I'm gonna start right off and say that the story of the Manson Family murders creeps me the heck out.So imagine my surprise in finding out HERE that the 40th anniversary of the crime is TODAY.
Why am I writing about this?
Well because as a horror movie watcher, I enjoyed Bryan Bertino's The Strangers from last year and as I mentioned in THIS post, I believe it's a good film that I believe to be the beginning of the pendulum swing away from the super-gory "torture porn"-type films that have been de rigueur for the past few years.
What's interesting to note is that if you listen to the Creative Screenwriting Magazine Podcast, there's an interview with Bryan where he reveals that the "Based on a true story." tagline the film has is due to the fact that he (and therefore the script) was influenced by the Manson murders.
It's a fascinating listen where he talks about reading the Helter Skelter crime book and how the film evolved from that and other influences. The Director is very modest and down-to-earth in his interview and I consider it a great companion commentary to the film.
Download and listen to an MP3 from HERE.
You can also check out (using the Amazon links below) the 70s Helter Skelter made-for-TV film or any of the other docs and films based on this famous case. In my opinion the truth will always be scarier than any fiction, and I do sleep a little bit better knowing that Charlie is still behind bars and has recently been declined parole... again.
Carving a swastika into your own forehead doesn't go over well with parole board.
2 comments:
This all happened one month before I was born. I remember being like 4 or 5 and seeing a paper back book at my aunts house (Helter Skelter). I couldnt read yet obviously but I remember in the middle of the book there were photos with people laying down but all blacked out, they had little white marks all over their black bodies. I asked my mom why the pictures looked that way, she promptly ripped the book out of my hands and told me not to look at it any more. I didnt see a copy of that book again until I was in high school, and thats when I realized the photos were of the murders and the white marks showed all the stab wounds!
Not ALL of their parole requests are being denied...
So I'm glad you will understand how creeped out I am that Squeaky Fromme is to be released on August 16th... less than 2 weeks from now.
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