Because the Hillside Strangler case is so interesting and compelling from beginning to end (the longest trial is the history of California & twice as long as OJ), film-makers have made several attempts at telling the story. Most have failed badly - this little made for TV version, however, is excellent, well-acted and hits all the right & important notes.
The casting and performances are first rate. The late Richard "Colonel Troutman" Crenna conveys the humanity of the lead cop on the case well (this was a difficult case over numerous months - several cop marriages failed over it). Dennis farina is coolly menacing as Buono. Billy Zane gives what may be his greatest performances in the most challenging role - that of Bianchi. He captures the tone perfectly as both charming, handsome and brutally violent. The movie goes to great lengths to humanize the victims and avoids being exploitive, though it is scary and dramatic.
One of the problems with other movies on this subject is they do not capture the complexity of the story, what makes the killers "tick", the sociological context and the human factor. They want to make this a serial killer / slasher concept, but it isn't. The story and characters are complex. The scariest thing may be that these guys came within an eyelash of getting away with it (the LA DA refused to prosecute; the County picked up the case & did). Also one of the first cases to use fibers to convict the killer. Interesting stuff. Check it out.
The casting and performances are first rate. The late Richard "Colonel Troutman" Crenna conveys the humanity of the lead cop on the case well (this was a difficult case over numerous months - several cop marriages failed over it). Dennis farina is coolly menacing as Buono. Billy Zane gives what may be his greatest performances in the most challenging role - that of Bianchi. He captures the tone perfectly as both charming, handsome and brutally violent. The movie goes to great lengths to humanize the victims and avoids being exploitive, though it is scary and dramatic.
One of the problems with other movies on this subject is they do not capture the complexity of the story, what makes the killers "tick", the sociological context and the human factor. They want to make this a serial killer / slasher concept, but it isn't. The story and characters are complex. The scariest thing may be that these guys came within an eyelash of getting away with it (the LA DA refused to prosecute; the County picked up the case & did). Also one of the first cases to use fibers to convict the killer. Interesting stuff. Check it out.