The Freeway Killer and Realism: An Early Movie Review

Director: John Murlowski.

Writer: David Birke.

The Freeway Killer is a film developed by Bleiberg Entertainment for a February 16, 2010 DVD release via Image Entertainment. A film that chronicles the real life murder spree of serial killer William Bonin, the Freeway Killer is brilliantly portrayed by Scott Leet (Dark Reel). A film that also covers rape, kidnapping, and the early sexual abuse of William Bonin the Freeway Killer asks a question of the viewers - why?

The Freeway Killer begins with Bonin (Scott Leet) in jail recalling his past murderous exploits to the mother of one of the victims. Unfolding in storied flashbacks the film graphically displays some of the murders that took place in Orange County and Los Angeles between the years 1979-80. This real life horror film ironically does not portray some of the more graphic instances of rape and torture in an attempt to focus on the entertainment value of the story rather than the horrifying informative aspects of this real life homicide cases.

One of the first aspects of the film that will blow viewers away is the neurotic portrayal of William Bonin by Scott Leet. Unbeknownst to some Scott Leet has been in at least fifteen televised productions and this actor portrays the paranoia of Bonin like a talented magician. Displaying several tricks of the acting trade, Leet confidently switches from controlling manipulator to vulnerable loneliness sometimes within seconds. While honourable mentions go to Michael Rooker (Penance) as Detective St. John and Dusty Sorg as Vernon Butts, Leet really steals the show!

Unfortunately the film does not explore the motivations of this serial killer. In an attempt to keep the Freeway Killer more in black and whites the film does not delve into the past of Bonin. Bonin was sexually molested as a child by his own grandfather and treated as an object of neglect by his alcoholic mother. Deeply troubled this tortured soul's past is given all but thirty seconds of attention in an attempt to distance the viewer from killer and to tie up the ending neatly. Sadly, life is not so black and white as those who are sexually abused rarely receive treatment or adjust to the social norms of the population (minor sidetrack here).

The Freeway Killer is an eighty-five minute dramatic portrayal of the real life of William Bonin between the years '79 to '80. Balancing itself nicely on the catwalk between being an entertainment piece and being simply informative the film leaves the darkest parts of Bonin's unresolved sexual conflicts out of the show in order to respect the viewers' sensitivities. An enjoyable watch from beginning to end, viewers need to pay attention to future performances from Scott Leet. Check out the show in February, 2010.

For you information hounds read a full account of William Bonin's real life torture and murder spree here:

William Bonin Criminal History

Plot/story/writing/adaptation: 8.
Acting/believability/evenness of portrayal: 8.5.
Conclusion/denouement/logical development:6.5.

Overall: 7.75 nightmares out of 10.
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