Nick Broomfield is a fearless documentarian, who asks the tough questions and puts himself on the line for his work. In 1992, Broomfield made the powerful film AILEEN WUORNOS: THE SELLING OF A SERIAL KILLER, which chronicled how the famed serial killer Aileen Wuornos was used by many people in her life that tried to cash in on her infamy. AILEEN: LIFE AND DEATH OF A SERIAL KILLER come out to coincide with the release of the fictional version of Wuornos’ story, MONSTER. LIFE AND DEATH OF A SERIAL KILLER serves as part sequel- part re-envisioning of the original film.
The new film, which was co-directed by Joan Churchill, recaps the findings of the first film as well as fills us in on what has happened since. The new film recaps Wuornos’ life in brief much like an A&E biography would. The rest of the time the film takes advantage of Wuornos’ trust of Broomfield, giving him exclusive interviews.
Made much more startling by the extreme close-ups and Wuornos’ black eyes, America’s most famous female serial killer changes her story about killing in self-defense and pushes for the court to execute her. By the end, Wuornos has gone a bit mad, insisting that the cops knew she was the killer and let her kill so that they could get better movie and book deals. The tip of her insanity is displayed in her belief that the prison is sonically crushing her head through the TV and that after she is killed Jesus will take her up in a spaceship. Another good title for the film could have been -- “The Breaking of a Serial Killer.”
What makes a good documentary great sometimes is a level of surprise and a feeling that the film is uncovering a hidden truth or dramatizing an intriguing real life event. Broomfield’s second film lacks the spark that made the first film astonishing.
With that being said, if you liked MONSTER than you have to see THE SELLING OF A SERIAL KILLER. If you liked SELLING OF A SERIAL KILLER then you should see LIFE AND DEATH OF A SERIAL KILLER. But even if you haven’t seen MONSTER or THE SELLING OF A SERIAL KILLER, LIFE AND DEATH OF A SERIAL KILLER is not a bad place to start in finding out more about a darkly fascinating figure in American history. It will make you ask yourself the question – are serial killers born or does society make them?
Rick DeMott
Animation World Network
Creator of Rick's Flicks Picks
