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The Hillside Strangler

The Hillside Strangler (2004)

November. 12,2004
|
5.3
|
R
| Drama Horror Thriller Mystery

Kenneth Bianchi is a security guard whose attempts to become a police officer are repeatedly thwarted. He moves to California to live with his cousin Angelo and dates a string of women, becoming increasingly preoccupied with sex. Eventually the cousins decide to start an escort agency. After violently killing a prostitute they thought had betrayed them, Kenneth and Angelo begin committing a series of crimes that become a media sensation.

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Reviews

Lovesusti
2004/11/12

The Worst Film Ever

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Humaira Grant
2004/11/13

It’s not bad or unwatchable but despite the amplitude of the spectacle, the end result is underwhelming.

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Marva
2004/11/14

It is an exhilarating, distressing, funny and profound film, with one of the more memorable film scores in years,

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Caryl
2004/11/15

It is a whirlwind of delight --- attractive actors, stunning couture, spectacular sets and outrageous parties. It's a feast for the eyes. But what really makes this dramedy work is the acting.

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Tony
2004/11/16

Awful acting, terrible dialogue. Uses a shocking story to just show tits and bums, juvenile in the extreme. This pretends to portray a very horrific story, but uses it for it's own puerile needs.Far better has been done before, this belongs to the sexploitation genre.

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Tammy08
2004/11/17

I watched this film with a mix of dread and anguish. At more than one point I was shouting at the screen; 'No, no! Oh Lord! Don't kill her! Oh let her go!'And other pointless instructions. The victims were tragic specially victim number two, the addle brained young hooker who, on being fooled into believing she was being arrested was taken to the cousins home and started to realise something was wrong, quietly begged Kenneth Bianchi 'you aren't gonna hurt me, are you, Mister?'While Angelo Buono was in the bedroom preparing her death bed. According to the sleeve notes in the UK DVD version, the genius level producer Mr Hamish McAlpine wanted to make clear that these two men were not role models, after being accused of making Ted Bundy and Ed Gein, the other two serial killer subjects of his films too sympathetic. Well, he succeeded! Evil swines, both of them. Mr Buono died of a heart attack a bit back but Mr Bianchi is still in prison, lying and fooling those around him that he is a changed man! My favourite scene was when that black pimp and his gang threatened the twosome with guns and Ken was begging for his life, even though sparky little Angelo stood up to them. One slight niggling complaint; Mr Nicholas Turturro who portrayed Mr Buono was far too handsome and clever in a cocky posturing macho way. The real Mr Buono was an ugly slow witted low life who didn't kill before or after Mr Bianchi came into his life. Also, I think there should have been some kind of sequel made, where Mr Bianchi took on the whole forensic psychological profession with his faked tale of Multiple Personality Disorder and held them to a draw for a good while, till he was seen through. THAT would make a whole film in itself. All the same - whenever two men come to repair anything in my home, I always make sure neither of them can get behind me with a rope, just in case!

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boyinflares
2004/11/18

This film turned out to be much more than I thought that it was going to be, most notably, it was extremely disturbing and at times I found myself not able to watch - particularly the rapes and deaths of the poor women. The Hillside Strangler(s) played their roles well, both utterly convincing and rather frightening. Allison Lange was fantastic as the long-suffering Claire. I wouldn't recommend this film to anyone who is faint-hearted. It was a good film, but so disturbing. There was plenty of nudity, offensive language, drug use and violence splashed throughout the movie, but the treatment of the women was so shocking. For that reason, I cannot give this film a rating.

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Wednes
2004/11/19

If you've seen the other serial killer movies by Tartan films, you'll get exactly what you expect from this film: actors you haven't seen in awhile steeped in extreme violence with not a whole lot of emphasis on the facts. There are some gruesome scenes here, though tamer than the actual crimes of the Hillside Stranglers. Pretty good performances all around, but not excellent. Some interesting camera work, better than you'd expect from a film with so low a budget. I was concerned by the casting of Turturro and Howell, having had a fondness for the earlier portrayals by Dennis Farina and Billy Zane. Plus, C Thomas Howell just seemed too cute to play Ken Bianchi. But once I got a look at him, I was shocked by his gaunt, creepy appearance. I sincerely hope he looks better than that in real life.To conclude, this is by no means the movie of the year, but if you liked Tartans Gein, Gacy or Bundy, give this one a watch.

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