The Hillside Strangler (2004)

User Rating:

5.3/10   

Director:

Chuck Parello

Writers:

Stephen Johnston (writer)
Chuck Parello (writer)

Release Date:

12 November 2004 (UK)

Genre:

Crime | Horror | Thriller

Tagline:

Based On A True Story

Plot:

In the end of the 70's, the dysfunctional Kenneth Bianchi lives with his mother and is obsessed to join the police force...

Plot Keywords:

Serial Killer | Murder | Nude Woman Murdered | Uncle | Bag Over Head

Cast

C. Thomas Howell	...	Kenneth A. Bianchi
Nicholas Turturro	...	Angelo Buono
Allison Lange	...	Claire Shelton
Marisol Padilla Sánchez	...	Christina Chavez
Jennifer Tisdale	...	Erin (as Jennifer Kelly Tisdale)
Kent King	...	Gabrielle (as Kent Masters-King)
Aimee Brooks	...	Felicia Waller
Natasha Melnick	...	Karyn
Damon Whitaker
Brandin Rackley	...	Janice Cooley
Jessica Allegra	...	April
Roz Witt	...	Frances Bianchi
Lin Shaye	...	Jenny Buono
Tricia Dickson	...	Heather Brewer
Kylie Rachel	...	Peaches (as Kylie Rachellle)

MPAA:

Rated R for psychopathic violence, strong sexuality, nudity, pervasive language, sexual dialogue and drug use.

Runtime:

USA:97 min | USA:98 min (unrated version)

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

1.85 : 1

Sound Mix:

Dolby

Certification:

Iceland:16 | Australia:MA (TV rating) | Finland:K-15 (DVD) (2005) | Finland:K-18 (TV rating) (2007) (self applied) | USA:R | UK:18 | Australia:R | Norway:18

Movie Connections:

References Devil in Miss Jones (1973)

Good Docudrama and Exploitation Flick

This movie is not for the faint of heart. These two men were sadistic, woman hating thugs but it transcends the genre by presenting them as human and bad, not as stereotypical Hollywood killing machines or some victim of uncontrollable compulsions. It was certainly better than earlier flicks that only hinted at their lifestyle. C.T. Howell's Ken Bianchi is a little overdone but he does a good job as portraying him as a liar, geek, sadist, weakling and a con man with a smidgen of humanity. Nick Turturro stole the show with his over-the-top Angelo Buono who was a real goon in the Soprano style of "lovable" Italian sadists. The movie takes a slap at Italian macho man culture but in the case of these two goons, it isn't offensive or unwarranted. Even before they slapped their first women, you got to really dislike them as Nick took his weaker cousin on a journey through the tawdry sexual night life of LA. The way they duped the small town girls with their phony modeling agency spiel then forced them to be whores was a good warm up to their later murder spree. Good late night flick, but definitely not for your date or the sensitive type!