‘Boston Strangler’ Review – Touches On Systemic Failures But Misses The Mark As A Crime Thriller

In the early 1960s, a haunting figure amidst Boston was known as the Boston Strangler, who still to this day is one of the most notorious serial killers in American history. Over the two-year period, the killer preyed upon women in the city of Boston, using stockings or towels to strangle his victims in their own homes. The murders were characterized by a shocking degree of randomness and a lack of evidence, confounding police and instilling a pervasive sense of fear throughout the community. Even the safest neighborhoods were no longer immune to the senseless brutality that the Strangler unleashed.

In the latest adaptation of the tale by director Matt Ruskin on Hulu, viewers are invited to take a gripping and chilling walk into the heart of a horrifying crime spree. With a tantalizing premise that promises to captivate even the most ardent true crime fans, the film is poised to deliver an unforgettable experience. However, despite its best efforts, the movie falls short of fully realizing its potential.

The film takes us on the journey of journalists Loretta McLaughlin (Keira Knightley) and Jean Cole (Carrie Coon) who are covering the case. Watching this film I’m reminded of some other great movies such as Ali Abbasi’s Holy Spider, Maria Schrader’s She Said or even Watcher from director Chloe Okuno, but the problem is, Boston Strangler just isn’t as engaging as any of those movies. However, it does touch on the systems that failed women back then, but it lacks the suspense and tension that you expect to get from a true crime film. 

Loretta, who is trapped working on lifestyle pieces, eventually is able to convince her editor to give her the case of the serial killings, having already devoted time to researching it in her free time. When the piece hits the paper, she beats all the others for the scoop, and she and Jean start working on the case together. The actors’ performances in this film are outstanding, but there are moments when it doesn’t quite feel like a true representation of the time period. Despite taking place in the 1960s, the film occasionally feels too modern. There are events throughout that fail to convince the audience, and even by the end of the movie you question if Loretta is a journalist or a detective.

David Dastmalchian, who is cast as Albert DeSalvo, our killer, is anything but tension and suspense. The script doesn’t give him what he deserves for a crime movie, and he feels much discarded by the end of the film. One can understand maybe not wanting to show any extreme violence, but for a crime movie there is no tension, no suspense – it lacks the very thing that true crime fans love, that spine-tingling hair on the back of your neck sticking up thrills. No to mention, the cinematography doesn’t add anything to help. It’s almost as if the lens on the camera was smudged with fingerprints, it’s so dark and dirty and not in any good way. 

Despite the challenges faced by the film, it still features captivating performances by a group of women who embark on an investigation and break down barriers in the process. These actresses exhibit remarkable dynamics and watching them work together is a true pleasure, despite the fact that the script at times feels rushed. Ultimately, the film’s strength lies in the talented actresses who bring it to life, making it an enjoyable watch even though it may not quite measure up to similar films.

Boston Strangler is currently streaming on Hulu.