Discussion
Has anyone else seen this film? Watched it on Friday night and was quite horrified by it.
I wanted to watch it since Charlize Theron won an oscar for her performance in it and reviews I had seen of the film had recommended it.
But it was a pretty gross film and to be honest I really did not see the point in it at all apart, true story or not! Not entertainment by any means!
What does anyone else think?
Em
I wanted to watch it since Charlize Theron won an oscar for her performance in it and reviews I had seen of the film had recommended it.
But it was a pretty gross film and to be honest I really did not see the point in it at all apart, true story or not! Not entertainment by any means!
What does anyone else think?
Em
anonymous said:
[redacted]
I found it to be quite a sick, violent film. I think it was a bad chioce of film on my part, but I really cannot understand why anyone would want to make a film out of that story.
I can understand though, why Charlize Theron won an oscar though, it wasn't an easy role to play and she made it quite believable, which is probably why I found it so disgusting!
No, it's about a female prostitute who killed her customers. The "significance" of the story is that she was one of very few known female serial killers. Most serial killers are men. Anyway, she supposedly had a horrible childhood and was abused, and the story is that when one guy tried to hurt her, she just started killing them. (This is not to say her bad childhood excuses her behavior.) And her friend betrayed her in plea bargaining.
I only know about it because it happened in FL, so it was on the news a lot here, and she got the death penalty (also one of very few women to be sentenced to death). Aside from her being a female killer, I don't think her life story is all that different from any other serial killer either. I've never wanted to see it myself. What's the point? To see how messed up someone's life can get? I don't have that much sympathy. She made all those choices and we all know of people who've had it rough and still turned their lives around.
I only know about it because it happened in FL, so it was on the news a lot here, and she got the death penalty (also one of very few women to be sentenced to death). Aside from her being a female killer, I don't think her life story is all that different from any other serial killer either. I've never wanted to see it myself. What's the point? To see how messed up someone's life can get? I don't have that much sympathy. She made all those choices and we all know of people who've had it rough and still turned their lives around.
seafarer said:
No, it's about a female prostitute who killed her customers. The "significance" of the story is that she was one of very few known female serial killers. Most serial killers are men.
Now apparently that is not true. I always assumed it was the case.
More female serial killers get away with it, as the methods thay use are much more difficult to detect. They tend to be in "caring" professions, such as nursing and supposedly looking after the sick or elderly.
It's Munchausen's Syndrome - and worldwide it is thought they kill more people than male serial killers.
I have read this in several books, and of course personally I have no experience or expertise in this field, but I recall being both shocked and surprised.
anonymous said:
[redacted]
Yeah, I've heard about Munchausen's Syndrome. I didn't realize that there are actually more female serial killers, although if that's the way they're doing it, it's certainly a little harder to catch and to prove. It certainly takes longer. The stereotype is white male btw 20-40, loner, who stalks victims and murders them in the more obvious methods. Although there was one male in the medical profession who was a physicians' assistant, or some type of nurse, and killed people.
anonymous said:
[redacted]
Off thread but very similar story with domestic violence. Police records show far more complaints by females, but medical records show more injuries reported by males from domestics. Men just don't go to the police. Had the reference with figures once.
>> Edited by turbobloke on Sunday 12th December 16:27
There are also "black widows", women who marry elderly men who then die a little earlier (ahem) to inherit. With Munchausen syndrome, I don't think it necessarily starts out as intent to murder as much as it is attention seeking, as wedg1e said. Although, sometimes victims die because of it.
Always thought Munchausen's was whne people harm themselves to get sympathy (the afore mentioned attention seeking) but Munchausen's by proxy was when you harm others to get sympathy yourself (i.e.sixth sense)
Would have liked to have studied this in psychology, but had to put up with SAD instead
Would have liked to have studied this in psychology, but had to put up with SAD instead
zoe22 said:
Always thought Munchausen's was whne people harm themselves to get sympathy (the afore mentioned attention seeking) but Munchausen's by proxy was when you harm others to get sympathy yourself (i.e.sixth sense)
Would have liked to have studied this in psychology, but had to put up with SAD instead
What is SAD?
Maybe i'm just a bit gory but I like films/drama like this.
Did any of you see the documentary of the real Aileen Wournos? It is pretty scary how close they made the filmstar look like her in real life. Personall I thought it was a brilliant film and gave a slightly different perspective on her life than the documentary did. It implied that her girlfriend was more aware of the murders and actually incited her to keep at it(prostitution and murder) to help them survive.
In a similar vein, there is another one called To catch a killer, about John Wayne Gacy. He mudered young men after tempting them with jobs and alcohol. They found the bodies buried under his house.
I'm sure they'll eventually do one about Neilsen and his victims.
Did any of you see the documentary of the real Aileen Wournos? It is pretty scary how close they made the filmstar look like her in real life. Personall I thought it was a brilliant film and gave a slightly different perspective on her life than the documentary did. It implied that her girlfriend was more aware of the murders and actually incited her to keep at it(prostitution and murder) to help them survive.
In a similar vein, there is another one called To catch a killer, about John Wayne Gacy. He mudered young men after tempting them with jobs and alcohol. They found the bodies buried under his house.
I'm sure they'll eventually do one about Neilsen and his victims.
I thought it was a brilliant piece of cinema, not as overwrought as say, Boys Don't Cry, but powerful enough to leave you feeling powerless.
Well acted and well chosen cast.
Considering the barrage of crap one has to dodge from the film industry I'm surprised this hasn't had more positive responses.
Well acted and well chosen cast.
Considering the barrage of crap one has to dodge from the film industry I'm surprised this hasn't had more positive responses.
I thought that it was a very interesting film and one of the better offerings from Hollywood of late. I thought that Theron was excellent in her portrayal. I think that trying to understand why she did what she did difficult as the mind is so complex. I can understand why she killed the first man, not that I condone murder, but his brutality was truly sickening and I believe that she thought it was kill or be killed.
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