10 Rillington Place (1971)

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Halloween Reviews 2020

Director: Richard Fleischer

Writer: Clive Exton, from the book by Ludovic Kennedy

Stars: Richard Attenborough, Judy Geeson, John Hurt, Pat Heywood, Isobel Black, Miss Riley, Phyllis MacMahon

A mild-mannered man (Richard Attenborough) living in a drab cul-de-sac in post-war London operates for many years as a serial killer in this film based on a real case and filmed in some of the actual locations. 

Attenborough is terrific in an understated performance as the vile, mousy John Christie. 

Something about the passionless, dreary personality of the character he portrays highlights the contemptible, cowardly nature of such a criminal in a way that films about more flamboyantly evil and frightening killers cannot match. 

John Hurt is powerful as the hot-headed, somewhat dim lodger who is framed for the killings.



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