Movie Review: Boston Strangler 2023

Prior movie on the subject is the 1968 movie starring Tony Curtis as the sole killer. Also starred Henry Fonda and George Kennedy. This film had three nominations for awards. It was  more focused on the killings and killer.

This film, released in 2023 for Hulu, "follows Loretta McLaughlin (Keira Knightley), a reporter for the Record-American newspaper, who becomes the first journalist to connect the Boston Strangler murders..."  This film focuses more on the two female reporters and their journey in investigating the murders and the trials they weathered. Keira Knightly is such a good actor that anything she's in will be a treat.  

What it's about:  Crime drama based on the infamous Boston Strangler murders in the 1960s, this is inspired by the true story of Loretta McLaughlin, the first reporter to connect the murders and break the story of the Strangler. She and fellow reporter Jean Cole challenged the rampant sexism of the era to report on the city's most notorious serial killer and worked tirelessly to keep women informed.

Cast:

Keira Knightley as Loretta McLaughlin

Carrie Coon as Jean Cole

Chris Cooper as editor Jack Maclaine

David Dastmalchian as Albert DeSalvo

Ryan Winkles as Daniel Marsh

Greg Vrotsos as  George Nassar

Matt Ruskin Writer/Director 

Ridley Scott Producer

Rating: R  1 hour 52 minutes

Rotten Tomatoes (67%) and critics reviews:

"Matt Ruskin’s film dials down on fetishizing murderous men to tell the story of women who might just see them for who they really are." Manik Sharma-Firstpost

"There is a quietly persistent, simmering and incendiary flare to this film, which, by virtue of Knightley's knowing performance and the well-written script, feels tired and afraid." Alisha Mughal-Exclaim

"At a time when seemingly every streaming service debuts new true-crime programming on a weekly basis, “Boston Strangler” stands far above the crowd." Kevin Slane-Boston.com

"Here is the film that She Said so desperately tried to tell us it was - at least on the journalism side of things. Strong lead characters, especially by Keira Knightley, navigating sexism that is as inherent in solving the case as reporting it." Erik Childress-Movie Madness Podcast

"... a decent journalism time capsule that aligns more with 2015’s Spotlight than with a suspenseful thriller like Silence of the Lambs." Valerie Kalfrin-AWFJ.org

"In a world where Netflix is pumping out low-effort true-crime doc content on a weekly basis, Boston Strangler is a sterling example of how it should be done." Clement Tyler Obropta-Film Inquiry

"Boston Strangler slowly builds an exquisite atmosphere of tension and fear surrounding the killings themselves." Peg Aloi-The Arts Fuse

"The acting is expressive and engaging, especially from Knightley and Coon, who have a strained dynamic that works to make their relationship even more believable." Chris Joyce-Movies and Munchies

"The matchup of Keira Knightly and Carrie Coon punches up this involving, period-rich but somewhat ordinary thriller that celebrates old-school journalism." Randy Myers-San Jose Mercury News

Noteworthy awards or rankings:

--2024 Winner ASC Award

Outstanding Achievement in Cinematography in Limited or Anthology Series, or Motion Picture Made for Television 

--2024 Nominee Artios Award 

Outstanding Achievement in Casting - Film - Non-Theatrical Release

--2023 Nominee Primetime Emmy
Outstanding Cinematography for a Limited or Anthology Series or Movie

--2023 Nominee OFTA Television Award
Best Motion Picture

--2023 Nominee OFTA Television Award
Best Cinematography in a Motion Picture, Limited, or Anthology Series

--2023 Nominee OFTA Television Award
Best Sound Editing in a Non-Serial Program

--2023 Nominee OFTA Television Award
Best Cinematography in a Multi-Camera Series

Trivia (from IMDB):

• The film being watched on the television by James McLaughlin is "Five Fingers" (1952) starring James Mason and directed by Joseph L. Mankiewicz.
• A house in Belmont, Massachusetts stood in for the home of reporter Loretta McLaughlin. That same day, the Winn Brook Elementary School was transformed into the Cambridge Police Department for second unit filming. The school was paid $5,000 for the use of the property.
• On December 9, 2021 the Benjamin Franklin Institute of Technology was temporarily turned into a police headquarters for the film. Between January 26 and January 27, 2022 the former Josephine M. Foster Elementary School in Braintree was used as a set. Filming also took place in Jamaica Plain, Lowell, Lynn, Malden, Roxbury, and Wellesley, Massachusetts.
• Several private driveways on Statler and Waterhouse Roads were rented to park 1960s vehicles. For the next two days, filming took place in the South End. Scenes were shot on Dwight Street between Tremont Street and Shawmut Avenue.
• Several health procedures had to be followed due to the COVID-19 pandemic. The entire crew was vaccinated and tested for the virus three times a week until production concluded. Filming wrapped in March 2022. During post-production, Paul Leonard-Morgan then composed the musical score.
• Carrie Coon and Morgan Spector starred as husband and wife in the hit HBO show The Gilded Age (2022) before joining this movie.
• Chris Cooper and Peter Gerety previously appeared in Return to Lonesome Dove (1993) and Syriana (2005).

My Thoughts:

The filming is in color, but they're subdued colors making it feel like the 1960s without using black and white or sepia.  It takes place before the internet, DNA testing, or most of the current CSI tests.  I felt like I was in the the nineteen-sixties with the muted colors, old typewriters with ribbon, great old cars and dresses, Bakelite phones, everybody smoking, and the misogyny etc.  

I loved its focus on Loretta McLaughlin and Jean Cole, the journalists who broke the story and kept pushing the police.  This isn't a thriller nor a horror movie.  There are brief glimpses of the crime scene photos to drive home the brutality, but it isn't gory nor "in your face." At times you hear the deadly struggle but don't see it. It also shows the toll Loretta's personal life goes through and how the paper put her in danger. It includes Loretta's final theory that there was more than one killer because of some profiling that pointed that way. I will admit that I agree with the theory there was more than one strangler.

I feel this was a well-made, subtly intriguing, and engaging film from start to finish.  Don't expect car chases or flashy scenes but rather a gently unfolding story that draws you in and doesn't let go. This was tense like Hitchcock, while also respectful of Loretta and Jean. Both Keira Knightley and Carrie Coon gave standout performances.  The one thing I would have changed was the last scene, it left me wanting a more definitive ending regarding Loretta's marriage.  I recommend this movie for 18yo or older.

Movie Trailor:

Here is a short video on Keira Knightley's thoughts about her role in the movie

Have you seen this movie? Please share your thoughts in the comments.

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