In Boston Strangler, it is the early 1960s and local newspaper reporter, Loretta McLaughlin, notices that three recent murders in Boston seem to share a connection. After doing some digging, she links the cases together and writes a story, which catches the attention of the police.
Getting pressure from the Commissioner to drop the investigation, Loretta’s editor decides to quash the follow-up story and pull Loretta from the assignment. But when another murder takes place, and other reporters begin to pick up on the story, Loretta is put back on the case to investigate further.
Teaming up with fellow reporter, Jean Cole, the pair continue to work on the story as more murders are committed. In time, they dub the killer the ‘Boston Strangler’ (due to his modus operandi), and remain with the story as it develops over the years that follow.
Written and directed by Matt Ruskin, and inspired by a true story, Boston Strangler is a dramatization of a series of real-life murder cases which took place in the US during the 1960s. The movie stars Keira Knightley, Carrie Coon, and Chris Cooper, and is new to streaming from today.
Boston Strangler is grim, gritty, and deeply engaging. The film locks you in from the first few minutes and keeps you both interested and invested as it ticks along.
Similar to the David Fincher thrillers Seven (1995) and Zodiac (2007), Boston Strangler has a stark, grubby aesthetic, as well as an ominous tone. It is a movie built around atmosphere, and this is where a great deal of its suspense and tension comes from too.
However, where this film differs from the two examples above is in its approach to the story. This is a female-led picture, set during the ‘60s, so it also looks at the way in which Loretta and Jean challenge the rampant sexism of the era as they pivot around the naysayers who doubt their work.
Keira Knightley takes on the lead role of Loretta for this picture and she puts in a powerhouse performance. She’s confident when required, has a certain vulnerability at other times, and glides her way through the movie with grace and determination.
Joining Knightley in a supporting role is Carrie Coon as Jean. Coon doesn’t get quite so much screen time, but she makes the most of every scene she is given, delivering a strong, no-nonsense performance which compliments Knightley.
Together they are a fine pairing, however to be absolutely clear, this really is Knightley’s movie. She is the main focus of the film, with the plot weaving itself around her story.
As this is a character-driven thriller, Boston Strangler has little-to-no action and this is something which is worth pointing out, just to temper expectations. This isn’t a movie built around huge scenes of spectacle, it is a picture concerned with mood and story.
I’m highlighting this because the film is about a serial killer, which might conjure up images of something like The Silence of the Lambs (1991). But while the two feel tonally linked, Boston Strangler centres around a newspaper investigation, rather than a police or FBI investigation, so don’t expect guns being whipped out or a tense climactic showdown.
What you should expect is a story you can dig deep into, and a picture which captures a snapshot in time. Boston Strangler not only tells a tale about murder, it tells a story about the era, with every attitude, costume, and backdrop becoming intrinsic to the picture.
While Boston Strangler is a bit of a slow burn, and it may not tick all the boxes for everyone, this is a captivating thriller. Those who are into true crime stories will want to take a look and will certainly get something out of it.
Should you wish to view Boston Strangler, the film is available to stream via Disney+ in the UK. If you live in the US, the film can be found on Hulu.
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