MovieChat Forums > The Boston Strangler (1968) Discussion > This movie was little more than a sociop...

This movie was little more than a sociopolitical argument

posted 18 years ago by YINever
12 replies | jump to latest

Why did they feel the need to fictionalize DeSalvo as being a stalwart family man, braying long sufferer of mental decay? The events in this film bore no relation to fact, yet the director and whoever else decided to explicitly make an argument with hyperbolic text about the inadequate recognition and treatment of mental disease. Wrong place, wrong events, wrong person, wrong setting, wrong movie.

Fonda's rant on reactionary opposition to eminent domain and other confiscatory policies only solidifies this impression. I'd like to see someone get away with that speech today!

[–] Misanthropic_Humanist 18 years ago

God.

look at the time period of the movie made okay?

please dont bother the ppl who enjoyed this movie

[–] YINever 17 years ago

^ Lame.

[–] htwhyppe 17 years ago

Little more...? Not "American Pie" enough for you? A sociopolitical argument. What a tragedy. The performances alone are worth the price of admission.

[–] carthur27 10 years ago

Any sociopolitical argument in this movie was an inaccurate detraction and your sarcasm is pathetic. The acting in this movie wasn't anything special.

[–] danieljohnson_119 17 years ago

DeSalvo was a sexual serial killer - there's no sociopolitical argument to make. Anyway, I'm watching this movie tonight. I'm also a serial killer buff so maybe I'll make an argument of my own pretty soon.

[–] greenleafie 17 years ago

So, serial killers, like Popeye, "are what they are," and there's no value to be had from understanding them? Like say, prevention? The argument isn't what he was, but WHY? Of course, if we got to the phychos before they committed their crimes, there would be no more entertainment for serial-killer buffs, would there?

[–] YINever 17 years ago

There's value in understanding them. When you understand DeSalvo, you realize he isn't anything like what he was portrayed and might have even been lying about committing any murder. The message is pathetic and the acting isn't that great either.

[–] Boling35 16 years ago

Some kind of new movie needs to be done because a few years back forensic testing has shown that DeSalvo did not commit all the murders,in-fact Dr Michael Baden stated that DeSalvo was probably Not the Boston Strangler at all!

[–] 16 years ago

[deleted]

[–] richard-III 15 years ago

I was very impressed by the acting in this film, when watching it for the first time years ago (and the times after that one), and I still am. I also was shocked by the ending, that DeSalvo completely turned inwards. 'The Boston Strangler' had a great impact on me. Great acting, shocking psychology, great cinematic perspective.

Now I am shocked to read on this board that in reality DeSalvo's mind did not collapse, and that he possibly might not be the Boston Strangler. Or is he, partly?

"When there is no more room in the Oven,
the Bread will walk the Earth."

[–] Howlin Wolf 15 years ago

The coda at the end really annoyed me.

Do you like having sex? Then DON'T buy a Nintendo!

[–] ElizabethJoestar (946) 3 years ago

Me too. I generally enjoyed this one, but that moralistic ending felt so tacked on and cheesy.