Chikatilo
This is a TV movie but being that it’s HBO you can rest assured it superior to most big screen contributions. The reason I list this is because of its unique story, based on fact. A Russian serial Killer in the 1980’s managed to chalk up more than 50 victims. Evading capture and operating under free reign, due to bureaucracy and the accepted belief that serial killers were a product of western culture only.
See Also: David Grieco’s Evil Enko starring Malcolm McDowell
DVD cover for Scrapbook
Starring: Tommy Bionodo as Leonard
First a warning, this film is not designed to entertain nor amuse, the actors are committed and we see full penetration rape and heinous acts of violence and degradation. As Clint Eastwood did for the Western genre, Director Eric Stanze says he made this film to demytholize the pop culture worship of serial killers.
Like Henry: Portrait of a Serial Killer, IMO he succeeds, exposing the primal creatures they are. As with any addicts lacking control we see that learning abuse as a child our killer perpetuates the cycle. Keeping a scrapbook of his exploits, crucially no one who sees it will think that serial killers are to be idolized or admired.
Bill Paxton and family in Frailty
Starring: Bill Paxton as Dad
A quality Tale from the Darkside, loving widowed father of 2 (Bill Paxton) has a dream in which god tells him to kill in his name. Bringing the boys along for the ride, it’s the duplicity and mixed motivations that put this character on my list. In his mind he is doing the moral thing by being an axe wielding maniac. You can read my review for the film @ Frailty
See Also: David Fincher’s Se7en
George Steven’s A Place in the Sun
Owen Wilson is The Minus Man
Starring: Owen Wilson as Vann Siegert
The fear in this film comes from the underplayed and subtle nature of Vann Siegert (Owen Wilson). A man, who on the outside seems like a genuinely nice and sincere person, if not a little shy. Inside is a controlled rage that seldom surfaces, gentle but deliberate. Bottom line this is not the face of a berserk man, he is a contemplative killer. Vann Siegert hides his nature deep inside and is ruthlessly focused on sustaining his veneer of normality.
Honourable mentions to Helter Skelter and Peeping Tom
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