Impressive and realistic performances

Rating: 9/10 (9 October 2005)

I watched this film tonight, on The sundance channel, knowing nothing about it...When I hit the remote and saw the description, I figured the Charleze Therone credit in the movie must have been a mistake---I kept watching and thought..O.K. maybe Charleze has a small role later on in the film--
Then not seeing her, after watching for quite a while, I was convinced this credit was a typo, one way or another, this was someone else...The character she created was compelling, it's why I decided to watch it...She was very unattractive, but a realistic idenifiable person that I felt for. I am extremely impressed with how much charleze transformed herself--totally un- recognizable.
The film was kinda horrible, what with the subject matter, and yet, because there seemed to be a real person in real pain, somehow I identified with that pain and desperation of the character, but after the first murder, which seemed to clearly be in self defense, the further murders became more and more horrible and disturbing, especially the last one, who was a really kind hearted man that pleaded with her and offered her his car and wallet. That one was particularly horrible, as the man was particularly kind hearted.
Overall, I don't see too much reason for a "Serial Killer" film to be made, as far as improving or inspiring the world, but I guess a few of them can be a little educational, but again, I don't know how necessary this education is or could ever be for society. However, I guess, if one understands the background of this character, and how it directly influjinced this character to become who she was, it may be educational in just that, understanding what makes these kinds of people tic.
I wish a film like this might be seen by those parents who are responsible in creating this kind of a person by their abuse, and it would influence them to stop, but somehow, I don't think that happens too often. Other than that, and having some understanding in how someone comes to this sort of a thing, I don't see that there should be more than a few films of this category made.
I think that the film is certainly more realistic than most.