Killer: A Journal of Murder (1996)

User Rating:

6.3/10   

Director:

Tim Metcalfe

Writers (WGA):

Thomas E. Gaddis (book) and
James Long (book) ...

Release Date:

6 September 1996 (USA)

Genre:

Biography | Crime | Drama | Thriller

Tagline:

Liar. Thief. Murderer. He hated all of humanity, himself most of all.

Plot:

Carl Panzram is sent to Leavenworth Prison for burglary. While there, he is brutally beaten by a guard...

Plot Keywords:

Prison | Serial Killer | Mass Murderer | Based On Book | Based On True Story

Awards:

2 wins & 1 nomination

Cast

James Woods	...	Carl Panzram
Robert Sean Leonard	...	Henry Lesser
Ellen Greene	...	Elizabeth Wyatt
Cara Buono	...	Esther Lesser
Robert John Burke	...	R.G. Greiser
Richard Riehle	...	Warden Quince
Harold Gould	...	Old Henry Lesser
John Bedford Lloyd	...	Dr. Karl Menninger
Jeffrey DeMunn	...	Sam Lesser
Conrad McLaren	...	Judge John W. Kingman
Steve Forrest	...	Warden Charles Casey
Richard Council	...	Cop
Christopher Petrosino	...	Richard Lesser
Michael Jeffrey Woods	...	Harry Sinclair (as Michael Jeffery Woods)
Rob Locke Jones	...	Junkie

Also Known As:

The Killer

MPAA:

Rated R for strong language and strong, brutal violence, including a rape.

Runtime:

91 min

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Color:

Black and White | Color (Technicolor)

Aspect Ratio:

1.85 : 1

Sound Mix:

Dolby SR

Certification:

Iceland:16 | South Korea:18 | Finland:K-16 (video premiere) | Germany:18 | Spain:18 | USA:R

Filming Locations:

Connecticut, USA

Company:

Breakheart Films

Trivia:

The film is dedicated to Sam Peckinpah because The Wild Bunch (1969) inspired director 'Metcalfe, Tim' to become a director.

Goofs:

Continuity: The amount of beer in Henry Lesser's glass at the speakeasy.

Quotes:

Carl Panzram: Hey chicken ass, good day for a hanging, huh?

Movie Connections:

Referenced in Tomorrow by Midnight (1999)

Soundtrack:

WE TRIED TO REACH FOR THE MOON

Been there done that

Did anyone see "Murder in the First"? That film dealt a little better with prison reform. Here, Woods overacts his way through many beatings, blaming society for his woes. I know this is based on a true story, but all the film did was convince me prison should be tough but not torturous. Boy, this film sure had a cheap look to it as well. I give this a 4.