Search - Aileen Wuornos - The Selling of a Serial Killer on DVD

An opportunity for interested parties to make money

M. J Leonard | Silver Lake, Los Angeles, CA United States | 09/11/2004

(4 out of 5 stars)

"This is a startling documentary that offers riveting insight into the way the legal system can abandon the disenfranchised and the poor. The movie also stands as a good companion piece to the Charlize Theron's Monster. While current Oscar Queen Charlize did a terrific job of portraying the homely, luckless lesbian hooker, this film ultimately gives a much more accurate insight into the real Aileen Wuornos. In Monster, Theron portrayed Wuornos as a kind of stupid, helpless victim who was addled by drugs and alcohol - which in some respects she was, but in this documentary she comes across as quite articulate, intelligent, and totally aware of what's going on around her. Aileen is very alert to the fact that certain individuals are trying to make money out of her story, and she's very conscious of the fact that the legal system and society as a whole is eventually intent on casting her aside.

Between 1989 and 1990, Aileen Wuornos haunted the interstates of jerkwater Florida, and committed seven murders. All of the victims were middle-aged, white males, who had tried to pick her up, and according to her, abused and raped her. Directed by Nick Bloomfield, this 1992 BBC-funded documentary focuses more on the ensuing media frenzy than the actual killings and their aftermaths. Wuornos is now on death row and is being steadily convicted of all seven murders. Broomfield interviews Arlene Pralle, who has adopted Wuornos as her spiritual "daughter." Arlene is a horse breeding Christian fundamentalist who prattles on about the glory of God and feels the need to rescue and save this poor woman from her predicament.

Also interviewed is Steve Glazer, Wuornos' generously proportioned, hippie public defender, who offers second-rate legal service, and is more interested in promoting his music than truly representing Eileen. Both Pralle and Glazer come across as conniving and duplicitous, and after promising Broomfield that he can have an interview with Wuornos and see all her personal effects for a mere $25,000, it rapidly becomes clear that they are ultimately out to make money from Wuornos while she lies rotting in jail.

Broomfield's also uncovers a bit of media scheming by the county police departments' to sell the rights to the story, which eventually results in a lieutenant's resignation. And there's also the revelation that Wuornos' original court assigned public defender didn't bother to present the evidence that Wuornos' first victim had been previously convicted of rape. Wuornos comes across as paranoid, bitter, and resentful about a system that has let her down. Everybody was against her, her one true love had abandoned her and turned her in, and no one would listen to her when she claimed to have committed the crimes in self-defense. This is a chilling and sad story, but it's a story that certainly needs to be told. Mike Leonard September 04.
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Excellent follow-up to the movie

D.M.K | Las Vegas, Nevada United States | 09/26/2004

(5 out of 5 stars)

"Very interesting account of how lowest of the low swarmed in to try to make money off Alieen. The born-again christian? who adopted Alieen and then tried to sell her story. Also, the attorney was a complete and total joke. The disorgainzation of Alieens personality became apparent as the film progressed. I felt the movie was well done and a must for anyone interested in this case."