The Hillside Strangler DVD Review:

This is the tale of two murderous cousins who engage in a sickening sexually-fuelled killing spree across LA. Based upon real events, Chuck Parello’s story follow Bianchi and Buono’s journey from it’s beginning to their incarceration.

The Hillside Strangler reminds me very much of the film Boogie Nights, sharing a similar look which highlights its success in replicating this era. Of course, its parallels to this particular film ends there, lacking the slick and stylish look, the great character development and successful performances across the board. The only way these two films draw any other similarities than successful costume is shown in the acting, unfortunately The Hillside Strangler often mirrors the level of acting attained within the porn films Boogie Nights was mocking.

Parello really manages to encapsulate the feeling of the 70s; the colour scheme, style of filming use of costume is excellent (plenty of tight polyester, flared trousers and garishly patterned sweaters). The colours selected are just dull enough to reflect the programmes and films of that era; colours less than life, dowdy, as opposed to 50s Technicolor which boasted to be brighter than life; In this, Parello has it spot-on.

In terms of dialogue, this film is brutal! There is no soft-soaping at all in this area, which adds a great deal of favour to the film as a whole. It’s something which gives the film some genuine power, I personally didn’t expect that level of vile expletive, and the shock which it generated was welcome. It showed that I did have feeling for the characters, and so I had attained a level of involvement which makes the film a successful entertainment endeavour. The language can be so harsh that even the most hardened of cinema go-ers will cringe; they would be right to do so, as it’s these moments that the cousins often find themselves engaged in their lust-fuelled abuse. It you’re hardened to the act, the dialogue will make you think.

Sex scenes are erotic, though being harsh and hardcore, often violent and sickening encounters. The fact that the women selected are centre-fold-looking confuses the audience, and makes them engage more in the act themselves, secretly wanting them to carry-out the ultimate action so they can watch. However, when the kill is completed the voyeurism ends instantly, confusing the audience as to their own values, sickening their earlier desires and lusts (which have put you in the mind of the rapist, making you empathise and participate).

Despite the pluses which were really difficult to find, this film isn’t worth viewing. It’s an un-thrilling thriller, perhaps more likely to be viewed as a speciality erotic film with some violent titillation. It’s a film for tv, something to be watched once and discarded, unless you’re a fan of the genre.



Chris Horsman