Dear Mr. Gacy

I wasn't sure I wanted to watch another moralistic 'movie-of-the-week' about a serial killer since they are usually whitewashed beyond recognition to make them palatable to mainstream America.

When I found out this was based on the true story of a college student contacting John Wayne Gacy in prison before he was executed, however, I thought I would give it a chance.

It all starts like a 'docudrama' by the look of the cast, but with the first glimpse of the gritty characterization of Jason's mother, this film took on a much edgier realism than I was expecting. It seemed to me that I had not seen a woman like this before - not pretty, not likable, not whitewashed.

In fact, none of the characters were Hollywood suburban - they were conflicted, vulnerable, angry, manipulative and contradictory. And, 'Jason Moss' takes us on a journey that seems ordinary at first, but step by step, the tension ramps up and we soon find ourselves betting against higher and higher stakes on a happy ending.

What we end up experiencing is an intense and uncomfortable story that goes far deeper into the psyche of Gacy and anyone who came into contact with him than the usual fare. The acting is superb on everyone's part, especially Jesse Moss and William Forsythe - so much so that I had a hard time connecting to the pix of the real people at the end of the film.

This is one of the best studies of serial murderers that I have ever seen. Watch it but be prepared to go places that aren't 'nice'. People are much scarier than we care to believe - an idea that John Wayne Gacy used skillfully to entrap his victims up until the end.

This is a difficult movie to watch. I rented it over the holiday week for entertainment.

I felt the movie draws the viewer into the emotional sea of conflict and any flick that can do that, in my estimation is superior.

Certain parts are very difficult because they deal with sexuality , ciminiality and morals all at once.

The flick should not be rejected simply because it might to thought to be anti-gay. There were parts that I thought could pander to homophobic people.

I would recommend it and advise imagine you are 18 years old and dealing with a psychological experiment where you become the bait for the vampire.

For a college term paper, a rather naive young man named Jason Moss (played by actor improbably named Jesse Moss) decides to interview notorious, real-life serial killer John Wayne Gacy (William Forsythe). The story, which is true, is set in the early 1990s.

Gacy was convicted in 1980 of killing over thirty Chicago area boys and young men in the 1970s, and was on death row when Moss sent Gacy the initial written inquiry. Through the plot, the two correspond via letter and talk on the phone. Eventually, Gacy arranges for a personal visit from Moss.

Jason comes across as smart, ambitious, and a bit smug and cocky. At no time does he express any genuine interest in Gacy as a person. Instead, Jason hopes to gain the confidence of Gacy so as to learn details about Gacy's experiences that law enforcement and the FBI were unable to learn. Jason's motives are thus somewhat selfish, and aimed at furthering his own academic career. I really didn't much sympathize with him or his tactics. And of course Gacy, the killer who dressed up as a clown, was truly evil. In short, there's no one to root for in this film.

This is an unusual movie in that close-up camera shots of characters comprise much, if not most, of the scenes. Lighting is conventional. The film offers little in the way of suspense. It comes across as a TV docu-drama. Casting and acting are acceptable.

For viewers interested in true crime stories, "Dear Mr. Gacy" offers a strange after-the-fact twist to a dreadful episode. And at the film's very end, the script makes a startling revelation about one of the real-life characters.

Based on the true story of 18 year old college student Jason Moss (Jesse Moss), who finds himself in way over his head when he begins a relationship with notorious serial killer John Wayne Gacy (William Forsythe). As part of a term paper for his criminology class, Moss sends a letter to Gacy on death row, portraying himself as vulnerable with the hopes of eventually gaining his trust and getting inside the mind of this killer to possibly learn more about his crimes. A relationship between the two begins through letters and eventually phone calls, as Jason tries not to lose his own identity while being brought into Gacy's world.

Jesse Moss, whom I'd only seen previously in smaller roles, most notably "Ginger Snaps", shows he can hold his own as a lead. The real stand out, however, was William Forsythe. Remarkably intense and creepy, he seemed to embody John Wayne Gacy. It was one of the best portrayals I've seen of Gacy to date and rivaled that of Brian Dennehy's.

Well paced thriller with a good amount of creepy.

I like it when there's a character who transforms in a movie. Moss becomes involved with Gacy who gets inside his head and stirs up some trouble. We see his character sink lower and lower as a result of his obsession. The fact that this is based on a true story where the student becomes successful but still succumbs to something dark and commits suicide brings layers to this movie; and a yearning to know many more details of what really happened between these two men.

Forsythe and Moss have good chemistry and depth.

I recommend. I will be very surprised if you do not google this story after viewing - I did.