best films about serial killers

Started by pete, January 24, 2004, 07:50:28 PM

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godardian

#45
April 17, 2004, 02:05:02 PM
Quote from: ThrindleDoes Texas Chainsaw Massacre count, seeing as it was based (very very very very very loosely) on Ed Gein?

Oh, I didn't think the film had to be about a true-life serial killer; I thought it could be about any serial killer, fictional or non-fictional. Was I mistaken?

I like American Psycho quite a lot more than the average bear, though I don't think the film is really "about" a serial killer; it uses the story of a serial killer, but it's definitely "about" something else. Something more interesting, in fact.
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MacGuffin

#46
April 17, 2004, 02:14:50 PM
Quote from: godardian
Quote from: ThrindleDoes Texas Chainsaw Massacre count, seeing as it was based (very very very very very loosely) on Ed Gein?

Oh, I didn't think the film had to be about a true-life serial killer; I thought it could be about any serial killer, fictional or non-fictional. Was I mistaken?

No. In pete's first post, he lists Talented Mr. Ripley and Silence Of The Lambs (Buffalo Bill was also based on Gein).

And I'm assuming Thrindle meant the original Chainsaw movie. If not, please lie to me.
"Don't think about making art, just get it done. Let everyone else decide if it's good or bad, whether they love it or hate it. While they are deciding, make even more art." - Andy Warhol


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Thrindle

#47
April 18, 2004, 12:05:14 AM
Or I could have been half eyeing xixax while writing about the Social Contract, and just fucked up royally...

Your call.   :-D
Classic.

Reel

#48
July 06, 2012, 10:13:54 PM
Sling Blade
Blow Out
Funny Games
Zodiac
Frailty
The Girl With The Dragon Tattoo ( I prefer the American version )

I've tried to watch Peeping Tom twice. Something about that movie creeps me out to the core and I always have to turn it off.  The voyeuristic aspect, the identification with the killer's gaze makes me feel thoroughly icky. Watching half of a movie that's 50 years old and not particularly bloody, yet having that reaction has led me to the conclusion: it has to be the best Serial killer movie ever. Has to be..

polkablues

#49
July 06, 2012, 11:40:54 PM
I looked back through the thread and nobody mentioned The Vanishing, so I'm rectifying that.

Also, people are confused about the difference between a serial killer and a spree killer.
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Reel

#50
July 07, 2012, 12:06:44 AM
Quote from: polkablues on July 06, 2012, 11:40:54 PM
people are confused about the difference between a serial killer and a spree killer.

Did I get those mixed up?

I just realized that Drive is totally and utterly a serial killer movie

polkablues

#51
July 07, 2012, 12:54:50 AM
You had it pretty much straight (though Funny Games probably counts as spree killers), but then you lost me with Drive. I'm going to need to hear some justification for that one.
My house, my rules, my coffee

Reel

#52
July 07, 2012, 01:03:44 AM
pretty straightforward ( spoilerful )

Definition of a Serial Killer: Someone who murders three or more victims one at a time in a relatively short interval.

Alexandro

#53
July 07, 2012, 01:20:20 AM
natural born killers. such a shame that the anti oliver stone sentiment permeates xixax in such a big way, only GT gave a fuck about this guy. he's  one of the good guys.

polkablues

#54
July 07, 2012, 01:35:02 AM
Quote from: Reelist on July 07, 2012, 01:03:44 AM
pretty straightforward ( spoilerful )

Definition of a Serial Killer: Someone who murders three or more victims one at a time in a relatively short interval.

That's the definition of a spree killer.  A serial killer kills multiple people in a planned manner over a long period of time, for the sake of killing.
My house, my rules, my coffee

Reel

#55
July 07, 2012, 03:17:57 AM
I found a lengthier definition of Serial Killing:

A person who murders three or more people over a period of more than thirty days, with a 'cooling off' period between each murder, and whose motivation for killing is largely based on psychological gratification

so Drive wouldn't fit the criteria. Thanks for playing!

ElPandaRoyal

#56
July 07, 2012, 09:21:23 AM
Quote from: Reelist on July 06, 2012, 10:13:54 PM
I've tried to watch Peeping Tom twice. Something about that movie creeps me out to the core and I always have to turn it off.  The voyeuristic aspect, the identification with the killer's gaze makes me feel thoroughly icky. Watching half of a movie that's 50 years old and not particularly bloody, yet having that reaction has led me to the conclusion: it has to be the best Serial killer movie ever. Has to be..

It is one of the best movies ever. Of any genre.
Si

MacGuffin

#57
July 07, 2012, 11:33:02 AM
Quote from: Reelist on July 07, 2012, 03:17:57 AM
so Drive wouldn't fit the criteria. Thanks for playing!

Neither would Taxi Driver.
"Don't think about making art, just get it done. Let everyone else decide if it's good or bad, whether they love it or hate it. While they are deciding, make even more art." - Andy Warhol


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Jeremy Blackman

#58
July 07, 2012, 12:22:25 PM
Quote from: polkablues on July 07, 2012, 12:54:50 AMFunny Games probably counts as spree killers

I'm not sure. The movie suggests that they've done it before and will do it again, perhaps even on a larger time scale. The deliberateness and competence with which they go about their deeds also pushes it toward the serial killer category for me, combined with all the obvious psychological stuff.

Reel

#59
July 07, 2012, 01:11:31 PM
I guess serial killer movies can be defined kind of like Potter Stewart's defintion of pornography, " You know it when you see it. "
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