Head Cases: Serial Killers in the Delaware Valley (2013) User Reviews

Boring

[befoulmetalroosa · 3/10 · 7 May 2016]

This was relentless. Relentlessly dull and unimaginative. It looks to be a sequel of sorts to the first one, entitled "The Ritual." This one was done in a more DiscoveryID docudrama way, which didn't really help it at all. The older characters were dumpy and bland, and the young 'proteges' were lackluster. The video footage portraying the 'murders' lacked any sort of realism. The only one that I was discomfited by was the anal rape with the bowie knife.

Both Montgomery's mother and wife were the ultimate uberbi****s, which really underscored Montgomery's milquetoast demeanor. I mean, I get that a serial killer that is the most unassuming and non-confrontational man ever would be an interesting twist. The 'he was so quiet. Very polite and courteous. Willing to help anyone' type of person. However, that particular characterization in this film just made it fall flat. It's tough to believe that a man with so little testicular fortitude would be capable of kidnapping and killing people.

Sick and twisted

[franciscofabi · 1/10 · 17 July 2017]

This is a film I watched and was very sorry that I did. It is what is wrong with films today. That is "Filmmakers are no longer Filmmakers" but "Idea Men" who have no clear cut vision on how to make something good just flashy.

This is a fictional film that makes what you are seeing is a real case! In this Serial killer Wayne Montgomery is alleged to have committed 41 murders between 1979 and 2007, leaving behind an extensive found footage library of his work.

Please don't watch this.

Unnecessary and violent

[swallockbetty · 1/10 · 9 November 2020]

So this is a spoof? Of a serial killer? It's very disturbingly graphic. Clever in some ways with the so called real footage interviews. But, really, why make stuff like this? Why did I watch it, goodness knows. I thought at first it was a real crime documentary. I normally watch those as its interesting to look at the psychological reasons behind crime. This is just gross. I wish I hadn't watched it. Don't bother wasting your time, it's unpleasant, gory, and the result of a twisted film maker.

really people 6 point to this ?

[zouzi33 · 1/10 · 7 October 2015]

You know, I got that people like imagination and fiction etc, but when you create a serial killer and make it look like a documentary, it's fraud for me, A Movie by defenition is about imagination, selling a story to an audience, who know that it's not THE TRUTH, but want to escape in imagination land, a DOCUMENTARY is something that's REAL, so when you combine both and one of them is false (the documentary part)...well it's a fraud, people want the truth, there's enough serial killers outhere, we don't need a fake one, so please don't waste my time, 5mn into the movie I did a google search and find out its all a fake, I was desappointed and stopped the movie...I LIKE THE TRUTH or at least make it a REAL MOVIE.

awful!

Made on a low budget which shows at times but superior to a lot of found footage films.

[Pairic · 6/10 · 3 May 2018]

Head Cases: Serial Killers In The Delaware Valley: A faux documentary or rather faux docu-drama about Wayne Montgomery committed 41 murders between 1979 (first being his babysitter when he was 9) and 2007, leaving behind an extensive library of his life's work consisting of video-tapes, sound recordings, photographs and journals.

His mother and his accomplices speak to camera. His acolytes include his stepson, wife and other young people. His stepson and others carry on Wayne's "Work".

Made on a low budget which shows at times but superior to a lot of found footage films. 6/10

Shocking, Can't believe it was made.....

[terdisarge · 1/10 · 8 July 2019]

I am very used to watching serial killer documentary films with photos etc and not a lot shocks me.

This docu film thriller is no better than a snuff movie.

The films story was excellent but to use real footage of the killers victims is unnecessary and disrespectful to say the least......

How this film got the ok I cannot imagine, actual footage of someone being drowned in a bath, a head smashed in and then the bag removed so the injuries can be seen no blurring, no attempt to hide the victims faces at all.

There is even a picture of the killers daughter in a comatose drugged state after her parents had given her to another sicko as a gift.

To make absolutely no attempt to disguise victims faces is unjustifiable and unforgivable, there is graphic scenes such as the daughter begging her father to stop and asking her mother for help. God only knows what he was doing to her.

Reconstructions would have been adequate or at the very least blurring of victims faces.

I never write reviews but I am truly horrified and shocked at this film and wish I could unsee it.

Unless you are into snuff films, watching real footage of people begging not to be killed and grown men screaming like babies then don't watch it.

You have been warned......

Interesting

[BandSAboutMovies · 6/10 · 20 September 2020]

Recently re-released by Wild Eye - who were kind enough to send us a copy - Head Case: Home Movies of a Serial Killer is the first in a series of found footage style that also includes Head Case: Last Days of a Serial Killer, Head Case: Post-Mortem, Head Cases: Serial Killers in the Delaware Valley, Head Case: The Lost Tapes and Head Case: Legacy.

While the murders by Wayne and Andrea Montgomery are similar to other serial kills - the IMDB page claims that there was some inspiration from Canadian serial killers Paul Bernardo and Karla Homolka, they are unique fictional characters who have filmed every one of their murders. While this gives them a momento of each kill, it also seems like it gives the police plenty of evidence.

Wayne Montgomery (Paul McCloskey) is a normal guy. Well, you know, except for all the murder, which he uses to cope with the stresses of trying to live the American dream. He used to kill more often before he married his bossy wife Andrea (Barbara Lessin). Now, he's decided to start all over again, bringing his wife along for the ride.

The entire project is fascinating, as there was no actual shooting script. There was a detailed treatment of the story, with extensive histories on the main character. However, the dialogue is completely improvised based on bullet points given to the actors at the start of each shooting day.

Anthony Spadaccini is the director of all of these films. While found footage is not my style, I can appreciate the volume of content he's created with these characters. If it's more your kind of thing, you'd do well to seek this film out. Horror fans will also be pleased to see Brinke Stevens in the cast as Wayne's mother.

Head Cases a film by Anthony Spadccini a review by Eric Adams

[clayton0620 · 8/10 · 29 May 2014]

Head Cases a film by Anthony Spadaccini A Review by Eric Adams

The term mocumentary has been thrown around a lot over the last five years and does not do the film Head Cases justice. This film by Anthony Spadaccini would be more suited being described as a psychological thriller and a horror roller coaster.

Accompanied by great casting for every character, the first thing I noticed is the excellent acting. Paul McCloskey seemed to be the perfect fit for the lead character of Wayne Montgomery. Even with a strong performance by Paul, I would say Barbara Lessin as Andera Montgomery(Wayne's Wife) and Brinke Stevens as Juile Quin (Wayne's Mom) some how still seem to steal the show. Barbara Lessin has no trouble playing the wife of Wayne Montgomery and her big, beautiful, black eyes add a darkness to the Andera Montgomery character. There is a combination of strength and almost an innocence in Andera Montgomery's voice as she narrates over old pictures and video recordings, leaving you with an uneasy feeling caused by a mixture of empathy for Andera and something unknown as your instinct questions you. Then there is Wayne's mother... Julia Quinn. There is a fire in Julia Quinn's eyes, an evil that you can only find in a mothers eyes. There is a wickedness in the Julia Montgomery character that only seems to grow when she smiles. I paused the movie at one point to use the restroom, when I came back Julia Quinn was on the screen staring at me. Haunting simply haunting. Even the child/teenage actors add to this movie. I can't tell you how many good movies I have seen before that were taken down a notch because of bad child acting, this is not the case here. In particular Emily Spiegel as Monica Montgomery and Joey Garrisin as Micheal Jared Stratten did very well.

Besides good acting, Head Cases has beautiful cinematography as well. Every scene was well thought out from where the camera is to how a scene is framed. This movie also has beautiful color and a skillful use of lighting. The set lighting in Head Cases is well thought out and I would go as far to say an educated use of found and natural lighting. With this, you can see Anthony Spadaccini loves making movies, knows what he is doing, and didn't just pick up a camera and go with it. There is a perfect mix of using photography, old video recordings, and audio recordings for character development and plot development as well. I feel it might be unfair if I don't point out the great photography in Head Cases as well. You feel as if you are looking thru a friends or neighbors photo album and that these pictures existed long before this movie was thought of, adding to the realness and overall eeriness of the film.

The special effects in Head Cases are flawless for this type of film. If Head Cases were made by someone other than Spadaccini, it would have been a different film altogether. First the fake blood used looked great. The amount of blood used and when only adds to the relentlessness of Head Cases. This is not a splatter-fest like Adam Chaplin or Tokyo Gore Police but fans of that type of film will not be disappointed. While at the same time, the use of blood only adds to this physiological roller coaster, and will not disenfranchise the film goer who may not be fans of the splatter-fest films.

The use of dialogue in this film is something to note as well. Every line from every character seems real and nothing seems forced or out of place. Besides the good writing, the soundtrack also caught my hear. A lot of directors of horror movies fall into the trap of adding kick ass songs from bands they like but forcing them into the movie. Leaving viewers like myself actually liking the soundtrack more than the movie. I can't tell you how many times I have bought the soundtrack to a film but not the film. This is not the case with Head Cases. The main portion of music I remember is classical/piano and used as in between music and/or to add to a scene. The music used to build and also intensify what you are watching was also great. And isn't that what a good soundtrack should do?

After I was done watching Head Cases, I went outside for a cigarette. Suddenly I realized I was looking next door at my neighbors house wondering, what was really on inside there on this quite and peaceful night? I laughed to myself as I realized this movie had stuck with me. There are certain movies as you are watching them or as soon as you are done you know this film will be with you for a few days. This is one of the things that makes Head Cases such a dangerous film. As you are watching Head Cases you only feel as if you are watching a good movie. Then suddenly, you realize Head Cases had indeed slipped inside your own head and left a mark on your subconscious.

I would indeed recommend to everyone, buy this film. Before I saw Head Cases I had already pre purchased this film and even now that I have seen Head Cases, I still can't wait to get it in the mail to watch again. Thank you for your time and keep living the dream. :)

Really got under my skin

[jcarly89 · 9/10 · 2 November 2013]

Head Cases: Serial Killers in the Delaware Valley is the fourth film in the Head Case series of 'found footage' horror films. It takes a different approach than the previous films, playing as more of a "true crime" documentary. Head Cases borrows elements from some real-life murder cases (including the Luka Magnotta case). Head Cases provides an intimate, far more sympathetic view of Wayne. He's a severely flawed nobody, abused by the women in his life. To him, murder is an outlet. It's an interesting approach, one hinted on but never explored in the other films. Barbara Lessin's role as Andrea Montgomery is limited to prison interviews, but she is very effective as she tells her side of the story. I really liked the story in this movie, how it explores the events of the previous films, then leads into the aftermath - how a serial killer's life's work can inspire copycats. It's a concept explored in other movies, but rarely as effectively as it's done here. I think this was my favorite of all the installments. It's suspenseful, disturbing, and really got under my skin.

Shocking, entertaining and extremely well done.

[sara-mccleaf · 9/10 · 20 December 2013]

This film will not disappoint. It ties the three prior films together in a way that is clever and entertaining. This is an excellent documentary style film that takes you even deeper into the minds of the killers. It helps you to understand the time lines of the events that occurred in each of the prior films. It gives you a better understanding of the overlapping of the story-lines from the first three films. With that being said, I would suggest watching the first three films first, so you have a better understanding of what is going on. A great deal of thought was put into this film and honestly, I think they nailed it. If you are looking for a disturbing and articulately done film, this is the one for you. If you cringe easily, this is not the film for you.

Brilliantly intense and keeps you guessing.

[curtislexxbooking · 10/10 · 7 June 2015]

This movie is great. It's defiantly intense and keeps you guessing. I definitely enjoyed this film all the way through! The acting is phenomenal and proves how you can have a main cast of young, fresh faced actors without sacrificing talent, charisma, or effectiveness. You can't help but feel sorry for Wayne Montgomery once you see his background and understand what made him so crazy.

Though it's a dark film, they creatively threw in a few hilarious one-liners, which really helped colorize the entire body of work. The story is very well written and orchestrated, keeping you on the edge of your seat from the very beginning!! I recommend buying this and watching every night! Well…Not every night, but almost every night... okay, fine, well once per week at the very least.

Best Possible End to the Series

[gregbastien76 · 10/10 · 19 November 2013]

Let me start by saying, "oh my God." As a fan of all of the films in the series, I must say, I can't think of a better way this could have ended. Head Cases was a standout. It was done in the style of a 48 Hours Mystery type of documentary. It gathered all the pieces of every story and brought it all together in a seamless and incredible package. I honestly think I enjoyed this the most, even more than the original. The acting was fantastic, as usual. Very well cast. The cinematography was also quite stunning. Very minimalist, yet I couldn't pry myself away from the screen. The footage in this felt so authentic. I believe some of it was, but I can't tell what is and what isn't, truth be told. It's clear how much care was put into the fine details. It definitely paid off. The direction the movie headed was fantastic. In the opening scene, we are presented with a quote from Wayne Montgomery that reads, "I'm passing on my knowledge, so it won't die when I do." Without revealing any detail, this just gives you an idea of where the film is headed. Many twists and turns develop in the last of the series. Things I definitely did not see coming. It was impressive how many plots were tied together and in the conclusion were still presented with new and surprising material. Definitely the most impressive film of the bunch. All of my questions were answered and my mind was blown yet again. I am thankful to have been introduced to the series, it's been an awesome ride.

Relentless Intensity

[jtglover44 · 8/10 · 24 October 2015]

"Head Cases: Serial Killers in the Delaware Valley" tells the story of serial killer Wayne Montgomery, an unremarkable nobody - and serial killer - from a small town who immortalizes his life of murder by videotaping every moment, sharing it with the world, and inspiring a slew of copycats and wannabes. The style of "Head Cases" is taken right from something you might see on ID, except it avoids poking fun at the subject matter. "Head Cases" is well-done and just plain scary as hell. The intensity of "Head Cases" is relentless from the opening moments and doesn't let up for its first hour, before briefly evolving into a drama in its 2nd act as the focus of the story shifts to the main character's issues with his mom. The story reverts back to its relentless intensity in the final act as loose ends are tied up. By the end, I realized that I was subconsciously rooting for the killers. It was interesting to see everything come full circle and most of the story's outstanding questions are answered in a satisfying way. The best performances in Head Cases belong to Barbara Lessin and Mark Cray. Lessin's Andrea Montgomery (Wayne's ex-wife) sits in a jail cell and tells her side of the story long after the fact. Her performance is haunting and subdued - she claims remorseful for her part in the murders yet insists that she was manipulated by a life of abuse by the men in her life. As a viewer, I kept going back and forth on whether I felt sorry for her, a testament to Lessin's strong performance. Cray's John Craven (Wayne's stepson) is a creepy sociopath with a taste for the macabre. He tells his side of the story from an unknown location, gleefully regaling his audience with his tales of murder. It's clear he's manipulating the viewers and he simply doesn't care. Cray is so convincing that I was relieved when I watched an interview he did online and saw that he seems like a normal guy. I felt a similar relief towards the movie itself: I was relieved that none of the events or characters actually happened and was relieved that it was over. The relentless intensity from beginning to end led me to enjoy the aftermath much more.

Twisted and terrifying...stayed with me

[sandraclin · 9/10 · 11 October 2015]

A twisted and terrifying story of a serial killer who videotapes every single murder. But it doesn't stop with his death. Future generations decide to imitate him (not too much unlike how every mass shooter tries to imitate the Columbine killers). Movies like this are not for everyone. There are some scenes of blood and gore, but it's not that kind of movie. It's not even really a horror movie, at least in my opinion. It comes across as real for the purposes of style (probably the director's best feat, making it seem real), but it's not real, nor is it supposed to be. The movie isn't perfect by any means (it's long, for one thing), but it gets this rating because it stayed with me long after I finished watching it. As the time I'm typing this, we've had two school shootings in the past week and each one seems like it's imitating the previous one. The idea that some impressionable kids with issues could end up imitating a serial killer is not that far off. I hope it never happens, but it could.

About as real as it could be without using the actual footage.

[rucampbell · 10/10 · 20 October 2019]

Shot as a documentary this is performed by actors who faithfully recreate the scenes of the murders and the graphic detail of the torture of victims of Wayne Montgomery (41 victims estimated) and his partners and protégés. They video taped it all over 20 years (bit dumb) he gruesomely slaughters random people for fun and '...don't feel anything. They're nobody's.'. Eventually his reign does unravel but it's as close as being there as you're going to get without actually going out an slaughtering 41 people.

The real horror is both the callousness and enjoyment everyone involved clearly took in it all. Some people found it hard to watch but I didn't personally-just found it a fascinating account

Why has this been aired?

[nadine_greenock · 9 April 2021]

I watched this film believing it was just another murder documentary 😳

Advice: DO NOT PRESS PLAY!!!

HOW THE HELL CAN THIS BE LEGAL TO SHOW?! As if i wasnt scared of people as it is.. this film is truely sick and should not be aired. It takes alot for me to say this but i am horrified on a new level.