Another sinister turn from me, Pascal, as I discuss serial killer movies. These are either movies about the killer themselves, or how the police deal with them. Here are my favourite four, with se7en thrown in for good measure... [Limited Spoilers ahead, but seriously, none of the following are particularly new, and all of them you should watch- so why not do that?]
5. Se7en (1995)
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| Who says only the Japanese can do great movie posters? This one is Wonderful! [source] |
Possibly because it's overhyped, but this isn't as good as the
four others, though it is still very good. It also helps that I have a
soft spot for it. You know the plot, and if you don't, you should check
it out. The city itself is grimy, noisy and unfriendly, and the movie itself it full of hugely
memorable scenes. For example, it contains probably the most famous cough of all time.
The killer, John Doe, is cool, as is the whole premise of the movie. The two cops: the young,brash
guy (Brad Pitt) and the older, more wizened guy (Morgan Freeman) are played in a way that it isn't
the walking cliche that it sounds. As with many Fincher Movies, the opening titles are terrific. Another Fincher movie on serial killers is 'Zodiac' which is good, but more slow-moving and political. If you want a more sedate, realistic serial-killer movie, based on a real life crime which has yet to be solved, then see #2 on this list.
4. Cure (1997)
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| Another Cool Japanese Poster, most of the stuff on this doesn't even show up in the movie [source] |
Another Kiyoshi Kurosawa movie, and another good one. Most of the case from
Pulse are in this, but it's a more ethereal, sideways look at what possesses people to kill. The plot in essence tells of a man turning up in someone's life, with no recollection of what has gone before. He asks a relentless torrent of questions, and makes them feel uncomfortable. We, and the police, later see their wives, girlfriends or lovers all killed by the same method. The murderers readily confess to their crimes, but can never remember the reason for their actions. The main character, who is only possibly a killer, is a huge enigma which the police must try to unravel. He makes people uncomfortable, he seems to know a lot about people he questions. Is it a cult? hypnotism? It is something more cosmic? Why is a seemingly normal person leaving a trail of bodies in his wake? These questions are all allegorical for the aftermath of the Sarin gas attacks on Tokyo subways, and the movie is a confused response to that incident. At its heart is a deeper question, what makes us act how we act? The films conclusion, which suggests that the lead police officer has been infected / brainwashed is interesting and hypnotic, and suggests something greater than mere society. It's subtly magnificent.
3. Henry: Portrait of a Serial Killer (1986 - released in 1990)
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| Here Henry (Right) and his rapist mate sit down and watch a video of a murder they did earlier... a perfect day [source] |
A horrible movie, and one completely void of morals or regular
societal values. Without comment or judgement, it deals with incest, date-rape, denial of family, and of course,
murder, so much murder. I'm not surprised that this has been banned and
edited wherever it was released. the story is: Henry and a friend kill. There's no
explanation why they're acting like that (or in the end, why Henry acts
like this) - there is a brilliant moment when he hints at childhood
abuse to make him what he is, but that turns out to be a lie. He's just
evil. The one woman whom we thought could bring out the best in him, and
spurs him to his only positive act (he stops her brother from raping
her), ends up dead in a suitcase on the side of the road. It's intense,
it's horrible (although with a title like that should we be surprised?) but you won't ever
forget it. Henry is grim, handsome, enormously muscular (look at
him, he's colossal), and intimidating. Even 25 years on, he's the scariest thing in 'Walking Dead,' that Zombie soap opera. Looking this up, I've just found that this story is based on a true story. Not cool.
2. Memories of Murder (2003)
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| Old Detective and New Detective (Right), who looks a little like a Korean Graham Lineham [source] |
A Korean movie, and easily one of
the best I've ever seen (take that
Oldboy). I was hugely surprised as to how good this movie was. It's based on
a real, still unsolved number of murders rural South Korea in the 1980s.
It follows two local police and the new detective brought in from Seoul
to help solve the mystery. They don't get along: the ignorant local cops use
violence and torture, they mock the new detective for his methods and
rationale, which fails to gather results. In response to continual frustration, the new detective increasingly follows his less civilised colleagues methods, and all of them are hounded by a press corps bereft of morals or sensitivity. The
'capture' scenes, where the killers face is never shown, are filmed in terrifying detail. A scene on
the rice fields is nerve-wracking stuff. It's compelling, morally
ambiguous, a little violent, beautifully shot, and is set through with
ambiguity, both factual and moral. On top of all that it's infused with
healthy black humour. Brilliant.
1. Silence of the Lambs (1991)
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| Even in the muzzle, he still has a twinkle in his eyes... [source] |
A great movie, and one which continues to terrify. Alongside the 'Chianti' scene, there are lots of scenes which stick with you. Alongside blockbuster scenes such as Lector's escape; Buffalo Bill himself, and any of the meetings between Jodie Foster and Lector, which form the backbone of the plot. She is a smart woman trapped in a stupid man's world: the Psychiatrist jailer in charge of Lector, the creepy bug Professor, even her Mentor, all hit on her, throwing metaphorical semen in her hair (which is better than Migs's "physical semen in the hair") However, she deals with it all, ostensibly at least, bravely. Her relationship with Lector has a wicked
benevolence to it: he likes her because she's an outsider too.
Furthermore,there are little details which add to the dread: the plump
mannequin half covered in human leather, a brief glimpse of decomposing bodies in a bath, the girl holding the dog when she is
raised to safety. What is also incredible is how little Lector is in the movie himself, it's largely the Starling show, and yet it's his terrifying shadow over the whole thing. This movie is now 21 years
old, but outside of fashion, hasn't aged at all, and remains terrifying
on a psychological and physical level.
In conclusion: If you watched all five of these, in reverse order, instead of sleeping, then you could start a spree of your own. On their own, these are all great movies, and well worth checking out. Hope everyone's had a great old time, in case you are worried, there are some funny posts coming up
Take Care, Pascal.
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