Celluloid Serial Killers

Paul B. Kidd's Top 15 Serial Killer Movies Continued...

2. Seven (1995) C-126m

Movie Poster: Seven

Seven's serial killer, known only as John Doe (Kevin Spacey) who specialises in bumping off perpetrators of the seven deadly sins; gluttony, greed, sloth, envy, wrath, pride and lust, wasn't modelled after a real life murderer simply because no one in real life could be this bizarre. And if ever there was a celluloid serial killer with purpose, John Doe is it.

At the beginning of Seven the teaming of Brad Pitt and Morgan Freeman as the cops looks like it might not work but it doesn't take long to realise that the dialogue between the young, white, new cop and the old, black, retiring cop, particularly in some of the grisliest scenes you're ever likely to see, is a highlight of an excellent thriller that will keep you enthralled until the very end. And don't tell any of your friends the ending!

Gwyneth Paltrow adds a bright ray of sunlight in a movie that is otherwise black, rainy ... and bloody terrifying. If you want to have the daylights frightened out of you, then this is the movie for you.

3. Manhunter (1986) C-119m

Movie Poster: Manhunter

Say hello to the Tooth Fairy, a really likeable guy whose specialty is murdering and butchering entire families on the full moon. Mum, dad, kids, pets, the lot. What with the teeth and the full moon you could be fooled into thinking this is some sort of a vampire movie but it certainly isn't even though the serial killer does have a nibble on his victims (that's how he got his name) with his outrageously large choppers.

But that's not what the plot is all about. Adapted from Thomas Harris's (there's that man again) international best seller Red Dragon (the novel before The Silence of The Lambs) it's the tale of how FBI serial killer catcher Will Graham, played by William L. Petersen is brought out of retirement to catch the Tooth Fairy before he kills another entire generation of a family.

Will's claim to fame is that he caught Dr Hannibal Lecter in the first place and if he could do that he can catch anyone. We get to meet Dr Lecter (Brian Cox) in his cell which is very disappointing if you've seen Anthony Hopkin's later portrayal of Lecter in The Silence of The Lambs. For all its complications, twists and turns Manhunter is a classic in the serial killer genre and the scientific detective work used to track the killer down is awesome. A must for every serial killer movie buff.