Heartbreaking And Gripping —Review Of Boston Strangler (2023)

Yet the murders continued until thirteen women were identified to have been raped and murdered over several years, and the police couldn’t catch the culprit. As Loretta and her colleague, Jean Cole, dug deeper, a convicted rapist named Albert DeSalvo came forward and confessed to the crimes. When the city thought it could breathe easier, the killer struck again! Will these two courageous women succeed in finding the murderers?

Review

I love this film for two reasons: it's inspired by true events but not a total adaptation, and it portrays some valuable themes. The plot is well-written and the acting is brilliant. I applaud the director, Matt Ruskin, for creating a tense and compelling atmosphere from the start to the end.

The film keeps viewers on the edge of their seats and curious as to who the stranglers are. The pace is even, not fast and not slow, but steady enough to engage viewers and transport them back to the 1960s era with all its struggles and realities.

Some viewers may be disappointed by the film's ending but remember, these incidents happened in real life. I understand the Boston cases are inconclusive to this day due to certain complications surrounding the prime suspect, Albert DeSalvo’s confession but the film's focus is not on the murders but on the two women: Loretta McLaughlin and Jean Cole who exposed the crimes.

If not for the investigation and persistent reporting of these two women, even at the detriment of their safety and families, the police may not have taken the matter seriously and the serial killer or killers would have continued prowling the streets. Also, the inconsistencies of the suspects and the incompetence of the Boston police department take centre stage which makes the film brilliant.

To understand how gripping it was, there were times when I screamed at my screen begging the women not to let in the 'weird man dressed in overalls', claiming to be sent by 'Super' to check their apartments. The man used the same name at every murder scene and I'm left wondering who is this 'Super'. I guess Super is a short form of Supervisor or not.

There is one scene I'm not impressed with. It is where the Commissioner of Police harasses Loretta's boss and refers to the women reporters as 'skirts'. The height of sexism in that age is overwhelming and tragic. I can't imagine how hard it must have been for the likes of Loretta then to make any headway in the professional world. No, I think I do because some social and professional spheres still allow sexism to dictate their decisions and relationships towards the women in their midst.

A look at the acting: Keira Knightley's performance is outstanding as always. She beautifully portrays the part of a passionate reporter who perseveres despite the pressures and obstacles in the way of her investigation while combining her duties as a wife and mother. She is believable and her American accent is not bad at all! The other actors and actresses were great in their acting too, especially the prime suspect.

Valuable Themes In This Film

No doubt, safety and caution are themes that are well depicted in this American historical drama. For instance, the words of one of the suspects serving a life sentence in prison, George Nassar, towards the end of the film are both hair-raising and gripping.

He was questioned by Loretta as to why Albert DeSalvo was coached to confess to some of the murders. Nassar replied calmly, with dramatic pauses, cigarette smoke streaming out of his nostrils,

There are many Albert DeSalvo out there and your safe little world is just a delusion. Men kill women. It didn't start with Albert. Sure as hell doesn't end with him either.

I don't doubt the truth or reality of Nassar's words. Violence against women is nothing new and is as old as time. In a way, this film passes on the important message that everyone (regardless of gender) must exercise extreme caution, especially when it comes to dealing with strangers.

This film also covers the lackadaisical attitude of law enforcement agents all over the world. I'm not saying this is often the case but it's a common trend. It usually takes a persistent person or persons to draw their attention to a pattern in a crime before they look into it. By then, lives and properties may have been lost or destroyed.

Overall, this film is a must watch and I recommend it to all film lovers. I rate it 4.2 stars out of 5.

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