The Case of the Hillside Stranglers
The Case of the Hillside Stranglers

The Case of the Hillside Stranglers

1989Movie90 minEnglish

The chilling true story of the "two of a kind" killing cousins, Angelo Buono and Kenneth Bianchi, better known as the Hillside Stranglers.

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Insights

IMDb6.3/10
Director: J. D. FeigertGenres: Crime, Drama, Thriller

Plot Summary

This made-for-television film dramatizes the investigation into the notorious Hillside Stranglers, a pair of cousins responsible for a series of brutal murders and rapes across Los Angeles. Detective Frank Sullivan leads the painstaking manhunt, battling departmental skepticism and mounting public fear as the body count rises. The film chronicles the relentless pursuit of justice and the psychological toll on those involved in bringing the killers to account.

Critical Reception

'The Case of the Hillside Stranglers' received mixed reviews, with critics acknowledging its attempt to capture the grim reality of the case but often finding its dramatic execution lacking. While some appreciated the portrayal of the investigative process, others criticized its sensationalism and perceived shortcomings in character development. Audience reception was similarly divided, with some finding it a compelling true-crime drama and others viewing it as a lurid exploitation of tragic events.

What Reviewers Say

  • Praised for its depiction of the arduous police investigation into a high-profile criminal case.
  • Criticized for occasionally veering into sensationalism, a common pitfall for true-crime dramas.
  • Noted for its competent, though not groundbreaking, performances by its cast.

Google audience: Audience reviews for 'The Case of the Hillside Stranglers' are scarce, but where available, they suggest a mixed reception. Some viewers found it a gripping and well-made true-crime story that effectively conveyed the horror of the events. Others felt it was overly dramatized and sensationalized, detracting from the seriousness of the actual crimes.

Fun Fact

The film's casting of G. Gordon Liddy, a figure associated with the Watergate scandal, as a detective in a true-crime drama was seen by some as a controversial choice, potentially drawing attention away from the case itself.

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TMDB Reviews

1 reviews
GenerationofSwine

GenerationofSwin...

Caught it on Amazon Prime and it stinks of low rent made for TV cheese. I'll keep it short, it has a recognizable cast doing phone-in performances and direction that does a very good job of making a film about serial killers anything but...