Serial Killer Movies - Amanda Howard

AMANDA HOWARD

Text Box: Numbers: 10 Rillington Place - based on the case of John Christie, resident of the now famous address. A A Is for Acid - (2002-Made for TV) - The story of John George Haigh, the "Acid Bath Killer". He was hanged in England for his serial murders during 1949 Adam - (1983-Made for TV) - About the 1981 murder of little Adam Walsh in Florida. Serial killer Ottis Toole is the chief suspect in this crime. The disappearance of Adam Walsh captured America like no other case. An extremely moving telemovie about the case. L' Affaire Marie Besnard - (1986-French-Made for TV) - A TV movie about this French woman who was put on trial for the murders of 13 with poison between 1926 and 1950. Although substantial arsenic was found in all their bodies and she told a friend that she was guilty, Madame Besnard was never convicted due to faulty handling of the evidence. She also reportedly made some unsuccessful attempts to murder others. Albert Fish - (2007) -- Another docudrama by John Borowski, this one proves that the brilliant film HH Holmes was not a fluke. Albert Fish is a riveting journey into the horrific life of an elderly serial killer. If this were fiction, it would be unbelievable. However the innocuous facade hid the demented sadistic tastes of a madman. The detail of the film is incredible. Borowski should be commended for such a detailed account. No part of the man's life is forgotten, travelling from his early life to his later years as a depraved sadistic child killer. It begs the question how he was able to kill for so long. Being released from mental hospitals time and again. The film is truly a masterpiece of murderous proportions. A must see! www.albertfishfilm.com The Alphabet Killer - (2006) - A film about the Alphabet serial child murders of Rochester, New York from the early 1970s. Three little girls were slain in this appalling case and the killer was never caught. He's also called the Double Initials Killer because all of the victims' first and last names started with the same letter. The girls' bodies were also dumped in a suburb of the city whose name started with the corresponding initials. Alvin Karpis - (1952-Black&White-TV episodes) - The tale of Alvin "Creepy" Karpis, a sometime member of the multiple murdering "Ma" Barker Gang. This story took up two episodes of the Gang Busters television series. The Anatomist - (1961-Black&White) - One of several movies inspired by the Burke and Hare murder series in Edinburgh. Andrew Cunanan: Versace's Killer - (2003-TV episode) - About this roving murderer who killed more than just Versace. This program was one from the docudrama The World's Astonishing News! series. Angel of Death: The Beverly Allitt Story - (2005-Made for TV) - A depiction of the murders of Beverly Allitt. This nurse killed at least three young English hospital patients in 1991. Her methods were lethal injection and suffocation Anne of the Indies - (1951) - Although this film calls the title character Anne Providence, it is said to have been based on the career of Anne Bonny. As a teenager in the early 1700s, she supposedly murdered a family maid then ran off to join a band of pirates in the Caribbean where she continued her killing. This "strapping wench", as she was described, was caught and put in jail but escaped while awaiting her fate and was never recaptured. The Encyclopedia of Serial Killers lists her victims as "numerous". Arsenic and Old Lace - (1944-Black&White) - Based on a book that was based on the Vera Renzi murders. Later available in a colorized version. Arsenicum en Oude Kant - (1971-Dutch-Made for TV) - Based on a book that was inspired by the case of Vera Renczi, the Romanian woman who, in the early 1900s, killed 35 males and kept their bodies in her basement. Asesinos por naturaleza - (1995-Mexican) - A Spanish language film based in the Starkweather/Fugate case. Astonishing News! - (2002-Made for TV) - This movie was a pilot for a docudrama TV series mostly shown in Japan. It tells the tale of husband killer Audrey Marie Hilley. She is suspected by many of also causing the deaths of other family and "friends" with poison. At Close Range - Based on Bruce Johnston. Stars Sean Penn and Christopher Walken. The Atlanta Child Murders - (1985-Made for TV) - The Wayne Williams case. Not to be confused with a later TV movie about the same murders. This one gets my vote as the better of the two. B BTK Killer - (2005) - BTK Killer is panned by most reviewers. It is mediocre at it's very best, and completely incorrect and flawed at it's worst. Perhaps, if you wanted a movie on this case, I'd check out "The Hunt for the BTK Killer" which was a made for TV movie. Bad Lands - Based on Starkweather and Fugate, starring Sissy Spacek and and Martin Sheen. Based on the book by Michael Newton Barbe-bleue - (1901-French-Black& White-Silent) - A film based on a story that was supposedly inspired by the Fifteenth Century serial killer Gilles de Rais.. The Barrow Gang - (1952-Black&White-TV episode) - The murderous Bonnie and Clyde saga as an episode of the 30 minute Gang Busters TV series. The Barrow Gang - (1995) - A Long form movie about the Bonnie and Clyde murder series. Bathory - (2000) - Another film depicting the murders of Countess Erzsebet Bathory in 1600s Hungary. Bathory - (2007) - Still another film based on the killings of Erzsebet Bathory directed by Juraj Jakubisko. Bathory - (2007) - Yet another movie about the murders of Erzsebet Bathory this time directed by actress Julie Delpy. Belle Gunness - (2008) - Another in the works film about the title character serial killer. This proposed release date will be on the one hundredth anniversary of her disappearance. Berlin Jack the Ripper - (1909-Italian-Black&White-Silent) - Apparently about a Jack the Ripper inspired character, going only by the title. This movie is lost forever as far as anyone has been able to determine. Owing to the time it was produced, it was most likely a short film. ^ Beyond Suspicion - (1993-Made for TV) - Said to be based on the serial slayings of St. Louis dentist Glennon Engleman. The doctor is believed to have killed at least seven during the 1954-1980 time frame and got multiple life terms. Birdman of Alcatraz - (1962-Black&White) - Although this film pretty much ignores it, Robert Stroud killed at least two men, one to put him in this California prison and one to keep him there. A good movie at any rate.^ Black Dahlia Avenger - (2008) - Another in the works film about the killer of Elizabeth Short in 1947. This production also names the slayer as a serial killer responsible for the murders of several other women from the same era. The Black Dahlia - (2006) - A film based on the 1947 murder of Elizabeth Short. Again, a crime that some think was one of a series of slayings. This movie about "The Black Dahlia Murder" is a version of the James Ellroy hard boiled semi-fiction novel of the same name. This version stars Scarlett Johansson and Josh Hartnett and is directed by Brian De Palma and is a far superior version than the 2005 film by Ulli Lommell. Black Dahlia - (2005) - Directed by Ulli Lommell, this is yet another version of the "Black Dahlia". A particularly brutal (and unsolved) murder of Elizabeth Short in 1947. Some conclude that the murderer was a serial killer. The Black Dahlia - (1988-TV episode) - Workers unearth an old skeleton. Detectives realise that it's another victim of the murderer who killed Elizabeth Short, the Black Dahlia, and perhaps others in 1947. The perpetrator, who's now an old man, is found. This is an episode of the Hunter series starring Fred Dryer. The Black Panther - (1977) - Donald Neilson, the English serial killer, robber and kidnapper who operated in the mid-1970s. Will not disappoint. Black Widow Murders: The Blanche Taylor Moore Story - (1993-Made for TV) - About Blanche Taylor Moore, the North Carolina women who began killing people with poison in the middle 1960s. OK for a TV movie. Blanche Fury - (1948) - Based on a 1848 mass murder committed by James Rush in England. He's also been named as a suspect in at least one other killing. Bloodthirsty Butchers - (1970) - Another flick inspired by English Pre-Regency serial killer Sweeney Todd. Bloody Mama - (1970) - A low budget Roger Corman film depicting the exploits of Ma Barker and her sons. The band is believed to be responsible for about a dozen murders in Middle America during the 1920s and 30s. Bluebeard - (1909-Black&White-Silent) - Today we think of Henri Landru when we encounter the name Bluebeard but prior to 1920 that was the nickname assigned to Gilles de Rais, the French serial child killer from the 1400s. This film may have told his story but, since little is known about it, we are left with just conjecture at present. Bluebeard - (1944-Black&White) - A film said to be loosely inspired by the murders of Henri-Desire Landru. Bluebeard - (1962-French) - A film detailing the slayings of Henri Landru in France at about the time of World War One. Very good. Bluebeard's Ten Honeymoons - (1960-Black&White) - Another film based on the murders of Henri Landru. George Sanders is good in this OK movie. The Body Snatcher - (1945-Black&White) - A film based on the writings of Robert Louis Stevenson which were inspired by the Burke and Hare murders. Outstanding! The Body Snatcher - (2009) - Scheduled for next year, this movie is reportedly inspired by the Burke and Hare murders.—Another one on my to see list. Bonnie and Clyde - (1967) - The Parker-Barrow gang crimes in 1930s middle America, starring Warren Beatty and Faye Dunaway. An extremely stylish movie with an unforgettable shot-out ending. The pair are not generally thought of as serial killers but they fit the definition in every way. Won several academy awards. Bonnie and Clyde: Desperado - (1993-Direct to Video) - This is a pornographic movie about the roving band of killers known as the Parker/Barrow gang. Lots of shooting in this one but not always with firearms. The Bonnie Parker Story - (1958-Black&White) - This is an early version depicting the exploits of roving killer/bandits Bonnie and Clyde Barrow. Better than one would expect. Bonnie and Clyde: The True Story - (1992) - The murder spree of the Barrow/Parker gang again. Bonnie and Clyde: The True Story - (1992) - The murder spree of the Barrow/Parker gang again. The Book of Manson - (1989) - Another film about the Charles Manson Case. Borderland - (2008) - A film based on the activities of the serial killing cult at Matamoros, Mexico during the 1980s. Borderline Cult - (2007-Direct to DVD) - Yet another movie about the series of hundreds of murders in Juarez, Mexico over the past fifteen years. Born In Hell - (1976) - Said to be loosely based on the murders of Richard Speck. The Boston Strangler (1968) - starring Tony Curtis as Albert DeSalvo. The Boston Strangler - (2006-Direct to Video) - Mauro Lannini stars as the killer who terrorized the Massachusetts capital in the early 1960s. It won't be the original with Tony Curtis. See that one, not this one. Boston Strangler –The untold story - (2008-Direct to DVD) - An account of the 1960s murders for which Albert DeSalvo has been blamed. The Boys from Brazil - (1978) - Dr. Josef Mengele^ The Brides in the Bath - (2003-Made for TV) - This is a film about George Joseph Smith. He had a habit of drowning his wives in the bathtub shortly after the wedding. The crimes occurred in England during the early 1900s. The Bronx Is Burning - (2007-TV miniseries) - An eight part production about the 1977 march of the New York Yankees to the baseball World Series laid over a subplot of the Son of Sam murder spree perpetrated by David Berkowitz. B.T.K. Killer - (2005-TV episode) - The story of Dennis Rader. This program was one in the docudrama series The World's Astonishing News! which was mostly shown in Japan although the actors were English speaking. Burke and Hare - (1971) - This a movie about Scottish serial killing partners William Burke and William Hare, who murdered unsuspecting drunks to sell to Dr Knox for use in the anatomical classes. Butterbox Babies - (1995-Made for TV) - The story of William and Lila Young who were believed to be responsible for the deaths of more than 100 infants inside their maternity home in Eastern Canada. Mr. and Mrs. Young were engaged in a "baby farming" scheme between 1927 and 1947. Infants who were not deemed desirable for adoption were either killed or allowed to die from neglect. A good TV movie, a favourite of my sister. Bye Bye Bluebeard - (1949-Animated-Short) - A Porky Pig cartoon in which he is confronted by a killer called Bluebeard, a name most commonly associated with Henri Landru.^ C Camp Blood 3-D - (1999-3D-Direct to Video) - A youth killing clown in this film is reminiscent of John Wayne Gacy. I guess you could also include IT on this list, but I haven't. Cannibal! The Musical- (1998) - A musical about the Alfred Packer case by and starring the South Park guys Trey Parker and Matt Stone. I am a big South Park fan, so I loved this film. Very tongue in cheek, but a lot of fun. The Capture of the Green River Killer - (2008-Made for Cable) - A story about the hunt for this Seattle serial killer from the 1980s. The Case of Charles Peace - (1949-Black&White) - About the murders of Englishman Charles Peace during the 1870s. A real find. This one is great! Ceremonia Sangrienta - (1973-Spanish) - Yet another depiction of the murders of medieval serial slayer Erzsebet Bathory. The Chalkpit Murder - (1976-TV episode) - The story of Thomas John Ley who, along with an accomplice, murdered a man in 1946. He was convicted and died in an insane asylum a year later. Mr. Ley was also a very strong suspect in two earlier Australian murders. This one hour program was an episode of the British TV series Killers. Champagnelopp - (1975-Swedish) - A sex farce in which a man moves into a home and finds out it is being used as a hideout by Jack the Ripper. Chicago Massacre: Richard Speck - (2007-Direct to DVD) - Based on the Richard Speck murders that most believe were the climax to a series of slayings. Citizen X (1995)- The story of Andrei Chikatilo. Stars: Donald Sutherland and Stephen Rea. One of the Best serial killer films ever made. I rank this film up there with Young Poisoner's Handbook as one of the best. City of Fear - (1980-Made for TV) - Although the killings are transplanted to another metropolis, some say this film is loosely based on the "Son of Sam" case. Confessions of a Serial Killer (1985) - Henry Lee Lucas. Made after Henry:Portrait, but is more along the lines of the murders by Henry Lee Lucas. I also think the actor is a pretty good double for Lucas Countess Dracula - (1972) - Extremely loosely based on the crimes of Countess Erzsebet Bathory. Criminal - (1995-Indian) - This is a version of the Fugitive from the subcontinent. The original movie was said to be based on the Marilyn Sheppard murder case. Many think she was killed by reputed serial killer Richard Eberling. Cronicas - (2004-Mexican) - A film that parallels the case of prolific South American serial child killer Pedro Lopez. Known as the "Monster of the Andes", he's believed to have killed hundreds in the latter part of the twentieth century. The killer is called the "Monster of Babahoyo", an Ecuadorian village, in this movie. Cruel Deception - (2003-Made for TV) - The story of prolific American serial killer James DeBardeleben II. His horrors began in 1965 and weren't stopped until 1983. Cruising - (1980) - Inspired by the homosexual slasher murders in New York City during the 1970s. The six original slayings are technically unsolved, although, most police think that a man named Paul Bateson, who was convicted of a similar crime, is their man. Good. The Curse of the Zodiac (2007) - Another attempt by director Ulli Lommel at the Zodiac case. I look forward to seeing this one, he has to do better than last time. D D. C. Sniper: 23 Days of Fear - (2003-Made for TV) - The D. C. Snipers in this film are more interesting than the lawmen who are trying to catch them. Dahmer (2002)- Based on the case of Jeffrey Dahmer - many people's opinions on this movie's quality differ, personally I found it VERY disappointing. Daisy de Melker - (1993-Made for TV) - This is a movie about a female serial killer. She's believed to have killed six family members between 1909 and 1931 in South Africa. Daisy de Melker was hanged for her murders in 1932. Dan Morgan - (1911-Black&White-Silent) - A film about Daniel "Mad" Morgan, the Australian bushranger and roving killer who was finally brought down in 1865. A Date with Destiny - (1941-Black&White) - A movie said to have been based on Bela Kiss, the serial killer who did his deeds in Hungary just prior to World War One. He was never captured despite reported sightings into the late 1950's. Daughters of Darkness - (1971-Belgian) - The Erzsebet Bathory murders Dead Beat - Based on Charles Schmid Deadly - (2005) - An in-the-works movie about Canadian serial killing duo Paul Bernardo and Karla Homolka who murdered three women between 1990 and 1992. Deadly Medicine - (1991-Made for TV) - Genene Jones, the Texas nurse who gave lethal injections to children around 1980. Suspected of many murders, convicted of two. The Deadly Tower - About Charles Whitman the mass murderer in Texas- with Kurt Russell Death Benefit - (1996-Made for Cable) - In both California and Kentucky, Virginia Rearden killed three people for their insurance between 1972 and 1987. Death Hunt - (1981) - Charles Bronson stars as Albert Johnson the so-called "Mad Trapper". In the early 1930s over a five week period, he murdered two Canadian lawmen before he was hunted down and killed. Death of a Soldier - (1986) - In 1942, U. S. Army Private Edward Leonski was accused of killing three women in Melbourne to, as he claimed, possess their voices. This is the recounting of the crimes, trial and execution of the "Singing Strangler". Death Scream - (1975-Made for TV) - Based on the 1964 murder of Kitty Genovese on the streets of New York. Winston Moseley was convicted of this slaying and confessed to two others. Check out a 3/4 scale Helen Hunt in this one. Death Hunt - (1981) - Charles Bronson stars as Albert Johnson the so-called "Mad Trapper". In the early 1930s over a five week period, he murdered two Canadian lawmen before he was hunted down and killed. Deep Crimson - (1996-Mexican) - Based on the Raymond Fernandez and Martha Beck murders. The Deliberate Stranger - Ted Bundy - stars Mark Harmon as Bundy. A good film worth seeing. Der Briefbomber - (2000-German-Made for TV) - About Franz Fuchs, the Austrian mail bomber who killed several in the 1990s. Desire Landru - (2005-French-Made for TV) - Another production about France's Bluebeard Killer. El Destripador - (1914-Mexican-Black&White-Silent) - This film is believed to be based on the Jack the Ripper murders. The title translates "The Ripper". It was recently discovered in a movie advertisement on a Mexican pamphlet of the time. It's touted as a two parter; two reels perhaps? No print of this film is believed extant.^ Der Dirnenmorder von London - (1975-German) - A German view of Jack the Ripper. Better than average. Deranged - Based on Ed Gein Le Docteur Petiot - (1990-French) - About the French doctor who duped many of his fellow citizens to their doom during World War Two. The Demon Barber - (1899-Black&White-Silent) - This film is documented, although, it is believed to be lost and/or destroyed. The title strongly indicates that it was based on the career of Sweeney Todd, the serial killer from 1790s England, who was often referred to as "the demon barber of Fleet Street". He was the subject of literature beginning soon after his execution in 1802 and was depicted in stage plays starting in 1847. This was almost surely a short film as were most, if not all, from this era. The format of black and white is an assumption. There were films from this age that were shot on tinted celluloid as well as some that were even colorized by hand, using transparent paint on the frames The Demon Barber of Fleet Street - (1936-Black&White) - Loosely based on the case of Englishman Sweeney Todd who was alleged to have murdered 160 people between 1784 and 1801. The Devil Strikes at Midnight (Nachts, wenn der Teufel kam ) - (1959) - About Bruno Ludke, the prolific German serial killer who committed his crimes before and during World War Two. Critically acclaimed.^ The Devil in the White City - (2009) - This is the true story of a diabolical serial killer and the events surrounding him during the 1893 Chicago World's Fair. Herman W. Mudgett turned the "white city" red inside his famous "murder castle" and it didn't start or stop there. Die Buechse der Pandora - (1928-German-Black&White-Silent) - The legendary Louise Brooks stars as a fallen woman who winds up as a victim of Jack the Ripper in this G. W. Pabst expressionist classic. GREAT!! Dirty Harry - (1971) - The title character chases a man said to be based on California's Zodiac Killer. Clint Eastwood stars in this great classic. Dr. Holmes - (2010) - A yet to be titled film on the subject of the 1890s Chicago World's Fair and the serial killer, Dr. H. H. Holmes aka Herman Mudgett, who operated in its wake. This is said to be a Leonardo DiCaprio project and is reportedly due out the year following a similar release being forwarded by Tom Cruise. Doctor X - (1932-Two Color Process) - In this film, the title character lures his prey to their doom. The story has some parallels with the infamous Hermann Mudgett aka Dr. H. H. Holmes who did likewise in Chicago during the 1890s.^ The Doctor and the Devils - (1985) - Based on William Burke and William Hare who killed people in Scotland and sold their remains to a doctor for his medical study during the 1820s. Well worth your time. Doomed to Die - (1940-Black&White) - In 1934, George Rogers is believed to have set fire to the cruise ship Morro Castle off the East coast of the U.S. which killed 134 people. He later went on to attempt to kill another man and to murder two others. This film uses newsreel footage of the ship burning, though, they call it the Wentworth Castle. The killer in the movie is not called Rogers but he also tries to murder another man and kills two more. What makes this unusual is that Rogers did not commit his last two murders until after this movie was released. So you could say this was film about a serial killer as well as a serial killer about a film. A better than average B movie. Dragnet 1966 - (1969-Made for TV) - Inspired by the Harvey Glatman case. Not sure why a 1969 movie has 1966 in the title E Eaten Alive (1976) - Reportedly inspired by the murders committed by Texas bar owner Joe Ball in the 1930's who killed his waitresses and fed them to his pet alligators. ^ Ed Gein - A movie that covers the few weeks in which Ed Gein murders two women. Does several flash back to his childhood and grave robbing. Make Gein out to be almost autistic, instead of just a country-bumpkin-cum-killer. Starring: Steve Railsback. Ed Gein: The Butcher of Plainfield - (2007-Direct to DVD) - Yet another rendition of the Ed Gein murders. Better done than you'll probably expect. Eileen Wuornos - (2003-TV episode) - A production about the serial killing title character. This program was one from the docudrama The World's Astonishing News! series. Ein Leben kurze Hosen tragen - (2002-German) - The story of teenage serial child torture slayer Jurgen Bartsch who killed four boys in Germany during 1967. While in prison, he died during a voluntary surgical castration procedure in 1978. Ein Leben kurze Hosen tragen - (2002-German) - The story of teenage serial child torture slayer Jurgen Bartsch who killed four boys in Germany during 1967. While in prison, he died during a voluntary surgical castration procedure in 1978. El Asesino del Zodiaco - (1992-Mexican) - Said to be based on the murders of the California Zodiac Killer. Evilenko - (2004) - A film based on Russian serial killer Andrei Chikatilo's crimes. Malcolm McDowell portrays the murderer in this production. The Executioner's Song - (1982) - The Gary Gilmore murders and his execution in Utah. This guy fits the minimal definition of a serial killer as per The National Institute of Justice. A good movie. Stars Tommy Lee Jones. F Factor X - (2010) - This future release film is about the hunt for the Wichita serial murderer known as BTK. Please also see my article with the Same title. Factor X Fashion Victim - (2007) - ther depiction of the Andrew Cunanan murder series. The FBI Story-Alvin Karpis - (1974-Made for TV) - A movie about the pursuit of Alvin "Creepy" Karpis who was at one time a member of the "Ma" Barker Gang, a band which was responsible for at least eleven murders in the 1920s and 30s. His other claim to fame was that he was supposedly the man who taught Charles Manson how to play the guitar when the future guru was imprisoned for one of his early crimes. The Feast of the Assumption - New up-and-coming film maker Marc Levitz, has sent me a link for his new film The Feast of the Assumption. 'Feast' is about BTK. The preview for the doco/film shows great promise. Check it out: www.unsubfilms.com (go to PROJECTS and click on the miniposter.) Freeway - (about the reaction when a runaway child hits the road and becomes friend with the notorious I-10 killer with Reese Witherspoon and Kiefer Sutherland) Frenzy - (1972) - Said to have been based on the Thames Nude Murderer a.k.a. Jack the Stripper who killed at least six prostitutes in the early 1960s. The case was never solved. Very good. Alfred Hitchcock's penultimate film. From Hell (2001) - One theory of the identity of Jack the Ripper. Not a bad movie. Stars Johnny Depp, and Robbie Coltrane. Take out Heather Graham and it would have been a far better film. The Fugitive - (1993) - Based on the 1954 Ohio murder of Marilyn Sheppard. Some think that Richard Eberling, who is believed responsible for other murders, did this one as well. G Gacy (Also called Crawlspace)- based on John Gacy. Not bad. Better than other recent releases. The Gainesville Ripper - (2007) - The story of murderer Danny Rolling who went on a killing spree in Louisiana and Florida during 1989-1990. The Gainesville Killer - (2006-TV episode) - Danny Rolling was known as The Gainesville "Killer" or more often "Ripper". This program was one from the docudrama The World's Astonishing News! series. Gesche Gottfried - (1978-German-Made for TV) - This is a production about the title character who confessed to poisoning sixteen people in Germany during the 1820s. She met her end on the chopping block in 1928. Gesche's Poison - (1997-German) - Another movie about the female poisoner Gesche (or Gessina) Gottfried. She admitted to killing 16 and was executed. The Green River Killer? - (2005?-Made for TV) - This is a, yet to be titled, in the works, four hour ABC miniseries about Gary Leon Ridgeway.^ Green River Killer - (2005-Direct to Video) - Another rendition of the Gary Ridgway saga. This one is not a favourite of the critics. The Good Doctor Bodkin-Adams - (1986-Made for TV) - A movie about John Bodkin-Adams, an English doctor who was accused of killing many of his elderly patients with poison in the 1950s. He was, however, acquitted when the Crown was unsuccessful in convincing a jury of that charge beyond a reasonable doubt. When he died in 1982, a newspaper headline screamed 'Did this man get away with murder?' The Greed of William Hart - (1948-Black&White) - Although the names are slightly altered, this film was based on the Burke and Hare case of the 1820s. Guang Zhou sha ren wang zhi ren pi ri ji - (1995-Chinese) - This is an exploitation film, which was made in Hong Kong, that features lots of gratuitous gore and nudity. It, perhaps, even leans toward the "Violent Pink" genre. It appears to have been inspired by the Guangzhou Ripper, a serial killer who prowled that region of China which was previously known as Canton. In 1992, his seventh female victim floated down the Zhu River and was found in Hong Kong itself. After this film was released, a man named Li Wenxian was captured after failing to kill a fourteenth victim and sentenced to death for the murders. Guilty or Innocent: The Sam Sheppard Murder Case - (1975-Made for TV) - The Marilyn Sheppard murder which may have been done by Richard Eberling.^ Gun Crazy - (1949-Black & White) - This excellent film noir classic stars Peggy Cummins and John Dall as a killing couple who have been likened to Bonnie Parker and Clyde Barrow. Gunness Murder Farm - (1908-Black&White-Silent) - A depiction of events surrounding Belle Gunness who murdered untold numbers of men in Indiana until her disappearance in 1908. She also dispatched several of her family members. Guyana: Crime of the Century - (1970) - A film based on the Jim Jones murder case that came out the same year as the TV movie. Stuart Whitman stars as the apocalyptic preacher in this one. H Hanlon: In Defence of Minnie Dean - (1985-Made for TV) - The case of Williamina Dean, a practitioner of the, by all indications, now extinct crime of baby farming. She was convicted of murder after several infants were found buried in her flower garden. Minnie was hanged in 1895 and still holds the distinction of being the only woman to be executed in New Zealand. The Happy Face Murders - (1999-Made for Cable) - The Keith Jesperson murders in the western United States during the 1990s. So so. He Walked by Night - (1948-Black&White) - This film noir classic is based on the "career" of Erwin Walker in 1946 Los Angeles. Described as a burglar-turned-serial-killer, Walker was a war hero and diabolical electronics wizard who took the wrong path^ Helter Skelter - Based on the Mason murders - Stars Steve Railsback who also plays Gein. Helter Skelter - (2004-Made for TV) - A remake of the 1976 miniseries, this time starring Jeremy Davies as Charles Manson. The Helter Skelter Murders - (1970-Black&White) - The first film about the Charles Manson case. Contains some brief color footage. The Helter Skelter Murders (1988) - Another film about the Manson murders. Henry: Portrait of a Serial Killer (1985) - Everyone has seen this movie, not as good as the hype , but well worth seeing. Henry Portrait of a Serial Killer 2: Mask of Sanity - (1996) - Henry Lee Lucas The Hillside Stranglers based on the murders by Angelo Buono and Ken Bianchi staring Billy Zane as Bianchi and also stars Richard Crenna The Hillside Strangler - (2004) - Although the same title and year of another feature, a different rendition of the Bianchi/Buono murders, this time directed by Chris Fisher. The Hillside Strangler - (2004-Direct to DVD) - A release that concentrates solely on murderers Bianchi and Buono as opposed to the investigation of their slayings. OK if you want something more graphic the TV movie about the same events. Highwaymen - (2003) - The story of a hit-and-run serial killer. This film has commonalties with a spate of unsolved murders in California in 1991 where the victims were run down by a man driving a car. In three separate incidents, two female joggers and a male bicyclist were killed in what are believed to be intentional but random acts. The Hitch-Hiker - (1953-Black&White) - Based on the Middle American murders of William Cook in the early 1950s. Well directed by the much underrated Ida Lupino. H.H. Holmes This film is an amazing journey into the crimes of H.H.Holmes. And a must for any true serial killer/true crime fan. I wish others made films like this. I really enjoyed this film. For a first time director/film-maker it far surpassed any expectations. The scenes were brilliantly acted, the crimes re-enacted perfectly and the settings perfect. Honeymoon Killers - based on the case of Martha Beck and Ray Fernandez. The Hunt for the BTK Killer - (2005-Made for TV) - A movie due to be broadcast this October about the pursuit of Dennis Rader, the BTK murderer. The title is a little redundant since the K stands for Kill. The Hunt For the Boston Strangler - (2007-Made for TV) - Another view of the Strangler Case and whether it was really DeSalvo who was responsible. I I Can't Sleep (J'ai pas sommeil) - (1995-French) - Two Frenchmen, Thierry Paulin and Jean-Thierry Mathurin, killed many elderly women in the 1980s. Pretty good. I Want to Live - (1958-Black&White) - Barbara Graham's gang killed a California woman in 1953. They also committed an earlier murder, so she could qualify if she was involved in both. Susan Hayward won the Oscar for this one. I Want to Live - (1983-Made for TV) - A better than average TV remake of the earlier movie about the Barbara Graham case. Il Mostro di Firenze - (1986-Italian) - A sort of Giallo genre True-Crime film about the "Monster of Florence", the serial killer who terrorized tourists around that Italian city during the 1960s, 70s and 80s. Some maintain that the case has been solved; others aren't so sure. Ilsa, She Wolf of the SS - (1974) - A soft-core porn exploitation film based on the career of Ilsa Koch, the sadistic wife of a NAZI concentration camp commandant. The buxom star in this movie presides over a concentration camp that seems to be only for women with large breasts. Mrs. Koch was even more horrendous than the character in this production and was eventually convicted of war crimes. The Investigation - Clifford Olson case in Canada based on the book Where Shadows Linger J Jack el Destripador de Londres - (1972-Spanish) - This is a Spanish view of Jack the Ripper. Jack the Ripper* - Good dramatisation of the case. Stars: Michael Caine, Armand Assante and others. A personal fav, but the BBC always know how to put on a lavish show. With Michael Caine, playing a drunk cockney - just added to the mix, I believe his Abbberline far easier than Depp's portrayal in From Hell. Jack the Ripper - (1960-Black&White) - A slightly updated version of earlier Jack the Ripper films. Especially remembered for its final death scene which is the only part of the movie in color. Jack the Ripper - (2006-TV Miniseries) - An eight part BBC miniseries about the elusive 1888 serial killer. Since this is still in the works, the title could change before release. Shane Richie is said to be starring as Inspector Abberline here. Let's all pray that they give us something other than another lame "solution" involving Sir William Gull. Jack the Ripper - (2008) - The title and release date might not be quite correct here because of sketchy information. This movie about this 1888 serial killer is due to start filming this year. Australian glamour model Emily Scott is named as a cast member. Jeffrey Dahmer: The Secret Life - (1992-Direct to Video) - The best Jeffrey Dahmer movie to date. The actor portrays Dahmer in a better, more accurate light. Jeremiah Johnson - (1972) - This film doesn't exactly put a smiley face on a serial killer but it certainly puts a positive spin on one. It's based on the career of "mountain man" John Johnson. After his Indian wife was reportedly killed by Native Americans, Johnson launched a personal war of genocide against that race from 1843 to 1878. His tally has been estimated at between 200 and 400. Due to his practice of cannibalizing the corpses of his victims, he was also known as "Liver-eating" Johnson. Juarez Mexico - (2008-Direct to DVD) - A DVD release based on the numerous recent unsolved, probably, serial murders in the title town. I've yet to see a good review of this movie. K Kalifornia - (1993) - Said to have been inspired by the Starkweather/Fugate murder series, though such a juxtaposition is extremely reaching. Nevertheless is a superb movie, well worth viewing. Stars Brad Pitt, David Duchovny and Juliette Lewis. Karla - (2005) - A film that depicts the crimes committed by Karla Homolka and Paul Bernardo, who murdered two girls in Canada during the 1990's. Karla younger sister was also a victim following her accidental death at their hands. The scene is set with Karla's interview for parole with flashbacks to the crimes and the abuse she suffered at Bernardo's hands. Quite a good movie, without the big budget. Killer: A Journal of Murder (1996) - Based on Panzram's biography starring James Woods as Panzram with Robert Sean Leonard as his jailer. An extremely good movie. A Killer in the Family - (1983-Made for TV) - The murders committed by Gary Tison and his associates in the western U. S. during the 1960s and 1970s. Good cast for a TV movie. Killer Pickton - (2005) - A film about Canadian serial killer Robert "Willy" Picton. He's believed to have murdered dozens of women in the 1980s and 90s and buried them on his pig farm - though rumours abound about him feeding them to the pigs. Another film directed by Ulli Lommel. This movie was banned in many countries. It is obviously a MUST SEE!!!! Knife in the Darkness - (1968-TV episode) - Jack the Ripper is on the run and in America in this episode of the Cimarron Strip TV series. The Krays- (1990) - A film about Reg and Ron Kray, the twin brothers that headed up an organized crime gang in London during the 1960s. Each committed at least one murder separately and these were perpetrated for the good of the pair. I highly recommend this excellent movie. L L' Affaire des Poisons - (1955-French) - A film about Catherine Deshayes, aka La Voisin, the Parisian "witch" who admitted to having a hand in more than 2,500 killings committed by various means. She was burned at the stake in 1680. Landru, der Blaubart von Paris - (1922-Austrian-Black&White-Silent) - I say black and white when technically it's called monochrome/grayscale but, at any rate, this film depicts the career of the title character. It was released the year Henri was beheaded. Le Avventure di Mary Read - (1961-Italian) - A female pirate and contemporary of Anne Bonny, Mary Read killed her way across the Caribbean. She was eventually captured and died in prison of natural causes in 1721. The Encyclopedia of Serial Killers lists the number of her victims as "several". Le Juge et l'assassin - (1976-French) - A film based on the career of the "French Ripper", Joseph Vacher, who terrorized the countryside in the 1890s. He claimed that he'd survived a case of rabies and that this was the reason for his madness. Le Vampire de Dusseldorf - (1965-Spanish) - A depiction of German serial murderer Peter Kurten who horribly lived up to his nom de meurtre, "The Dusseldorf Vampire". He was beheaded for his crimes in 1931. Leatherface: The Texas Chainsaw Massacre 3 - (1990) - Ed Gein Legacy of Sin: The William Coit Story - (1995-Made for TV) - A depiction black widow killer Jill Coit who killed husbands in both Texas and Colorado in 1969 and 1976. Legend of Alfred Packer - (1980) - In 1874, while traveling in Colorado, Alfred Packer and his group became stranded so he killed off all of his companions and ate them. Mediocre would be generous. The Legend of Blood Castle - (1972-Italian) - Based on Countess Erzsebet Bathory, the Hungarian aristocrat who was believed to have slain upwards of 650 young ladies in the 1600s so that she could bathe in their blood. OK perhaps. L'Elegant Criminel - (1992-French) - About Pierre Lacenaire, the French serial killer who confessed to murdering three people in the early 1830s. Very very good. Les Enfants du paradis - (1945-French-Black&White) - A film about Pierre Francois Lacenaire who killed at least three in and around Paris in the 1830s. He later went to the guillotine. This movie was made around the end of German occupied Vichy France but is not generally regarded as an example of Vichy cinema. The Life and Crimes of William Palmer - (1998-Made for TV) - Dr. William Palmer who poisoned numerous people to death in England during the middle 1800s. First rate for a TV movie. The Life of Charles Peace - (1905-Black&White-Silent) - This film tells the story of the British crook who killed at least two people on separate occasions. Since this film is thought to be lost, the black and white medium is just a presumption. It could have been another type of monochrome such as sepia. Like Mother, Like Son: The Strange Story of Sante and Kenny Kimes - (2001-Made for TV) - Sante and Kenny Kimes were a mother son con team who are suspected of committing three murders. A good TV movie. The Limbic Region - loosely based on the Zodiac Killings starring Edward James Olmos A Little Thing Called Murder - (2006-Made for TV) - About traveling mother/son killing duo Sante and Kenny Kimes. The Lodger - (1932-Black&White) - Jack the Ripper. A sort-of remake of the Hitchcock silent film. Has the harsh sounding audio of most early talkies.

The Lodger - (1944-Black&White) - Jack the Ripper. A sort-of remake of a remake, however, this one is pretty good. The Lodger - (1926-Black&White-Silent) - Inspired by the Jack the Ripper murders, this movie has been remade several times with sound. It's Alfred Hitchcock's third film and his first in the suspense genre that he's known for today. Excellent as one would expect. Don't be put off because it's silent, you won't care. So many films with teh same name. This is the BEST by FAR and a MUST for all movie buffs. The Lodger - (2007) - Another remake of the Alfred Hitchcock silent film due for next year. As with the original, it's based on the Jack the Ripper Case. Lonely Hearts - (2007) Starring John Travolta, James Gandolfini, Jared Leto and Salma Hayek. The story of serial killing partners Raymond Fernandez and Martha Beck is brought to life. The couple were executed in the electric chair at Sing Sing in 1951. It will be interesting to see Hayek play Beck Longford - (2006-Made for TV) - A film about serial killers Ian Brady and Myra Hindley as well as the attempts of Lord Longford to win a reprieve for, particularly, the latter. Los Crimenes de Petiot - (1973-Spanish) - A film based on the career of Dr. Marcel Petiot, the WWII era serial killer. French justice exacted its revenge in 1946. Love Lies Bleeding - (1999) - This film shows a rendition of events surrounding the Jack the Ripper murders in 1888. Lulu - (1978) - A sound remake of Die Buchse der Pandora, the German silent film about a self destructive fallen woman who meets Jack the Ripper and is dispatched by him as a result. Lulu - (1979-French-Made for TV) - An opera based production about a loose woman who's the prey of Jack the Ripper. Lulu - (1980-French) - Another sound remake of the German expressionistic silent movie Die Buchse der Pandora. Again, the title character of the film pays the price for her immoral lifestyle by being menaced and ultimately slain by Jack the Ripper. Lulu - (1996-German-Made for TV) - Another version of the story of a fallen woman who ended up a victim of Jack the Ripper. A rendition of the opera of the same name. Lulu - (2006-German-Made for TV) - Another version of the story about a woman who sinks into an immoral life and winds up being killed by Jack the Ripper. M M (1931) - Stars Peter Lorre as German serial killer Peter Kurten. Directed by Fritz Lang. An absolute masterpiece of film noir. M - (1951-Black&White) - An inferior remake of the 1931 classic based on the murders of the Dusseldorf Vampire, Peter Kurten.^ Ma Barker's Killer Brood - (1960-Black&White-Made for TV-Serial) - This B movie about the serial killing Barker gang was the spliced and edited aggregate of a made for TV serial. Mack the Knife- (1990) - A version of Bertold Brecht's musical The Threepenney Opera said to have been inspired by the Jack the Ripper case. Mad Dog Morgan - (1976) - About Daniel Morgan, the bushranger who killed several people while roaming Australia in the middle 1800s. Make It a Double - (1981-TV episode) - A one hour program about Neville George Clevely Heath, the sadistic killer of English women in 1946. The title comes from his request for a second shot of brandy on the way to the gallows. This program was one of the series entitled Lady Killers. The Man in the Attic (1953-Black&White) - Jack Palance plays Jack the Ripper in this one. Pretty good. Manhunt (2001) - Based on Richard Ramirez Mania - (1960) - This movie is based on the murders of William Burke and William Hare, the duo who killed people in 1820s Scotland so that they could sell the bodies to a doctor for medical study. The Maniac Barber (1899) - Possibly another name for the film The Demon Barber (1899). Manson Murders - Charles Manson The Manson Family - (2003) - A blood bath of murder, extremely violent. Not much story. Marie Besnard l'empoisonneuse - (2006-French-Made for TV) - The second telling of the saga of this French woman charged with the murders of 13 for profit. She was brought up three times but never found guilty because the handling of the evidence was botched. Authorities were preparing to take her to court for the murders again when they decided to give up. A friend testified that Marie had confessed to her. Monsieur Verdoux - based on Henri Landru played by Charlie Chaplin The Meat Trade - (2006) - Another film based on the careers of early nineteenth century serial killers Burke and Hare. Method - (2003) - In a twist, this is a movie about a fictional actress who is staring in a film being made about early 1900s Indiana serial killer Belle Gunness. Scenes from the fictitious show are included in this work. Not too good but the actress, portrayed by Elizabeth Hurley, is a vast visual improvement over the actual Mrs. Gunness. Meu Pai - (2003-Brazilian) - A film dealing with the psychopathic concentration camp doctor Josef Mengele. Charlton Heston plays the doctor in what will probably be his final role. Moment of Truth: Justice for Annie - (1996-Made for TV) - Again, based on the murders of Virginia Rearden. Monster (2004)- Based on Aileen Wournos, played by Charlize Theron, who won an "Oscar" for the role. The actress does justice to the role and even makes the viewer feel sympathetic at times. Definitely a film worth seeing. The Moonlight Murders - (2007) - Another film based on the 1946 unsolved Texarkana Moonlight/Phantom killings. It will have to be a dandy to top, the cult classic, The Town That Dreaded Sundown about the same serial slayings. A Most Mysterious Murder: The Case of the Croydon Poisonings - (2005-Made for TV) - This is an excellent rendition depicting the poisoning murders of three members in one extended English family during 1928 and 1929. The Duff/Sidney Case, as it's also known, is still unsolved. Murder by Decree - (1979) - Another Sherlock Holmes stalks Jack the Ripper movie. Starring Christopher Plummer, it is a classic film. Murder in Texas - (1981-made for TV) - Dr. John Hill was convicted of murdering his first wife. His second wife claimed the he confessed to her that he'd also killed four others. Murder in the Heartland - (1993-Made for TV) - The Charles Starkweather murders. One of the first serial killer films I sought out. Tim Roth is brilliant as Starkweather. Murder in the Heartland: The Search for Video X (2003). Based on the Starkweather/Fugate murders. The plotline claims the killers filmed their killing spree. Murder So Sweet - (1993-Made for TV) - Steven Catlin kills four people with poison. The crimes occurred in the Western United States from 1976-1984. Not bad for a TV flick. Murder Trail - (2000-Made for TV) - A rendition of the slayings of Australian serial killer Ivan Milat in 1980s-1990s. More of a doco than a film. My Father's Shadow: The Sam Sheppard Story - (1998-Made for TV) - Was Marilyn Sheppard slain by suspected serial killer Richard Eberling. This was on TV in Australia recently. Not bad, again more of a doco than a film. My Perfect Husband - (1981-TV episode) - A recreation of Englishman George Joseph Smith's "Brides-in-the-bath" murders. He was hanged in 1915. This was an episode of the Lady Killers docudrama TV series. The Mystery of Thirteen - (1957-Kinescope teleplay) - This was a teleplay performed on the ninety minute Playhouse 90 TV series. These shows, at this time, were usually done live and preserved on the old pre-tape Kinescope TV screen to thirty frame per second film system. This particular production was about Dr. William Palmer the English poisoning serial killer of the 1850s. Some view Playhouse 90 as the model for the made for TV movie. N Natural Born Killers (1994)- Some say it is based loosely on the Starkwether case. Stars Juliet Lewis and Woody Harrelson. Written by Quentin Tarrantino. Not the best films. Discusses the feeding frenzy of the media rather than the crimes. Naked Massacre - (1976) - Although the location is changed, this is a Richard Speck inspired release. In the film, a seaman sporting a Born for Hell tattoo invades a dormitory where 9 nurses live and starts killing them. When he leaves, only one who has been hiding is left alive. A little unsettling at times but a decent film as a whole. Ned - (2003) - A comedy based on the Ned Kelly Gang who killed at least two. Ned Kelly - (1970) - Mick Jagger stars as Ned Kelly, the Australian outlaw whose gang killed at least one policeman as well as a former member of their band in the late 1880s. Most Aussies are not impressed by Mick playing Ned Kelly and like to pick on his lack of beard prowess. Ned Kelly - (2004) - Another version of the Ned Kelly story in late 1800s Australia. Stars Heath Ledger and Orlando Bloom. The best version of the story I've seen, but still not that great. Ned Kelly and His Gang - (1906-Black&White-Silent) - A short version about the gang of Australian outlaws and roving killers. Ned Kelly - (1960-Made for TV) - Another depiction of this outlaw who, along with his gang, killed at least two people in the late 1800s. Interestingly, he was the subject of the first feature length film in 1906 and here again in what may be the first "black screen" (TV) movie. The Next Mrs. Clements - (1994-TV episode) - In England, from 1910-1947, Dr. Robert Clements was believed to have murdered four wives with morphine injections. He killed himself when capture became imminent. This was an episode of the television series In Suspicious Circumstances. Night of the Hunter - (1955-Black&White) - Said to be based on the murderous career of Harry Powers in West Virginia around 1930. Women looking for marriage were lured to his home and dispatched along with their children if they brought any. Night Stalker(1987)- Based loosely on the murders committed by Richard Ramirez. No Orchids for Lulu - (1962-Austrian-Black/White) - Continental view of the Jack the Ripper case No Way to Treat a Lady - (1968) - Although the killer has been relocated to New York City, this black comedy is said to be based on the crimes of the Boston Strangler. O An Ordinary Killer - (2002) - A movie said to be based on the murder of Dawn Magyar and the pursuit of her killer, Jerald Wingeart. Police suspect him of at least one other slaying. The Other Side of Bonnie and Clyde - (1968) - I'll call this a docudramentary since it's not quite a docudrama or a documentary. Burl Ives narrates this story of the leaders of the Parker-Barrow gang which features interviews interspersed with recreations of the crimes committed the killers who are portrayed by actors. Out of the Darkness (1985 - Made for TV) - Very avarage made-for-TV movie about David Berkowitz. Stars martin Sheen as the cop chasing the killer. Overkill: The Aileen Wuornos Story - (1992-Made for TV) - Better than average TV movie about the Aileen Wuornos murders. P A Pale Horse - A movie about serial killer Edmund Kemper. It was produced by the Institute of Prison Ministries (IPM). IPM have also done a doco called Forgiven: A Serial Killer’s Story, also about Edmund Kemper and his faith. Poor Edith - (1994-TV episode) - The story of a series of poisonings in the Bingham family in 1911. Edith Bingham was tried for the murders in England and was acquitted leaving the case unsolved. This was an episode of the television series In Suspicious Circumstances. Precious Victims - (1993-Made for TV) - In Illinois during the 1980s, Paula Sims' children are "abducted", she claims, by a masked intruder in separate incidents. She was later convicted of killing them. Prophet of Evil: The Ervil LeBaron Story - (1993-Made for TV) - Ervil LeBaron, the leader of a cult, some of whom are still at large, that was said to be responsible for about two dozen slayings from 1966-1988. The killings took place in the Southwest as well as in Mexico. Pretty good, stars Brian Dennehy. Psycho - "based" loosely on the case of Ed Gein more to do with his relationship with his mother. Psycho - (1998) - Ed Gein. The, perhaps pointless, frame by frame color remake of the 1960 classic. Some people even called it near plagiarism but it's still a very good film. Psycho 2 - (1983) - Ed Gein Psycho 3 - (1986) - Ed Gein Psycho 4: The Beginning - (1990) - Ed Gein Q R The Railroad Killer - (2004-TV episode) - The story of Angel Maturino Resendez who rode the rails around the U.S. to murder ten people in the late 1990s. This program was one from the docudrama The World's Astonishing News! series. Raising Jeffery Dahmer - (2006) - A rendition of the family life and crimes of serial killer Jeffery Dahmer. Rampage - (2006) - Not to be confused with another film about a different serial killer, this movie is one of several about the Hillside Stranglers, Bianchi and Buono. The release date is set for January. Rampage - "Based on" the murders committed by Richard Chase (the blurb however says it's based on Ramirez). StanLey Reid has confirmed for me that it is indeed on Richard Chase and as he said:"It's quite a good film as well." Ravenous - (1999) - Another film supposedly inspired by the murders of Alfred Packer, the frontier cannibal. The Ripper - (1997-Made for Cable) - Jack the Ripper. Good but has the same tired solution as some of the other recent JTR movies. Film makers should realize that unsolved cases are more haunting if they're left a mystery. Riverman - (2004-Made for Cable) - A Movie about the hunt for Gary Leon Ridgway, the Green River Killer. Ted Bundy plays a role in this story as well, so you get two for one in this production. Too much about Ted Bundy and not enough about the Green River Killer. Perhaps they should have made the movie an hour or two longer. Roberto Succo - (2001-French) - The story of the title character who murdered six people in France during the 1980s. He later killed himself in prison. Robin and the Seven Hoods - (1974) - Al Capone Room to Let - (1949-Black&White) - Another Jack the Ripper movie on the Lodger theme.
S The Sadist - (1963-Black&White) - A schlock film reportedly based on the Starkweather/Fugate murder series. Schramm by Jörg Buttgereit (1993), based on serial killer Lothar Schramm's life See No Evil: The Story of the Moors Murders - (2006-Made for TV) - A British TV movie due out next year about the English killing duo Ian Brady and Myra Hindley. They committed their crimes in the 1960s. Shadow of the Cobra - (1986-Made for TV) - A movie about serial killer Charles Sobhraj. Born in Singapore, Sobhraj is thought to have slain approximately 20 people across Southern Asia in the 1970s. The Shark Net - (2003-Made for TV) - A movie about Eric Edgar Cooke, the Perth serial killer who committed his crimes in the late 1950s and early 1960s. He was hanged in 1964. Shipman - (2002-Made for TV) - A TV movie about prolific British serial killing doctor Harold Shipman. The Silence of the Lambs - (1991) - Jodie Foster's character stalks a killer reputed by some to be based on Ed Gein. The only film in this category to receive the Oscar for Best Picture of the Year. This movie is the reason I study serial killers. Experts say that people are not influenced by films, well I am here to tell you they are!!! I am proof. This film changed my life - Amanda South Beach Heat - (1998) - Gay porn film about Andrew Cunanan Speck (2002)- Movie about the murders committed by Richard Speck Spring Heeled Jack - (1909-French-Black&White-Silent) - This is somewhat likely to be one of the earliest Jack the Ripper films. Spring Heeled Jack was one of the sobriquets that was used by the Ripper (or hoaxers) when he send his correspondences to the police. Again, this is one of those lost films where we're just left with the title on which to make our speculations. The Staircase Murders - (2007-Made for TV) - The story of author Michael Peterson who was convicted of murdering his wife on a staircase in North Carolina in 2001. It was later discovered that a woman in Germany who was a family friend had died in a similar fashion in 1985. That death was then ruled to be due to a fall but many now have doubts as the plural in the title of this production indicates. Stark Raving Mad - (1976) - Yet another film that parallels the Starkweather murder spree. The killer in this movie, however, only goes by the last name of Stark. Starkweather - (2005-Direct to DVD) - A soon to be released rendition of the Charles Starkweather/Caril Fugate killing spree in late 1950s middle America. Ms. Fugate has since been set free but Charlie took a couple of kilowatts in the chair for his efforts. This film will have to be a masterpiece to surpass "Murder in the Heartland", the outstanding made for TV movie about the same crimes. The Story of the Ned Kelly Gang - (1906-Black&White-Silent) - At seventy minutes, this is believed to be the first feature length film of all time. It tells the tale of the band of Australian bandits who killed at least two people in separate incidents. Stranger Beside Me - About Ted Bundy, based on the book by Anne Rule. The Strangler - (1964-Black&White) - This film was inspired by the Boston Strangler and was released before the case was "solved". Victor Buono stars here as his usual creepy self. A Study in Terror - (1965) - The first film in which Sherlock Holmes matches wits with Jack the Ripper. Very good. Suffer Little Children - (1980-TV episode) - The story of notorious serial baby farmer and killer Amelia Dyer from the late 1800s. She went to the English gallows in 1896. This was an episode of the Lady Killers docudrama TV series. Summer of Sam - Based on the lives of young people around the time of the David Berkowitz shootings. Not a bad movie though there was far too many unnecessary sex scenes for my liking. Supersleuth - (2001-Made for TV) - One of several films base on the Bianchi/Buono Hillside Stranglers Case. Sweeney Todd - (1970-Made for TV) - Yet another rendition of the of the Sweeney Todd serial slayings that occurred mostly in 1790s England; this time for TV. Sweeney Todd - (2005) - The yet to be released musical film about the title character who was a serial killer in late eighteenth century England. Sweeney Todd - (2006-Made for TV) - Yet another movie about this British multiple murderer. Some claim that the character was based on serial killing cannibal Sawney Beane while others say he was inspired by another slayer. Sweeney Todd - (1928-Black&White-Silent) - An early rendition of the Sweeney Todd case.
Sweeney Todd - The Demon Barber of Fleet Street (1982) - Stars Angela Lansbury and George Hearn. Quite a good version. Sweeney Todd: The Demon Barber of Fleet Street - (1984) - A film of a Sweeney Todd stage play. Not a very good way to make a movie. Sweeney Todd: The Demon Barber of Fleet Street In Concert - (2001) Another stage version filmed, but better than te 1984 stage/film version. George Hearn again plays Todd. Also stars Neil Patrick Harris (ex-Doogie Howser!!!) Sweeney Todd: The Demon Barber of Fleet Street - (1936) Ironically the killer is played by an actor named Tod Slaughter!! Surely he was meant to play this role! British version. Sweeney Todd - (1926-Black&White-Silent) - Another film about the same-said late eighteen century English serial killer. Swing, Swing Together - (1980-TV episode) - This broadcast was about a murdered and mutilated woman found in the Thames in 1889 that detectives think might be another victim of Jack the Ripper. Actually, the description of the case sounds more like the Thames Torso Killer, a lesser known contemporary serial killer of JtR who operated in the same region from 1887-1889, at least by some accounts. This sixty minute program was the second episode of the series Cribb, a fictional detective who did his investigating during this period. T The Tale of Sweeney Todd - (1998) - Well done depiction of the murders of Englishman Sweeney Todd in the 1790s. This man was at one time thought to be a legend but recently discovered records have proven that he really did exist. Ben Kingsley is great in the title role. Targets - (1968) - Said to be based on Charles Whitman who many would argue was either a mass murder or a spree slayer rather than a serial killer. This one stars Boris Karloff and is Peter Bogdanovich's first movie. Pretty good. Ted Bundy - The life of Ted Bundy Tenderness of the Wolves (Die Zartlichkeit der Wolfe) - (1973-German) - Based on the murders of Fritz Haarmann in post-WWI Germany not the slayings of Peter Kurten as some have erroneously reported. Texas Chainsaw Massacre: The Next Generation - (1994) - The last sequel, to date, of the original film that was purportedly based on Ed Gein's crimes. Texas Chainsaw Massacre - Some say based on Ed Gein The Texas Chainsaw Massacre - (2003) - A remake of the old classic said to be based on the Ed Gein murders. OK but a rather pale imitation of the original. The Texas Chainsaw Massacre 0? - (2006) - This, as yet, untitled and in-the-works movie is described as a prequel to the original horror classic for which Ed Gein was said to be the inspiration. The Texas Chainsaw Massacre 2 - (1986) - Ed Gein The Texas Chainsaw Massacre:The Prequel - (2006?) - An, as yet, untitled film due out next year in this series which was supposedly based on Ed Gein. They Live by Night - (1948-Black & White) - Mentioned as a parallel to the Parker/Barrow gang's deadly crime series. Thieves Like Us - (1974) - Said to be modeled after the repeatedly fatal Bonnie Parker/Clyde Barrow crimes. Three on a Meathook - based on Ed Gein The Threepenny Opera - (1931-German-Black&White) - A musical based on the Jack the Ripper case? Yes, in this film. The Three Penny Opera - (1962) - Jack the Ripper based English version of the 1931 film. OK for a change of pace. This Is Personal: The Hunt for the Yorkshire Ripper - (2000-TV Miniseries) - A two part miniseries depicting the case of 1970s-80s serial killer Peter Sutcliffe To Catch a Killer - John Gacy - This is one of the best movies on serial killers. Stars Brian Dennehy as Gacy Torso - (2007) - The story of Eliot Ness and his hunt for the Cleveland Torso Slayer in the 1930s. These serial murders were never solved. Torso: The Evelyn Dick Story - (2002-Made for TV) - In Canada, Evelyn Dick was convicted of killing her child in 1944 and her husband in 1946. An attractive widow, the conviction for her husband's murder was later overturned although many have their doubts. She served out her time for the child's slaying and was released. Der Totmacher - (1995-German) - A film about Fritz Haarmann, the pederast serial killer who murdered young boys in Germany shortly after WW1. He also turned a profit from his crimes by selling their flesh to hungry and unsuspecting fellow citizens. The Town That Dreaded Sundown - (1977) - About a serial killer known as either the Phantom Killer or the Moonlight Murderer who terrorized the Texarkana region in 1946. The case is still unsolved. Low budget but gets extra points for creepiness. The Trial of Edward Pritchard - (1956-Black&White-TV episode) - A show about the proceedings against Pritchard, the Scottish doctor who killed four of his family members with poison during 1863-1865. This was the first thirty minute episode of the series On Trial also known as The Joseph Cotton Show. True Confessions - (1981) - Based on the 1947 California murder of Elizabeth Short a.k.a. The Black Dahlia. Some think that this slaying was just one of a series that occurred at the time. The papers called this murderer The Werewolf Killer. An excellent movie at any rate.^ True Romance - (1993) - Another film that was supposedly a spawn of the Starkweather/Fugate serial killings. Again, variances with actual events are quite extreme. Quentin Tarrantino wrote the screenplay. U Unabomber: The True Story - (1996-Made for TV) - The Ted Kaczynski murder series. An average TV flick. V Vengeance is Mine - based on Iwao Enoziku (Japanese). The Versace Murder - (1997) - Andrew Cunanan killings. The Virgin of Juarez - (2006) - Said to be based on the unsolved serial murders along the U.S.-Mexican border, which were still occurring in 2007 despite some arrests. W Weepy-Voiced Killer - (2005-TV episode) - Paul Stephani became known as the Weepy-Voiced Killer because of the tone of his phoned-in confessions. He murdered three in Minnesota during the early 1980s. This program was one from the docudrama The World's Astonishing News! series. While the City Sleeps - (1956-Black&White) - Based on Chicago's William Heirens murders in the middle 1940s. A critically lauded Fritz Lang film. Whispers From a Shallow Grave - (2006) - Principally the story of the murder of Linda Sobek by Charles Rathbun. He is however said to be responsible for five other murders White Heat- (1949-Black&White) - A film allegedly based on the relationship between Ma Barker and her son Doc, the principal gangster in her band of killer offspring. James Cagney stars in this classic which was later available in a colorized version. White Hot: The Mysterious Murder of Thelma Todd - (1991-Made for TV) - About the 1935 Hollywood death of actress Thelma Todd. Some have pointed a finger of suspicion at Lucky Luciano who is certainly responsible for other murders. White Night in Guyana - the story of Jim Jones. Starring Powers Boothe Wife, Mother, Murderer - (1991-Made for TV) - The tale of Black Widow poisoner Audrey Marie Hilley. Convicted of killing one of her husbands, she was suspected of possibly murdering three others. She escaped but essentially froze to death as a result. While the City Sleeps - (2010) - An in the works remake of the 1956 classic that was based on the William Heirens murder series. Who killed Atlanta's children (also called Echo of Murder)- (Made for TV) - The Wayne Williams case. Who is the Black Dahlia? - (1975-Made for TV) - The Elizabeth Short murder again that may have been committed by the so-called Werewolf Killer.^ Wisteria: The Albert Fish Story - (2006) - Another movie about that creepy Mr. Fish. Witness of Truth: The Railway Murders - (2001-Made for TV) - A movie about English railroad serial killer John Duffy and his story that helped catch his accomplice, David Mulcahy. Duffy had been inside for about ten years before his partner was captured in the mid 1990s. Wolf Creek - (2005) - Loosely based on the murdered committed by Ivan Milat. Location has changed to the middle of Australia in the desert. X Y You Only Live Once - (1937-Black&White) - Said to be based on the Bonnie and Clyde murder/robbery spree. Stars Henry Fonda as Clyde Barron. Directed by Fritz Lang. The Young Poisoner's Handbook - (1995) - Graham Young, the English lad who murdered three people with poison in 1962 and 1971. Depicted in a Black Comedy style, this excellent production is one of the best true-crime films of all time and, perhaps, the best one in this category. I love this film, every time it is on (usually very late at night), I always stay up and watch it. Fantastic! Z The Zebra Murders: A Season of Killing Racial Madness and Civil Rights - (2010) - A depiction of the racially motivated slayings of 15 whites in the San Francisco area during the months of late 1973 and early 1974. The murders were carried out by a gang of five black men. This film is based on a book about the crimes. Zodiac - (2007) - This is film is about the uncaught San Francisco serial killer of the 1960s. Based on Robert Graysmith's book, it should prove a better version that the 2005 film. Will star Jake Gyllenhaal and Mark Ruffalo. I finally had a chance to watch this program only recently and found it more to be a bio on Graysmtih than Zodiac. Disappointing. The Zodiac Killer - (2007-TV episode) - This is not the uncaught California killer but rather Heriberto Seda who murdered three vagrant men in New York in the early 1990s. He wanted authorities to think that he was the earlier killer as well but he hadn't even been born when those slayings occurred. This program was one from the docudrama The World's Astonishing News! series. The Zodiac Killer - (1971) - About the California Zodiac slayings. Low budget and it shows. The Zodiac - (2005) - Another of the two movies that came out this same year about the California Zodiac murders. This one stars Justin Chambers (Of TV's Grey's Anatomy Fame) and Robin Tunney (from Prison Break). An extremely slow movie, that lacks any substance nor insight into the crimes. The Zodiac Killer(2005) - Directed by Ulli Lommel who did the not so good version of the Black Dahlia film has also done a film on the Zodiac killer who was never caught. This film seems to be just as good as his other true crime attempt. Zodiac Killer (1991) - Obviously finding a name for a film on this killer is not extremely hard to do. Stars Andy Lau. No other information is available at this time. The Zodiac Killer - (1971) - About the California Zodiac slayings. Low budget and it shows. The Zodiac Killer - (2007-TV episode) - This is not about the uncaught California killer but rather Heriberto Seda who murdered three vagrant men in New York in the early 1990s. He wanted authorities to think that he was the earlier killer as well but he hadn't even been born when those slayings occurred. This program was one from the docudrama The World's Astonishing News! series. I could not have made this list as comprehensive without the incredible help of writer and fellow-Ripperologist StanLey Dean Reid - Thanks buddy Does your film appear here? Please email me if you'd like me to review your film. Note: Many websites are making poor copies of this page. 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