Murder Movie Makers

Serial killers, mass murderers, spree killers, outlaws, and real-life homicidal maniacs have long held a grim fascination for both filmmakers and viewers. Since the 1970s, hundreds of films and television movies have been made covering killer from Charles Manson to Ted Bundy and the Zodiac Killer creating a uniquely morbid sub-genre within horror and thrillers. This collection of interviews sheds light on 17 filmmakers and screenwriters who tackled this controversial subject while attempting to explore the warped world of infamous killers. The interviews include John McNaughton (Henry: Portrait of a Serial Killer), Tom Hanson (The Zodiac Killer), David Wickes (Jack the Ripper), Chris Gerolmo (Citizen X), Chuck Parello (The Hillside Stranglers), David Jacobson (Dahmer) and Clive Saunders on his ill-fated experience directing Gacy. Offering candid insights into the creative process behind these movies, the interviews also show the pitfalls and moral controversy the filmmakers had to wrestle with to bring their visions to the screen.

Matthew Edwards is a primary school teacher and freelance writer from Cirencester, England. He is the author or editor of numerous books on world cinema.

Matthew Edwards
Format: softcover (7 x 10)
Pages: 216
Bibliographic Info: 45 photos, notes, bibliography, index
Copyright Date: 2020
pISBN: 978-1-4766-7647-0
eISBN: 978-1-4766-3966-6
Imprint: McFarland

Acknowledgments v

Foreword by Stephen Johnston 1

Introduction 3


 1. The Zodiac Killer: An Interview with Director Tom Hanson (with Scott Hanson) 9

 2. Swastika and Mad Dog Morgan: An Interview with Director Philippe Mora 23

 3. The Black Panther: An Interview with Ian Merrick 42

 4. Angst: A Conversation Between Director Gerald Kargl and Marcus Stiglegger 54

 5. Manson Family Movies: An Interview with Director John ­Aes-Nihil 59

 6. Henry: Portrait of a Serial Killer: An Interview with Director John McNaughton 68

 7. Jack the Ripper: An Interview with Director David Wickes 81

 8. Citizen X: An Interview with Director Chris Gerolmo (with Johanna Edwards) 89

 9. Henry: Portrait of a Serial Killer, Part II, Ed Gein and The Hillside Strangler: An Interview with Director Chuck Parello 100

10. Dahmer: An Interview with Director David Jacobson 118

11. Gacy: An Interview with Director Clive Saunders 130

12. Ann Rule Presents: The Stranger Beside Me: An Interview with Director Paul Shapiro 142

13. Starkweather: An Interview with Director Byron Werner 152

14. Killer Scripts: An Interview with Screenwriter Stephen Johnston 166

15. Gacy and Freeway Killer: An Interview with Screenwriter David Birke 176

16. Jack the Ripper (2016): An Interview with Director Sebastian Niemann 182

17. Joel: An Interview with Director John R. Hand 190


Chapter Notes 201

Bibliography 203

Index 205