The Hillside Strangler Review Score: 6/10 | Date Posted: November 26th 2004 In: DVD Reviews The Hillside Strangler DVD Review Review by Darren Lindwall Starring: C Thomas Howell, Nicholas Turturro. Released by: Tartan Films. This is the third film that filmmaker Chuck Parello has directed. His earlier works include Ed Gein and Henry: Portrait of a Serial Killer Part 2. I think I am starting to see a trend here. The Hillside Strangler is a film about two cousins Kenneth Bianchi and Angelo Buono, who went on a murderous rampage in L.A during the late 70’s. They would rape and torture the women followed by certain death. This film is neither a documentary nor anything like an episode of American justice. It brings you face to face with the two serial killers and it’s supposed to make you feel uncomfortable, well in my opinion it should as you really see the characters for who they really were. I wouldn’t recommend this one for my parents to see. Anyway I have other friends which I’m sure they might like it. Kenneth Bianchi played by C Thomas Howell does a great job getting into character. Kenneth wants to be a cop more then anything but he’s too retarded to pass the tests. He is a professional liar, a conman. But fails in the delivery of his con. Basically a failure of a human being, who moves to L.A. to live with his sadistic sex addict cousin Angelo, played by Nicholas Turturro. For me I think Bianchi would have committed suicide if it weren’t for his cousin who pressured him into committing his first murder. In L.A he meets a girl who thinks he went to Berkley and received his psychology degree. She obviously falls for his lies and the rocky relationship starts. Before she comes to realize what Kenneth is she becomes pregnant and now I really feel sorry for that kid. Sucks to be you dude. Your daddy made love to dead people. They go on a 15 person killing spree over a two year period. Be prepared for some necrophilia, this film shows us what the killers did. The filmmaker really wanted to give his audience a front and center seat into the lives of these sick people. I really was impressed with the performance, it must have been really hard to get into character. I haven’t seen this director other movies yet, I think he did a good job making this film and the DVD has a lengthy interview with C Thomas Howell where he talks about Bianchi. Howell really goes into detail about who these serial killer were. The Hillside Strangler for me had moments that were hard to watch. Manly cause I feel these are some things that people really shouldn’t have to watch but if you want to be shocked this movie should do the job.

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