Bloodtype Online

    This low budget movie tackles the story of the infamous Boston Strangler and the mysteries that have always surrounded the case.  The story is told from the perspective of the detective assigned to get an official confession from Albert DeSalvo, who had confessed to a cellmate.  DeSalvo is happy to give the detective a detailed confession, but the detective senses something isn’t right.  He begins to investigate the case and begins to realize that none of the eyewitness can identify DeSalvo and that there isn’t any physical evidence linking him to the case.  When a psychiatrist mentions to him that DeSalvo has a near photographic memory the detective begins to wonder if perhaps DeSalvo has confessed to the notorious crime for the recognition it would garner him.  But the powers that be want nothing to do with a Strangler that is still on the loose, so they suggest that the detective accept the confession and submit his report.  The movie then jumps to the future a few years later after DeSalvo has been identified as the Strangler (but was actually never convicted because he was already serving a life sentence for another crime).  Then the movie jumps forward again to the early 80s when it is announced that DNA evidence has confirmed that in at least one Strangler killing DeSalvo couldn’t of been guilty.   

    I’m not a big fan of these true crime movies, so I really didn’t look forward to sitting down to watch this movie.  I can’t say that I thought this was a good movie, but it was better than I thought it was going to be.  Most of the story occurs in an interview room where the detective speaks to DeSalvo, while the crimes are shown in vague recreations.  This is clever because the movie is trying to convince the audience that DeSalvo is imagining the crimes and didn’t actually commit them.  While the story is extremely slow at points the movie still manages to be interesting.  Also in spite of a few rough spots where the acting is wooden the cast does a decent job for the most part.   

    The first thing that I noticed when I popped the DVD of the Boston Strangler in was how great the movie looked.  The movie was clearly shot on a nice digital camera by someone who knows how to light a scene and frame a shot.  Unfortunately whoever was in charge of the music did a really terrible job.  The musical queues are intrusive and loud.  The music in a film should help set the mood not continually get in the way.  I should also mention that in spite of a couple of on camera killings this movie is bloodless, and has no real special effects to speak of.   

    The Boston Strangler is an interesting, if not exciting movie.  If you are interested in true crime then you may check this one out.  But be warned this isn’t a horror film.