Aileen - Life and Death of a Serial Killer (2003)
ADULT THEMES, SEXUAL REFERENCES
| Director: | Nick Broomfield |
| Actor: | Aileen Wuornos |
Sensationalist director Nick Broomfield delivers his most personal film with this bracing, powerful sequel to 1992's AILEEN WUORNOS: THE SELLING OF A SERIAL KILLER. Ten years after making that film, Broomfield returns to the story of America's first female serial killer, who murdered seven truck drivers over the course of 12 months in Florida, requested execution as punishment, and on October 9, 2002 was put to death. Broomfield's film shows Aileen's final appeal before her execution and identifies a whole new set of problems in reviewing her testimony. For one, Aileen contradicted her initial claim that she killed the truck drivers in self defense, stating instead that she murdered them in cold blood. Also, Broomfield realized that Aileen was potentially insane. Somehow, Florida governor Jeb Bush ignored this possibility and accepted her request for execution. After interviewing several of her closest companions, Broomfield sat down with Aileen herself for her final interview, in which she accuses law enforcement officials of knowing about her killing spree and not stopping it.
While Broomfield has been criticized for being too active a participant in his films, this time it is warranted. His strong connection to Aileen turns the film into a deeply personal meditation on the life of a truly troubled individual and a scathing attack on America's corrupt justice system.
| Status: | QuickPick |
|---|---|
| Run time: | 89mins |
| Origin: | UNITED KINGDOM |
| Aspect Ratio: |
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Member Reviews (16)
16 Member
Reviews
Schmizey
says
I wasn't up on the events of this movie but watching it at points I forgot she was a serial killer and I felt sad for how she was treated and that the US government made an example of her. But then you remember what she did. Emotions were mixed throughout. Felt some sympathy for the director who got to know Aileen and at some stage there would have been a "relationship" between the two only to have it destroyed by the death penalty.
L Tyler
says
Too much of a documentary. I was expecting a movie based on the true crime case.
Michael G.
says
She was a sad case and sadder when you realise how insane she had become by the end. I thought the director did all he could to present her in as good a light as possible.
Heather P.
says
A great insight to Aileen! you should watch the selling of a serial killer first (dont that it matter much) because it was done by the same man and is sort of a follow up!
Elizabeth D.
says
Geoff P.
says
Journey into the mind of female serial killer, Aileen Wuornos. Towards the end of the film, prior to Wuornos being executed, we glimpse the side of her possibly only seen by her victims before being murdered - very chilling indeed. Students of true crime & serial killers should not miss this insight into Aileen Wuornos, who started out bad, but by the time the credits roll, you may be convinced, like me, that in the end, she was indeed, truly mad.
Peter B.
says
Ben H. is spot-on.
Ben H.
says
You feel faintly grubby watching this rather tacky , no holds barred documentary on the last months of the life of Aileen Wuornos. It is of course utterly fascinating if you have seen the movie version of her story and makes you realise that Charlise Theron got pretty close to reality in portraying this deeply disturbed and unhappy woman. Director/ writer Bloomfield makes a strong, if crude case for Wuornos being insane and her execution being politically manipulated. The confronting presence of Aileen herself though is what makes the film totally riveting. Not a great documentary film per se, but if you've seen "Monster" you have to see it.
Scott Garnett
says
I thought the first one was better. She is obviously insane, and it is just sad watching her craziness.
Alexander Hell
says
One sad life of a woman and unfortunatly it had to end. Many questions lay unanswered.
Lee-Ann Fryer
says
Leanne Humphry
says
Jessica Thompson
says
Intriguing and saddening
Phillip Eason
says
Kathleen Fahy
says
I was enthralled by this movie which shows the real difficulty of attributing blame to someone who has been so abused and neglected. The system of law looks very unjust. The death penalty seems completely in the wrong paradigm. There are so many people to 'blame' and no heros. Very thought provoking.
Gavin Bond
says
This matter-of-fact documentary is well worth seeing as a companion piece to the original doco (AILEEN WOURNOS:THE SELLING OF A SERIAL KILLER and the Oscar winning drama MONSTER)
and tells the sad but true tale of America's infamous first female serial killer. Directer NICK BROOMFIELD is quite fearless in his quest for the truth: which like all real-life events is far from black and white.