Karla (2006)

Director:

Joel Bender

Writers:

Joel Bender (writer)
Manette Rosen (co-writer)
(more)

Release Date:

20 January 2006 (Canada)

Genre:

Crime | Drama | Thriller

Tagline:

The Barbie and Ken of serial killers.

Plot:

Based on real events, Paul Bernardo (Collins) and his wife, Karla Homolka (Prepon), kidnap, sexually abuse, and murder three young girls.

Plot Keywords:

Rape | Face Slap | Profanity | Sexism | Domestic Violence

Cast

Laura Prepon	...	Karla Homolka
Misha Collins	...	Paul Bernardo
Patrick Bauchau	...	Dr. Arnold
Emilie Jacobs	...	Debbie
Alex Boyd	...	Nick
Carole Ita White	...	Waitress
Fiona Manners	...	Rape Victim #1
Shawn Hoffman	...	Detective Steve Kirby
Adam Lieberman	...	Detective Morgan
Cherilyn Hayres	...	Tammy Homolka
William Duffy	...	Detective Porter
Tanya Lemelle	...	Rape Victim #2
Tony Shawkat	...	Border Guard #1
Kristen Honey	...	Tina McCarthy (as Kristen Swieconek)
Cole James	...	Tina's Friend
Tess Harper	...	Molly Czehowicz
Leonard Kelly-Young	...	Dan Czehowicz
Anna Pheil	...	Patricia
Zack DiLiberto	...	Doug
Nikki McCauley	...	Jessie
Sarah Foret	...	Kaitlyn Ross
Anthony John Denison	...	Detective Buroughs (as Tony Denison)
Jeff Doucette	...	Burrough's Partner
Bunny Gibson	...	Kaitlyn's Mother (as Kathleen 'Bunny' Gibson)
Bradford English	...	Kaitlyn's Father
Danielle Burgio	...	Field News Reporter
Stephen Jared	...	Constable Nesbitt
Bradley James	...	Border Guard #2
Vincent Jerosa	...	Hospital Police Officer
Noelle Evans	...	DNA Lab Specialist
John Ross Clark	...	Attorney Warner
Brandon Routh	...	Tim Peters
Philippe Bergeron	...	Attorney Jerome Siegel
rest of cast listed alphabetically:
Dave Michael Beaudrie	...	Police Officer (uncredited)
Ron Brosh	...	Cop (uncredited)
Eileen Dietz	...	Helen (uncredited)
Diana Gitelman	...	Becky Wilson (uncredited)
Choppy Guillotte	...	News Reporter (uncredited)
Angie Hill	...	Juror (uncredited)
Rana McAnear	...	School Girl (uncredited)
Jayme McCabe	...	Bartender (uncredited)
Renée Mignosa	...	Lisa (uncredited)
Ross Patterson	...	Steve (uncredited)

Directed by
Joel Bender

Writing credits (in alphabetical order)
Joel Bender		writer
Manette Rosen		co-writer (as Manette Beth Rosen)
Michael D. Sellers		writer

Produced by
Donald A. Barton	....	executive producer
Richard Goulding	....	executive producer
Robert Keskemety	....	executive producer
Patrick McIntire	....	line producer
Stuart Miller	....	executive producer
Marlon Parry	....	producer
John Remark	....	co-producer
Manette Rosen	....	executive producer
James Schramm	....	executive producer
Michael D. Sellers	....	producer
Pamela Vlastas	....	executive producer

Original Music by
Shawn K. Clement
Tim Jones

Cinematography by
Charles Mills

Film Editing by
Joel Bender

Casting by
Patricia Rose

Production Design by
Freddy Naff

Art Direction by
Clark Gillie

Set Decoration by
Natalie Brun

Costume Design by
Tom Bronson

Makeup Department
Tanja Hrast	....	makeup artist
Renee Loiz	....	assistant makeup artist
Lesley Poling	....	hair stylist
Brandy Dyan Sharp	....	makeup artist (as Brandy Sharp)
Michelle Vreeland	....	hair stylist
Alexis Walker	....	key makeup artist

Production Management
Christopher Landry	....	production supervisor
Nora McDevitt	....	production supervisor: additional photography

Second Unit Director or Assistant Director
Beth J. Linden	....	second second assistant director
Lynnette M. Myers	....	first assistant director
Tammy Oller	....	second assistant director

Art Department
Dominique Cady	....	wardrobe stylist
Christopher Stotridge	....	property master

Sound Department
Tony Kucenski	....	foley artist
Richard Partlow	....	foley artist (as Rick Partlow)
Josh Steinberg	....	sound mixer
Mycel Stokes	....	boom operator
Alejandro Alvarenga	....	sound post-production coordinator (uncredited)

Special Effects by
Mark Linthicum	....	special effects

Stunts
George B. Colucci Jr.	....	stunt coordinator
Dennis Madalone	....	stunt coordinator
Patricia Tallman	....	stunts

Camera and Electrical Department
Tyler Allison	....	camera operator
Joseph Arena	....	first assistant camera
Andrew Babin	....	gaffer
Jean-Philippe Belliard	....	best boy electric
Bruce Birmelin	....	still photographer
Jeffrey Chin	....	electrician
Jody Corttes	....	still photographer
John Curry	....	electrician
Mariah Diehl	....	camera loader
Coby Garfield	....	first assistant camera
John Graham	....	camera operator
Michael Gulbin	....	key grip
Gor Haroutunian	....	grip
Christopher Hughes	....	electrician
Chris Hughes	....	electrician
Tom Kirlin	....	assistant camera
Nicholas Klein	....	grip
Jeff Lynn	....	assistant camera
Matthew E. Pado	....	electrician
Sean Piper	....	best boy grip
Jenny Quam	....	assistant camera
Brian Silva	....	best boy electric: additional photography
Brian Silva	....	gaffer: additional photography
Sean Sutphin	....	camera loader
Amanda Treyz	....	gaffer: additional photography
Brandon Trost	....	director of photography: additional photography
Tim Wattez	....	electrician
Jordan Woods	....	additional photography
Jordan Woods	....	second assistant camera
Mark McIntire	....	grip (uncredited)

Casting Department
John Asuncion	....	extras casting
Amy Kolsky	....	casting associate
Anthony Vlastas	....	casting associate

Costume and Wardrobe Department
Naora Ben-Dov	....	wardrobe supervisor
Noelle Somers	....	wardrobe assistant
Stacy Stagnaro	....	assistant costume designer

Music Department
Nick Delaplane	....	assistant to composer
Brian Mitchell	....	music supervisor

Transportation Department
Richard Rollison	....	transportation coordinator

Other crew
David Bear	....	production assistant: re-shoots
Nancy Brindley	....	script supervisor: additional photography
Chris Bunker	....	production coordinator
Jean-Claude Danois	....	caterer
Philip Dvorak	....	production assistant
Michael Enriquez	....	production assistant
Face'	....	production assistant
Lori Grabowski	....	script supervisor
Lynnette M. Myers	....	action director
Chad Nini	....	production assistant
Judy Rachel	....	script supervisor
Steve Solomon	....	animal wrangler
Jamie R. Thompson	....	location manager
Adrian Vallis	....	production assistant

Production Companies

• Quantum Entertainment
• True Crime Investments LLC

Distributors

• Christal Films (2006) (Canada) (theatrical)
• Quantum Entertainment (2006) (USA) (theatrical)
• Prospero (2006) (Czech Republic) (theatrical)
• Eagle Entertainment (2006) (Australia) (DVD)
• Monterey Media (2006) (USA) (DVD)

Other Companies

• Chapman/Leonard Studio Equipment  camera dollies
• MovieBank  completion financing

Also Known As:

Deadly (Canada: English title) (pre-release title) (USA) (working title)
Karla (Canada: English title) (USA) (working title)

MPAA:

Rated R for brutal psychotic violence including murder, rape and spousal abuse, disturbing sexual content and strong language.

Runtime:

USA:99 min

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

1.85 : 1

Sound Mix:

Dolby Digital

Certification:

Australia:MA | Canada:18A (Ontario) | Canada:16+ (Quebec) | Canada:R (Alberta/British Columbia/Manitoba) | USA:R | Canada:(Banned) (in cities not permitted by the parents of victims including Guelph)

Filming Locations:

Los Angeles, California, USA

Company:

Quantum Entertainment

Trivia:

Except for Tammy Homolka, the names of the victims were changed because of their ages, though the circumstances of their deaths remains the same.

Goofs:

Factual errors: Ontario law states that all vehicles must have license plates on both the front and rear, however none of the vehicles in the film have front plates. This is most likely due to the fact that it was filmed in Las Angeles.

Quotes:

[first lines]
Dr. Arnold: Dear Karla, this is to inform you that after serving 8 years of your 12 year term, you're now eligible for parole. In connection with this eligibility, you are to be transferred to this facility for extended evaluation. After the end of which, it will be my responsibility to recommend for or against parole.

Movie Connections:

References Criminal Law (1988)

A difficult film to watch...

Being Canadian and the fact this film isn't widely available up here I feel compelled to offer some comment on what many consider a tragic story exploited for financial gain to no end.

Those of us that lived this story back in the early 1990's and the subsequent trial of Paul Bernardo and Karla Homolka can attest to the degree of disgust many felt at the crimes these two committed. The film is accurate in many respects as to details of the story, but make no mistake that the details were far more sadistic and brutal than what has been portrayed in this movie. At least to those of us that have read the transcripts of the videotapes that Bernardo took of his victims, and one can hardly blame the director from omitting those details or forcing an actor to play such a role out.

My only beef with this movie however is that it does attempt to paint a picture of Karla Homolka being just as much a victim here as Bernardo, and although no one can deny she was under his influence and subject to this violent outbursts, to suggest she had no control over this situation and simply tagged along for the ride is to suggest that she was just as much a victim of Bernardo as the two murder victims. Those versed in this case know much better and the role she may have played in the death of Kristen French (aka Kaitlyn Ross) is something we'll likely never know as there are those that suggest she was directly responsible for killing the second victim.

The acting in this film is nothing notable, but given the nature of the roles played here it's wonder they found anyone to play these two to begin with. Because of the difficult subject matter I'll let the mediocre acting pass because for it to be much better would almost be like saying the actors immersed themselves perhaps a little too much in characters that most would find revolting and if not downright sickening.

In the final analysis, 'Karla' is a film you'll only watch once and personally I don't think this was necessarily ever meant to be a movie for mass consumption either at the theatre or your local videostore. That being said, Canadians should have the right to see this movie for those so inclined vs. having the state tell us what is suitable or unsuitable for our viewing pleasure as there are movies out on the market FAR more disturbing about real life events than this flick could ever hope to be.