"To Catch a Killer" tells the true gruesome story of John Wayne Gacy - a good friend and helpful neighbour, a great child entertainer, a respectful businessman, and a violent serial killer ...
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Title: To Catch a Killer (TV Movie 1992)
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Cast
| Cast overview, first billed only: | |||
| Brian Dennehy | ... | John Wayne Gacy | |
| Michael Riley | ... | Joe Kozenczak | |
| Margot Kidder | ... | Rachel Grayson | |
| Meg Foster | ... | Attorney Carlson | |
| Martin Julien | ... | Koslo | |
| Scott Hylands | ... | Paxton | |
 |
David Eisner | ... | Williams |
|
|
John Boylan | ... | Atkins |
| Tony De Santis | ... | DeMarco (as Tony DeSantis) | |
| Mark Humphrey | ... | King | |
|
|
Gary Reineke | ... | Petrie |
| Tim Progosh | ... | Morris | |
|
|
Danny Pawlick | ... | Santori |
| Bruce Ramsay | ... | Bragg | |
| Brenda Bazinet | ... | Alice Pearson | |
Edit
Plot Summary
|
Plot Synopsis
Storyline
"To Catch a Killer" tells the true gruesome story of John Wayne Gacy - a good friend and helpful neighbour, a great child entertainer, a respectful businessman, and a violent serial killer who raped and murdered over 30 young boys. Written by Jaromir Krol <jaromirk@kr.onet.pl>
Parents Guide:
View content advisory »
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See full technical specs »
Details
Language:
EnglishRelease Date:
15 May 1992 (USA) See more »Also Known As:
To Catch a Killer See more »Filming Locations:
Toronto, Ontario, CanadaCompany Credits
Production Co:
Creative Entertainment Group,Libra Pictures,Telestories Entertainment Inc. See more »
Show more on
IMDbPro »
Technical Specs
Runtime:
(video) | (video) | (video)Sound Mix:
StereoColor:
ColorAspect Ratio:
1.33 : 1
Edit
See more »
Did You Know?
Trivia
Like John Wayne Gacy, Brian Dennehy is a very burly man. However in real-life Dennehy is much taller than the real-life John Wayne Gacy. Gacy was only 5'8" while Brian Dennehy stands at a solid 6'2". See more »Goofs
Gacy did work for the Republican Party not the Dems as stated by Judge, when Detective looking for a warrant. See more »Quotes
John Wayne Gacy: Oh Mr. Policeman, don't you know a clown can get away with murder?See more »
Brian Dennehey BECOMES John Wayne Gacy, as you watch this film you can only imagine the horrible fate of the victims.
The beginning starts out with Robert Piest, well portrayed, who is picked up by Gacy for construction work (this was his method of trolling for young boys). Gacy owned his own contracting company in Des Plaines, Illinois.
The actress who is Piest's mother is heart-rending; as she pleads with the police to take her son's disappearance seriously. In the Chicago area a missing person is nothing new, but it was her birthday and Rob never showed up. ..." He would never run away from home... he is not that type of boy"..., she mentions, and Detective Joe Koczenczak (very well portrayed by Michael Riley) takes notice of the situation.
Dennehey is superb, when the police first visit Gacy's house in Des Plaines, we can feel the menacing evil and rage simmering just below the surface. Gacy shows the police his pictures with Rosalynn Carter, his promotion as manager of Kentucky Fried Chicken, and his "commendations" for contributions to local police and firefighters (a fixation common among sociopaths; they are very high functioning, and socially enjoy manipulating authority figures).
Gacy also apparently used drugs to lure young men to his house, there are several scenes where he uses Qualuudes, and the detectives are following him, realizing the extent of his social connections. What is so horrifying is that, on the surface, Gacy was a well-liked businessman who had many friends. He was not a reclusive psycho who stood out in the crowd.
As Detective Koczenczack becomes more frustrated trying to mount evidence against Gacy he is thwarted many times by D.A. Meg Foster, who cannot make a case if Gacy's rights are violated. The case is interesting and disturbing all the more so because it is true. Margot Kidder also has a cameo as a psychic, who relays to Koczenzack that there are many, many more victims; this will not be an easy case.
The soundtrack at the end, as they are searching for more victims, and pan out over the cemetery, is very haunting. So sad for any of the parents and young men who were affected by this monster, John Wayne Gacy, who was executed in 1994.