When it comes down to it, all stories—even purely fictional ones—are based in some kernel of truth. Writers, whether they’re novelists, short story authors, or screenwriters, draw inspiration from the world around them, their own lives, and the lives of people they know or meet or read about. Sometimes they want to write about things that happen in real life as accurately as possible, to document, understand, and process them, while other times the inspiration is enough to engage their imaginations and let a whole new story emerge.
Yet there’s no doubt the marketing term “based on a true story” has an undeniable pull for moviegoers, especially in the horror genre. After all, isn’t there something morbidly fascinating about the idea that the terrors we’re witnessing onscreen—whether it’s the rampage of a seemingly unstoppable serial killer or the manifestations of a supernatural entity—actually occurred?...
Yet there’s no doubt the marketing term “based on a true story” has an undeniable pull for moviegoers, especially in the horror genre. After all, isn’t there something morbidly fascinating about the idea that the terrors we’re witnessing onscreen—whether it’s the rampage of a seemingly unstoppable serial killer or the manifestations of a supernatural entity—actually occurred?...
- 2/24/2023
- by Don Kaye
- Den of Geek
In Japan Leonard Schrader's docu about real-life American horrors was called Violent America. The decidedly unflattering picture couldn't find a U.S. distributor when new but accrued a reputation as the ultimate compilation of violent historical images. It's now filed with cannibal and zombie pictures in exploitation movie catalogs, yet it has more in common with Schrader's Taxi Driver. The Killing of America Blu-ray Severin Films 1981 / Color / 2:35 1:85 widescreen 1:37 flat full frame / 95, 115 min. / Street Date October 25, 2016 / 29.98 Starring Chuck Riley (narrator, English version), Ed Dorris, Thomas Noguchi, Sirhan Sirhan, Wayne Henley, Ed Kemper. Cinematography Robert Charlton, Tom Hurwitz, Willy Kurant, Peter Smokler Film Editor Lee Percy Original Music W. Michael Lewis, Mark Lindsay Written by Leonard Schrader, Chieko Schrader Produced by Mataichiro Yamamoto, Leonard Schrader Directed by Sheldon Renan
Reviewed by Glenn Erickson
1980s censorship in Japan strongly limited violent images on TV. They didn't see the steady...
Reviewed by Glenn Erickson
1980s censorship in Japan strongly limited violent images on TV. They didn't see the steady...
- 11/12/2016
- by Glenn Erickson
- Trailers from Hell
As distasteful as it is compulsively watchable, Julian P. Hobbs' documentary centers on a pair of Louisiana-based art dealers whose macabre specialty -- and passion -- is selling artworks created by serial killers while housed on death row. Watching these sickos indulge freely in their obsession (not to mention their avid customer base) is not a pleasant viewing experience, but, as with crime-scene photos or fatal car accidents, it's impossible to avert your eyes. In its own way, the film provides convincing evidence that few of us are exempt from a gruesome interest in the worst human behavior imaginable. "Collectors" received its U.S. theatrical premiere at New York's Cinema Village.
The subjects in question are Rick Staton and Tobias Allen, who unashamedly and enthusiastically profess their fascination for murderers of all types -- but certainly, the more notorious, the better. The film centers around the opening in Houston of an art show by Elmer Wayne Henley, one of that city's most prolific killers, who with his partner Dean Coril (who Henley later murdered) sexually abused and murdered 27 children. Several of the victims' family members are less than happy with the exhibition, and the film allows them ample opportunity to vent their feelings.
Even more creepily, the dealers' interests aren't simply mercenary. They proudly show off their personal collections of photos, memorabilia and artwork by various monsters, and the film accompanies them on field trips to the scenes of horrible crimes, including the house where the Manson murders took place (it was demolished soon afterward). At this and other sites, the repulsive duo gleefully scavenge for various souvenirs, including soil samples, and proudly take pictures of themselves.
The film also provides commentary by various figures, ranging from sociologists to victims' rights advocates to collectors of the gruesome art to one of the artists. Unfortunately, most of the perspectives are little more than shallow, and the film never fully succeeds in exploring the psychological complexities and depths of the issues being presented. But that doesn't prevent it from being a morbidly fascinating cinematic experience,
COLLECTORS
Abject Films
Director: Julian P. Hobbs
Producers: Julian P. Hobbs,
Christopher Trent, Kief Davidson
Director of photography: Nigel Kinnings
Editor: Ralph Pioreck
Music director: Don Dinicola
Color/stereo
Running time - 80 minutes
No MPAA rating...
The subjects in question are Rick Staton and Tobias Allen, who unashamedly and enthusiastically profess their fascination for murderers of all types -- but certainly, the more notorious, the better. The film centers around the opening in Houston of an art show by Elmer Wayne Henley, one of that city's most prolific killers, who with his partner Dean Coril (who Henley later murdered) sexually abused and murdered 27 children. Several of the victims' family members are less than happy with the exhibition, and the film allows them ample opportunity to vent their feelings.
Even more creepily, the dealers' interests aren't simply mercenary. They proudly show off their personal collections of photos, memorabilia and artwork by various monsters, and the film accompanies them on field trips to the scenes of horrible crimes, including the house where the Manson murders took place (it was demolished soon afterward). At this and other sites, the repulsive duo gleefully scavenge for various souvenirs, including soil samples, and proudly take pictures of themselves.
The film also provides commentary by various figures, ranging from sociologists to victims' rights advocates to collectors of the gruesome art to one of the artists. Unfortunately, most of the perspectives are little more than shallow, and the film never fully succeeds in exploring the psychological complexities and depths of the issues being presented. But that doesn't prevent it from being a morbidly fascinating cinematic experience,
COLLECTORS
Abject Films
Director: Julian P. Hobbs
Producers: Julian P. Hobbs,
Christopher Trent, Kief Davidson
Director of photography: Nigel Kinnings
Editor: Ralph Pioreck
Music director: Don Dinicola
Color/stereo
Running time - 80 minutes
No MPAA rating...
- 11/8/2000
- The Hollywood Reporter - Movie News
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