Boston Strangler: The Untold Story

Introduction

The Boston Strangler is one of those few unsolved serial killer cases, alongside the likes of Jack the Ripper and the Zodiac Killer.  In a 2-year period in Boston, 13 women were strangled and the police thought they had the man when Albert DeSalvo confessed to the murders in jail.
 
This film contends DeSalvo was a fantasist who confessed in a joint decision with his cellmate and lawyer to get the reward money to make his family financially secure.  In a semi-documentary style, it retraces the murders and police investigation, showing the lead officer's doubts that there was one killer and what happened to DeSalvo in jail.
 
There is a nice degree of reflexivity, referencing the 1968 film about DeSalvo, with him saying that they're going to make a film about it, with Tony Curtis playing me but this isn't so much about the murders but the probability that several were committed by a copycat killer and DeSalvo didn't commit any.
 

 

Video

The decent picture is testament to the quality of digital equipment with the only downside shooting a person against a light background in a dark corridor.  The picture is otherwise very sharp with good colours and black levels. 
 

Audio

The Dolby Digital 2.0 Stereo track is clear and presents the dialogue well.  There's nothing spectacular about the soundtrack which demands surround speakers so this is perfectly adequate.  Although they hadn't the budget for period music, unlike David Fincher's Zodiac for instance, they do a good job with the music and one song that sounds perfect is performed by someone they found on Craigs List!
 

 

Extra Features

The commentary with writer/director Michael Feifer, composer Andres Boulton and star David Faustino is a chummy yak track but one that nevertheless contains some useful information about locations, equipment and other aspects of shooting on a budget - aspiring filmmakers could do worse than listen to this for advice.
 

 

Conclusion

I wasn't keen on the last Michael Feifer film that passed my way, his docu-drama of the serial killer Dennis Rader, B.T.K.  Boston Strangler: The Untold Story is a better film, more sure of itself and with more assured and realistic performances from an equally inexperienced cast.  The key to the improvement is Feifer's development as a filmmaker, more assured as a writer and more skilled behind the camera.
 
However, this never seems completely sure what it wants to be - some scenes are outright horror, others fantasy and complete sections are from the police drama genre.  It bears much in common with Zodiac, a much more accomplished and gripping film made by a far superior filmmaker.  This is not to say it's a bad film, it's a fascinating story but the film just isn't involving enough.  I never identified with DeSalvo, his attempt to make money by pretending to be something he's not despite being a violent criminal hampers any attempt at empathy.  I can see why he would confess to murders when he's in jail for a long stretch anyway, but there's a difference between robbery and mass murder - he must've known that being in prison as a serial killer was a possibility (if not a probability) so the stunt was stupid.  Then again, how aware was he and how easily persuaded was he by his cellmate? 
 
This is an interesting film and those who've seen the 1968 film The Boston Strangler or have any interest in the case will find much to like here but genre fans will be disappointed.  The way that Michael Feifer has improved bodes well for the future.