Fans of murder mysteries and true crime-type documentaries will be delighted to learn that Hulu historical crime drama Boston Strangler is now on the Disney+ streaming service. Directed by Matt Ruskin, Boston Strangler stars British actress Keira Knightley in the role of a real-life American reporter tracking a series of killings of women around Boston in the 1960s. The official case of this serial killer, aka the Boston Strangler, remains unsolved to this day, but the gruesome story really shook up things for decades.
The film centres around Loretta McLaughlin (Knightley), a reporter for Boston's Record American who is eager to showcase her journalistic integrity with more challenging stories. However, she is relegated to the lifestyle desk by editor Jack MacLaine, played by Chris Cooper, who consistently rejects her ideas despite her proposal of a series of killings in the city getting traction and catching the interest of the police. As soon as one of her articles about the murder case gets national attention, Loretta is given the opportunity to work full-time alongside more experienced crime reporter Jean Cole played by Carrie Coon. The two women pursue the story while putting their own lives on the line in the quest to uncover the truth. However, Loretta's dedication to the investigation begins to jeopardise her marriage and family life and raises concerns about her own safety. Each new lead brings about a sense of paranoia for Loretta, making her question who she can trust.
This is a slow and patiently told story. The style and storytelling of this movie might not be for young audiences as it is a period piece and has commentary about sexism against women in the workplace and overall society at the time. But what will catch your attention right from the start is the film's atmosphere. The visuals and the aesthetics -- from the colour palette to film grain -- add nostalgic warmth that will transport you back to the 60s, as well as create a feeling of coldness and detachment, mixed with some dread and melancholy. We have this sense of there's something not quite right with the city at the time or a sense of fear amongst the people. And you can constantly see that escalating as the film progresses, which gets better as it goes on.
And what you get for the most part is star power shining through as there are some great supporting performances from Chris Cooper, Alessandro Nivola, David Dastmalchian, Morgan Spector and Bill Camp. However, Knightley is the star and her performance here isn't disappointing. Over the years, we've learned she is a versatile and talented actor in the business even though she's been typecast in Hollywood where we often see her wearing corset dresses in period piece dramas like King Arthur (2004), Pride And Prejudice (2005), Atonement (2007), Anna Karenina (2012) and of course the Pirates Of The Caribbean franchise. So, it's good to see her in something different just like her role in the previous drama Official Secrets (2019). She really does an excellent job in this movie as a strong woman who fights against a sexist society as she tries her best to crack the case and stop the murders, not to mention how she nails it speaking in an American accent. And if the film you watch has a star with charm and charisma that commands the screen, then it's gonna be a lot easier for you to continue watching the movie.
While watching Boston Strangler, the style, mood and tone, as well as the way the overall film is constructed, I can't help but compare it with David Fincher's Zodiac (2007), which the film borrows from considerably, from the main focus of unsolved murder cases to an investigation seen from the reporter's point of view. However, as the film was made to be a thrilling watch, it is unfortunately presented in a very matter-of-fact manner and falls short of developing its own distinct identity. There is something the film lacks throughout, which is this sense of tension. There are moments where you're supposed to feel like there's something really dark and ominous around, and while the cinematography manages to capture that mood, it doesn't really capture that feeling. So when we're watching certain sequences, there are no high-stake feelings that come from it. This results in the movie desperately wanting to get that attention from you and it suffers in this department. And though there are moments that feel reminiscent of Zodiac, the film never quite reaches the same level of excellence. Although I was expecting it to be more along the lines of its predecessor, unfortunately, it's more about the aesthetic value than the execution.
Overall, despite the great cast and good performances, I don't think this is going to be a film that I would want to revisit. I don't count that as the fault of the acting at all. The mystery is good and it's told in a way that builds suspense, but there's a certain flair or urgency that is lacking. The movie didn't grab a hold of me in a way that makes me want to dive back into the case. While Boston Strangler may be the film that gives Knightley a role that is both different and purposeful showcasing her talent, this is a missed opportunity to take risks and embrace the unpredictability of the story.
- Boston Strangler
- Starring Keira Knightley, Carrie Coon, Chris Cooper
- Directed by Matt Ruskin
- Now streaming on Disney+ Hotstar
