Dear Mr. Gacy
Dear Mr. Gacy | |
---|---|
Directed by | Svetozar Ristovski |
Produced by |
Clark Peterson Tom Berry Gordon Yang |
Screenplay by | Kellie Madison |
Story by | Clark Peterson |
Based on |
The Last Victim by Jason Moss Jeffrey Kottler |
Starring |
Jesse Moss William Forsythe Emma Lahana Jeffrey Bowyer-Chapman Patrick Gilmore |
Music by | Terry Frewer |
Cinematography | Larry Lynn |
Editing by | Scott Belyea |
Country | Canada |
Language | English |
Release date | May 11, 2010 |
Dear Mr. Gacy is a 2010 Canadian drama thriller film directed by Svetozar Ristovski, starring William Forsythe and Jesse Moss. The film is based on Jason Moss's memoir, The Last Victim.
Plot
As part of his college thesis, Jason Moss (Jesse Moss), a criminology student, decides to write to serial killers and attempt to gain their trust through impersonating a typical victim or admirer.
Moss sends a carefully crafted letter to John Wayne Gacy (William Forsythe) in prison, portraying himself as a vulnerable, sexually confused boy. The letter is an intricate plan to get inside Gacy's head in hopes of uncovering new information regarding his murders that will aid Moss in writing a standout term paper. The film unfolds as Gacy, suspicious at first, puts Moss through intense emotional tests via letters and collect calls, all of which lead to strained relationships with his girlfriend and family before an eventual face-to-face visit in prison.
The film ends with a real-life interview with the real Jason Moss, and shows the real photo taken of Moss and Gacy several days before the execution, stating that Moss went on to graduate and write a book on his relationship with Gacy before committing suicide in June 2006.
Cast
- Jesse Moss as Jason Moss
- William Forsythe as John Wayne Gacy
- Emma Lahana as Alyssa
- Jeffrey Bowyer-Chapman as Diego
- Patrick Gilmore as Glen Phillips
- Andrew Airlie as Professor Harris
- Cole Heppell as Alex Moss
- Belinda Metz as Valerie
- Michaela Mann as Autumn
- Michael Kopsa as FBI Agent
- Eric Keenleyside as Stan
- Daryl Shuttleworth as Thompson
- Brett Dier as Marcus
- Jaren Brandt-Bartlett as Mike
- Hunter Elliott as Tim Carsey
- Kai Kennedy as Bobby
Production
The film based on the real life story of Jason Moss, who as a college student attending UNLV, corresponded with five prominent serial killers on death row in an attempt to determine if there was more to be learned if one was to impersonate their typical victims or act as an ardent admirer.[1]
The focus of the film is Moss' interaction with John Wayne Gacy (convicted of murdering 33 young men and boys), with whom he developed the strongest relationship.
Screenwriter Kellie Madison approached Clark Peterson, executive producer of Monster, to attempt to bring the story to life. It was during the course of their discussions with Moss, who was thrilled at the prospect of developing his novel The Last Victim into a film, that they learned of his suicide on June 6, 2006.[2] After an appropriate period of time had passed, they approached Moss’ widow and ultimately were able to gain acceptance of the proposal, and Dear Mr. Gacy was developed. This is Kellie Madison’s first adaptation to the big screen. The film was shot in Vancouver, British Columbia.[3]
Release
Dear Mr. Gacy premiered on Canadian TV on May 11, 2010, and was released on video later in the year.
See also
- Serial killers
- True crime
- The Last Victim
References
- ↑ Katherine Ramsland. "Serial Killer Groupies". truTV.com Crime Library. Retrieved 2009-10-26.
- ↑ Mike Kalil. "Best-selling author of book on serial killers kills himself". Las Vegas Review-Journal. Retrieved 2009-10-28.
- ↑ Dear Mr. Gacy Teaser, Clip, and Q&A with William Forsythe
External links
- Official website
- Dear Mr. Gacy at allmovie
- Dear Mr. Gacy at the Internet Movie Database
- Dear Mr. Gacy at Rotten Tomatoes
- Fox Chicago News Story on the 30th anniversary of the John Wayne Gacy trial. Interviews with actor William Forsythe and producer Clark Peterson on the film, Dear Mr. Gacy.