Killer: A Journal Of Murder is a 1995 American film. It is based on the life of serial killer Carl Panzram, and uses passages of his biography.
The film's screenplay was written by Tim Metcalfe, who also directed the film. Originally, he found a copy of Panzram's journal in a used-book store, read it and spent five years attempting to get the story onto the screen. Killer: A Journal of Murder starred James Woods as Panzram and Robert Sean Leonard as Henry Lesser. Other stars include Ellen Greene as Elizabeth Wyatt, Cara Buono as Esther Lesser, Robert John Burke as R.G. Greiser and Richard Riehle as Warden Quince. Michael Jeffrey Woods, James Woods' young brother also made an appearance as Harry Sinclair.
The film was theatrically shown in America in 1996 through Legacy Releasing Corporation, although limited, and in 1997 by First Independent Films in the UK, whilst in Spain, it was shown through Ufilms. It was first shown in September 1995 at the Tokyo International Film Festival. In America, the film grossed $31,993 on its opening weekend across 9 Screens. Total gross in America totaled $65,682.
In America the film was first released on VHS in the Netherlands via Arcade Movie Company, and on DVD in Japan via Beam Entertainment and Culture Publishers in 1998. On VHS it was released in Canada via Malofilm Distribution, in Greece via Nea Kinisi Video, in Germany via VCL Communications and in Brazil via Top Tape. In 1997 it was given a VHS release in America via Republic Pictures, who also released a DVD version in 2001 and a widescreen DVD edition in 2006.
Filming locations in America included Connecticut and Rhode Island. Places within Connecticut included Groton, New London and Norwich.
The film was dedicated to Sam Peckinpah because The Wild Bunch inspired screenwriter Tim Metcalfe to become a director. The film was Metcalfe's first directorial project. In 1999, the film was referenced in the film Tomorrow by Midnight, starring Alexis Arquette.
Read more about Killer: A Journal Of Murder: Plot, Cast, Thematic Elements, Critical Reception
Famous quotes containing the words journal and/or murder:
“Unfortunately, many things have been omitted which should have been recorded in our journal; for though we made it a rule to set down all our experiences therein, yet such a resolution is very hard to keep, for the important experience rarely allows us to remember such obligations, and so indifferent things get recorded, while that is frequently neglected. It is not easy to write in a journal what interests us at any time, because to write it is not what interests us.”
—Henry David Thoreau (1817–1862)
“What drivel it all is!... A string of words called religion. Another string of words called philosophy. Half a dozen other strings called political ideals. And all the words either ambiguous or meaningless. And people getting so excited about them they’ll murder their neighbours for using a word they don’t happen to like. A word that probably doesn’t mean as much as a good belch. Just a noise without even the excuse of gas on the stomach.”
—Aldous Huxley (1894–1963)