Directed by Uli Lommel
SYNOPSIS: A FILM THAT GOES INTO THE SON OF SAM KILLINGS PERPETRATED BY DAVID BERKOWITZ IN NEW YORK IN THE 1970s.
Well, what can I say about this film, or more specifically, about this director that has not already been said? Some of it has, in fact, been said previously on this blog. But, this film, like his previous forays into the genre of true crime (Black Dahlia, BTK Killer) is just, yet again, a shameless attempt to capitalize on a topic that many people have heard of in the form of a poorly scripted, poorly shot, poorly researched and obviously quickly thrown together movie.
And, do you know what the worst part is? This might be one of Uli Lommel's best movies. I'm serious.
First, let me warn anyone who might be a true crime aficionado or have an interest in the Son of Sam killings that this film, in no way, serves as a vehicle to learn more about the case. If you know nothing of the Son of Sam killings committed by David Berkowitz in the summer of '77 and you watch this movie, you still will still know nothing after you're done watching. (I mean this literally, when listening to the commentary on the DVD, it is clear that one of the producers-who at least was animated as opposed to the catatonic Lommel- clearly does not even know Berkowtiz's correct first name. Which isn't a big thing...unless you are making a movie about real events and fully intend to market it on that basis.)
As you might guess, if you know anything of Lommel's "true crime" films, what you see in this movie bears little to no resemblance to anything factual regarding the case. The manner & methods of the killings, locations, etc, nothing of it matches up to the real Berkowitz case nor, in my opinion, does it really try to do so.
When you think of all the low budget and no budget filmmakers out there trying to get their voices heard (o.k., I know that sounds kind of pretentious, but those of you who have read some of my posts no that I don't usually sound pretentious, so can you cut me some slack? Just this one time?), not to mention the actors, sound and effects people who are serious about their craft and do the best they can with or without funding, wishing all the time that their work could see a fraction of the distribution that Lommel's "films" enjoy.
Personally, I think its one of the biggest scams out there, its no accident the movies are named the same as the more mainstream titles which seriously deal (or at least attempt to deal) with the serious subject matter of the true crime film.
I wonder how many people have gone angrily storming back to their video stores, demanding money back because they feel (rightly so, in my opinion) they've been duped into renting/buying something that is intentionally misleading.
It has to be a significant number.
To me, the only people, aside from those who've been duped, who should see a Uli Lommel "true crime" film are those who have heard how bad they are, and just have to see it for themselves.
Or, if they write a movie review blog.
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