“Boston Strangler” (2023)
Underwhelming revisit of a real life horror.
Underwhelming revisit of a real life horror.
Despite my lifelong affinity for all things true crime and historic serial killers who’s repugnant acts have become burned into our universal consciousness if only by the monikers given them by newspapers and television media alike, I was rather disappointed with this “Inspired by a true story” depiction of the manhunt for the “Boston Phantom” who quickly morphed into the forever to be known Boston Strangler.
Written and directed by Matt Ruskin in his fifth feature length cinematic release since his debut in 2001 with the documentary Glen of the Downs, the yellow/green hue of the mid to late 1960’s is all here as is the sexism and misogyny of the time both within and outside of a busy local newspaper office seeking the latest headline grabbing news of the stalker preying on the vulnerable in their own Bostonian homes. A star cameo turn of gruffness and distance from Chris Cooper is also present and correct, as is the supporting role of Carrie Coon in her female only partnership through which the film is primarily shot. There was just very little substance or tension with which to grab and ultimately hold my attention.
Regardless, here is your headline star of the show:
“Loretta McLaughlin” (Keira Knightley) Arguably lauded around the world as “Elizabeth Swann” in the behemoth Pirates of the Caribbean franchise or for her star turns in Atonement or Pride and Prejudice, I have always been rather more taken with Keira Knightley’s performances in the flawed Tony Scott directed real life drama Domino in 2005, William Monahan’s London Boulevard five years later or two unloved films at the turn of the first decade of this new century, David Cronenberg’s A Dangerous Method and the Lorene Scafaria directed Seeking a Friend for the End of the World in 2012.
Here in her 39th all time feature length credited role, Knightley imbues a real life character with the stoicism of the era as well as the determination to overcome the sexism and gender typical roles in a newspaper office that often saw her relegated back to the “Lifestyle Desk” as a “skirt” and a “kid” not up to covering the homicide(s) haunting her city. From scrapbook cuttings and the eagerness of a journalist feeding off scraps, she soon deviates away from the stereotypical path of the time to become somewhat of an amateur detective and psychologist seeking out the unapproved assistance from those very departments outside of the Boston Record American newspaper that at first fails to see the merit of her joint investigations with “Jean Cole” (Carrie Coon). Loretta McLaughlin’s investigations become a rollercoaster as the peaks and troughs mirror that of her relationships both at home and within the busy newspaper office, yet she has a “scoop” that will astound the city and a story that still reverberates throughout the world to this very day.
There is a story here and a legend that continues to split and baffle investigators and it’s told well enough by director Matt Ruskin but which failed to really hold much of my genuine interest in the subject. Rather than this, the real story is of Loretta McLaughlin herself who would continue a prestigious and award winning journalism career with the Boston Globe in the coming decades, specialising in medicine and reporting on the AIDS epidemic of the 1980's.
Thanks for reading. Just for larks as always, and always a human reaction rather than spoilers galore. My three most recently published film articles are linked below or there’s well over 250 blog articles (with 500+ individual film reviews) within my film library from which to choose:
“John Wick” (2014)
The Legend begins.medium.com
“Cocaine Bear” (2023)
Fantastically surprising comedy horror.medium.com
“Boiling Point” (2021)
Incredible one-shot panic attack.medium.com