BOSTON STRANGLER (2023)

Written & Directed By: Matt Ruskin  Cinematography: Ben Kutchins  Editor: Anne McCabe

Cast: Keira Knightley, Carrie Coon, Chris Cooper, Alessandro Nivola, Rory Cochrane, David Dastmalchain, Peter Gerety, Robert John Burke, Ryan Winkles, Morgan Spector 

Loretta McLaughlin was the reporter who first connected the murders and broke the story of the Boston Strangler. She and Jean Cole challenged the sexism of the early 1960s to report on the city's most notorious serial killer.

The film is well shot almost like an episode of the show MINDHUNTER. This might be why it feels like an R-rated tv-movie, but it lacks the drama, tension, and strength of that television show. 

In fact, it ends up representing those made for cable movies of the 1990s and 2000s. That was meant to be an event. where they got an all-star or established cast of recognizable names.

The movie plays like it’s own version of SHE SAID, though instead of tackling the Harvey Weinstein case. There is two female reporters who are looked down upon. One established and one rookie, cracking a case wide open that established reporters didn’t. As they are even the first to notice a pattern. 

Similar to that film we get to see their domestic lives while also tackling this story. Only here Kiera Knightley gets more screen time. As the rookie and how this case is also disrupting her domestic situation. 

The film short changes Carrie Coon a bit. As she is the mentor to Knightley’s character. We learn a bit less about her. She also doesn’t have as much screen time or moments. 

I can admit so far I have never been a fan of the movies based on this true crime case. Including the film THE BOSTON STRANGLER from 1968 

Directed by Richard Fleischer and starred Henry Fonda, Tony Curtis, and George Kennedy. Though that movie focused more on the killer and the police detectives. 

As a true crime movie, you could easily look up the case to discover the ending as well as the ins and outs. What the film does actually do successfully is offered up the surprise of the suspects and the realization of how many men got away with murder using the M.O. of the strangler, but when not being able to be linked with the other crime of the strangler were let go.

As towards the end, a character pretty much defines what the movie is about and sums up the point of this dramatization. Which is the changing times and realizations of things either kept hidden, quiet or never acknowledged. That was unfortunately showing that society could never go back to being so innocent. 

Though the film at least offers some hope for two female reporters challenging the status quo and finding courageousness and leading a way for females in the future. Even as they are pretty much the prey out there at that time. 

Grade: C+