Introduction
The case of the Boston Strangler has mystified and enraptured the public for many years. The story of the unconfirmed killer assaulting and murdering 13 Boston women in their homes shook the country to the core. Although it is more common that a person will be attacked by someone they know, this story is a reminder of why you should always lock your doors. The film Boston Strangler on Hulu and Disney+ focuses on the female reporters in the 1960s who were persistent in finding who the killer was. They were even the first to give the killer the name “The Boston Strangler.” Some of the other adaptations of this story focus more on the person who was arrested but never fully proved to be the killer, Albert DeSalvo. For example, the 1968 film The Boston Strangler, starring Tony Curtis against type as DeSalvo, focuses more on the police work used to capture him. However, the new Boston Strangler does a fair job of presenting the case in the way in which it must have felt. Kiera Knightley stars as Loretta McLaughlin, the determined reporter for the Boston Record American who wants to break out of traditional societal roles. Carrie Coon plays Jean Cole, the wise and calm reporter who assists her on the case. Some of the men in their lives, like Jack MacLaine, the chief editor of the paper played by Chris Cooper, choose to begrudgingly support them. Loretta’s husband, on the other hand, who is played by Morgan Spector, decides to go back on his supportive husband routine. This is also emblematic of the ways in which the world was going through growing pains. As the second wave of the women’s rights movement was beginning to gain traction, the men who worked and lived alongside women either needed to support them or not hold them back. This film fully uplifts the women at the core of the film and gives their point of view a platform to express the times in which they lived. The only deficit I found about this film was that, instead of an All the President’s Men-style film where each woman gets adequate time to feel as if they are pulling their weight and have compelling backgrounds, Knightley’s Loretta gets more of the center stage. However, the women’s interactions with one another are very balanced, and it is not a type of character dynamic we often get to see. Women in the workplace, especially in the 1960s, as it is shown in the film, did not have much mobility when it came to what kinds of things they could apply themselves to. The added layer that they are working on a case that deeply affects women contributes to the drive they feel to get the most information about the possible solution as quickly as they can.
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The Female Perspective
Something important about the way in which this story is told is the point of view the film is coming from. Since this story focuses on the women who researched and reported this case, the added layer of tension and real fear about the danger women face in the world is even more crucial to the story. Director Matt Ruskin’s choice to have the film display a yellow, blue, and green tint adds to the griminess present in the movie. Nowhere is a respite from the violence. The way the case is framed also feels different when the film is seen through the lens of women. The violence in this film is rarely ever shown fully on screen. Although dead bodies are shown, the noises of a fight are most often heard. This allows the film to avoid exploiting the terror and violation faced by the victims. In addition, the way the suspects in the case are portrayed is not exaggerated stereotypes of mentally unwell people. The other suspects in the case, George Nassar and Daniel Marsh, are played by Greg Vrotsos and Ryan Winkles. These are other men who may have had a motive and a background to commit these acts. The film also implies that the work of the Boston Strangler may have been a case of copycat murderers. The way the Strangler ran into his victims was very unassuming. Mostly, he would pose as some kind of handyman and then attack the women. However, there were not many defining factors that would link all of these women together. They were not constantly similar ages, races, or other kinds of things that killers usually tend to go after. The real fear is that, given a cover, men will hide under some kind of protection or screen and enact violence against unwitting women. The men who are suspected in this case reflect on their past deeds without full remorse for what they have done. David Dastmalchian plays Albert DeSalvo as a normal, if slightly strange, man. None of the suspects acts particularly creepy. Although other characters list the crimes they have committed, one would never think about their capacity to murder. It is even mentioned that DeSalvo got time off before the Strangler started being active due to good behavior. He said that he wanted to be there for his family. The easiest way for one to protect themselves is to listen to intuition and not trust strangers so easily. Unfortunately, it is often because of stories like these that people are reminded or learn about the reasons why women in particular feel it is necessary to be extra cautious when being in the world alone amongst men.
Conclusion
Boston Strangler is an effective mystery crime film that adds a refreshing side to an often male-dominated field of investigating murders. Skillful portrayals of the characters create realistic depictions of people who are driven to find the truth. In this way, they won’t just be able to save other women in the Boston area, but will educate and protect women across the country and future generations. The assertiveness and capability with which Knightley and Coon play these women make them both wonderful role models. They also create realistic portrayals of female coworkers in the workplace.
By Julia Caldwell
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Julia Caldwell believes that writing is an important way to foster debate and discussion. She is passionate about fairness and research when reporting on the entertainment industry . The Hollywood Insider’s dedication to ethics based reporting highly aligns with her values. She is dedicated to making media relevant to real life and what can be appreciated from different kinds of content.
Julia Caldwell believes that writing is an important way to foster debate and discussion. She is passionate about fairness and research when reporting on the entertainment industry . The Hollywood Insider’s dedication to ethics based reporting highly aligns with her values. She is dedicated to making media relevant to real life and what can be appreciated from different kinds of content.
