Although it claims to be based on the true story, Rampage: The Hillside Strangler Murders barely follows the actual events of the case, and instead indulges in spinning camera techniques, ultra images of sex, drugs, and nudity. It also happens to feature a pretty good performance from Clifton Collins, Jr. as Kenneth Bianchi – one of the men convicted for the Hillside Strangler killings.
The film was directed by Chris Fisher (who also co-wrote the script) and focuses on the capture of Bianchi, his interrogations by the police and psychiatrist Samantha Stone (played by Brittany Daniel), and his eventual multiple personality disorder insanity ploy.
Even though the movie is supposed to tell the story of Bianchi, it focuses on one small aspect of the case, and changes many of the “true” facts to fit the film’s story – one of the biggest being the fact that the real Bianchi was never interviewed by a female psychiatrist named Stone and his multiple personality disorder ploy was proven false after he was interviewed by several different psychiatrists months after his arrest.
The film, which actually only has one scene where the two killers murder one of their victims, changes these events to create a different story. This story focuses more on the time period (of free sex and lots of drugs), and delves more into the mind of the killer and his sparing with the psychiatrist that is trying to discover the truth about him.
Fisher tries to set an intense atmosphere by using a constant spinning camera (that will make you wish you took some motion sickness medicine before the film started), unique colors, and lots of blurred images (both to avoid a NC-17 rating and to set the drug atmosphere). The filming reminded me of both Spike Lee’s Summer of Sam and Richard Fleischer’s The Boston Strangler. It seemed that Fisher was trying to make the film stand out visually – the way Fleischer’s film did with its multi-visuals at one time – and to use rampant sex and drugs to establish the time frame – like Lee did in Summer of Sam.
Collins is subtle and chilling as Kenneth Bianchi
While these techniques may have worked in other films, Fisher’s attempt comes across as amateur, and actually ends up hurting the film. You can’t enjoy Collins’ subtle performance as Bianchi or how creepy he is portraying the character because you are wondering why Daniel’s psychiatrist looks like she just got off a stripper stage. There is no reason for the huge amount of orgies and sex other than to give the film the hard R rating, and to give the audience a distraction to the fact that the camera continues to spin like a washing machine.
Although the movie lacks any real continuity to the true story, there are elements of fact in Collins’ performance. The actor does capture how Bianchi was described as controlling, intelligent and willing to put on a show for the police and the psychiatrists. He switches back and forth between “personalities” perfectly, but at the same time leaves hints that it is all a ruse to get him out of trouble. Collins also puts some great tension in the movie with just a simple gesture while smoking a cigarette or the wild look in his eyes. He does make the movie worth watching, but doesn’t make up for the film’s many faults.
Daniel also gives a good performance, but her character doesn’t seem to have any real reason for being in the movie other than her sex appeal. She has some of the same qualities as Mira Sorvino in Summer of Sam – in that she is with a loser boyfriend who likes experimenting with drugs and sex. Her character is described as a different kind of psychiatrist who goes on instinct more than books, but you have to wonder why she is willing to be with a guy that uses her. Daniel holds her own against Collins’ performance, and helps the movie’s “cat and mouse” game-pace move along nicely.
The DVD comes with some deleted scenes that add a little more to the characters; a photo gallery of stills from the movie; and audio commentary with the filmmakers, Collins and Daniel.
I was really interested to see this movie, but somewhat disappointed at the overall direction of the film. With a story as disturbing as The Hillside Strangler, there wasn’t really a need for the film to head off into the realm of fiction. The movie focuses on the interrogations of Bianchi, but fails to set any real suspense from even that story.
Daniel looks more like a stripper than a shrink
Instead, Fisher attempts to create a thriller and commentary on the time period by using lots of nudity and spinning camera work. Collins gives a good performance as Bianchi, but it isn’t enough to make you look past the film’s weaker elements. I wouldn’t recommend the movie to any fan of “real crime thrillers” or of serial killer movies in general. Collins makes it worth watching, but not enough to make you want to rush out and get a copy.
Rampage: The Hillside Strangler Murders is available at Amazon . As of yet, there is not a release date for the UK. Visit the DVD’s database for more information.
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