6 Movies Based on True Crime

I had watched a few true-crime movies; some crimes had been covered in multiple films. This theme popped into my mind after we watched the web series Raakh, which was also based on a true crime. Raman Raghav was another film that comes to mind when we think of Hindi films. Today, we decided to create a list of true-crime movies I discovered much later, after they were released.

1. Dahmer: There are multiple movies based on Jeffrey Dahmer, the cannibal serial killer who terrorised Milwaukee throughout the 70s and 80s. The most recent one was My Friend Dahmer, which was released in 2017. However, much earlier, Jeremy Renner played Dahmer in the titular role. The movie, released in 2002, was directed by David Jacobson. Much of the film was based on Dahmer's thoughts and pre- and post murder activities. Renner's sincere portrayal was noteworthy. However, the direction seemed inconsistent, with a slower beginning and a much more hurried ending. 

2. Boston Strangler: During the 1960s, the city of Boston was terrorised by a chain of serial killings of women, where victims were dramatically strangled in a similar pattern. A woman reporter, Loretta McLaughlin, investigates the crime, much to her men colleagues' ridicule and dismay. With much difficulty and courage, she, with another woman reporter, Jean Cole, dug out the initial linkages to the probable predator. Knightley was superb in this film, portraying a fierce reporter who uncovers the truth. This film, released in 2023, was directed by Matt Ruskin.

3. An American Crime: One of the most heinous crimes that has been recorded in America was the torture and murder of the 15-year-old Sylvia Likens by a woman called Gertrude Baniszewski. This crime was adapted into a movie, An American Crime, by Tommy O'Haver in 2007. The film stars Elliot Page (then Ellen Page) and Katherine Keener. James Franco appears in a brief but important role. The crime is too brutal, and the movie, although not that graphic, is very disturbing because of Keener's intriguing performance. 

4. The Lodger: This film is a very different representation of Jack the Ripper killings. There are 2storylines, and neither of them is actually related to the other. One is about a police officer in charge of the investigation who captures the criminal, but later the authorities realise it was the wrong person. In the other storyline, a very mysterious stranger rents a lodge. The lodge owner is suspicious about his whereabouts.

The movie is very slow-paced. It stars Alfred  Molina and Simon Baker. Directed by David Ondaatje, it's a decent one-time watch.

5. Helter-Skelter: We all remember how Once Upon a Time in Hollywood added fantasy to a brutal organised true crime - the killing of Shannon Tate. But this movie, based on the Manson Family's massacre, showed the real events. There was no Brad Pitt to play the saviour. This is a 2004 TV movie, directed by John Grey, starring Jeremy Davis in the leading role of Charles Manson. Nothing exceptional, but it showed the reality.

6. True Story: Based on the journalist Michael Finkel's memoir about his relationship with mass murderer Christian Longo, this movie had Jonah Hill and James Franco in the lead roles. The strange conversations between the two reveal that Longo committed the gruesome crime just because he wanted Finkel, who had left his career after being held responsible for some false reporting, to restart his second innings as a crime reporter. 

A few days ago, we mentioned that we want Franco back on screen, and this movie, with his chilling, cold-headed conversations, proves we were right. This 2015 movie was directed by Rupert Goold.