Presents

Chicago Massacre: Richard Speck

There's nothing more frightening than a real life serial killer, and, because of that, movies about them seem to be just a little more scary than your Freddy's or your Jason's.  Well, after some great movies about Ed Gein and John Wayne Gacy, it was about time someone stepped up and did the story of Richard Speck!

  If you don't know the story, then you probably should, Speck killed 8 nursing students in Chicago and nearly got away.  This movie captures the crime (not too graphically) and follows Speck as he hides in Chicago, while we see flashbacks of his abusive childhood and the abusive relationships that stemmed from it.  While the movie never gets too graphic, it does capture the terror that no doubt ensued on that fateful night when Speck, who it seems was never normal, crossed the line into full blown psycho!

Corin Nemic really carries this movie as Speck, his performance is excellent!  Going from country bumpkin to mental case in seconds can't be that easy, but Nemic makes you really believe it!  He really captures the spirit of the mass murderer and while it would be easy to drum up some sympathy for Speck, Nemic never plays it that way, you understand why he might be doing these things, you never once feel sorry for him...and you shouldn't!  I'm giving Chicago Massacre: Richard Speck four out of four cigars, because it really draws you in and keeps you stuck in your seat, even though you feel a bit slimy, like your peeping into something you probably shouldn't be seeing, but you just can't look away.  And don't think that's a bad thing, I think if you're watching a 'real life' crime story, you shouldn't walk away feeling good, you should feel a bit disconcerted, because this is real, not some made up monster movie!  So, until next time, when I'll still be in the shower trying to get all the Speck off of me, remember that the best movies are bad movies.