Aileen: Life and Death of a Serial Killer (2004)
82%RT Audience Score: 73%
Awards & Nominations: 2 wins & 4 nominations
Aileen: Life and Death of a Serial Killer is a haunting and engrossing exploration of the life of Aileen Wuornos, a female serial killer. The film provides a real-life view of Wuornos during the days of her final appeal and her ultimate date with death. It also delves into the complicated and often unbalanced relationship between documentarian and subject, making it the most intense depiction of this dynamic in documentary history. Broomfield’s direction is masterful, and Charlize Theron’s performance in Monster is perfectly complemented by this documentary’s investigation into the origins of Wuornos’ violence. Aileen is a scathing indictment against the death penalty and its proponents, reminding us that all life is precious, even that of a serial killer.
Aileen: Life and Death of a Serial Killer” is a documentary that explores the life of Aileen Wuornos, a female serial killer. Critics have praised the film for its haunting and educational portrayal of Wuornos, as well as its examination of the complex relationship between documentarian and subject. However, some have criticized the film for being self-righteously predictable. Despite the mixed reviews, one thing is for sure: this documentary will give you the chills. So, grab some popcorn and get ready for a wild ride through the mind of a killer. Just don’t watch it alone at night!
Production Company(ies)
Distributor
Lantern Lane, DEJ Productions
Release Type
Filming Location(s)
Florida, USA
MPAA / Certificate
Rated R for language, including violent and sexual dialogue
Year of Release
2003
-
Color:Color
-
Sound mix:Dolby
-
Aspect ratio:1.33 : 1
-
Runtime:1h 29m
-
Language(s):English
-
Country of origin:United States
-
Release date:Release Date (Theaters): Jan 9, 2004 Wide
Release Date (Streaming): Nov 5, 2016
Genre(s)
Documentary
Keyword(s)
Aileen Wuornos, Nick Broomfield, Joan Churchill, Jo Human, Documentary, R, English (United Kingdom), Lantern Lane, DEJ Productions, $86.0K, Charlize Theron, Serial Killer, American Justice System, Mental Illness, Death Penalty, Prostitution, Murder, Tragic, Father, Grandfather, Mother, Grandmother, Sound Mind, Mental Competence, Mind Control, Pressure, Testimony, Trial, Follow-up, Distorted Mind, Eye-opening, Unsettling, Chilling, Haunting, Educational, Amusing, Engrossing, Moving, Complex Relationship, Investigative, Psychological, Delusional, Final Appeal, Execution, Life Imprisonment, Mental Health, Inappropriate, Thought-provoking
Worldwide gross: $97,362
Worldwide gross (inflation-adjusted): $157,811
Worldwide gross ranking (inflation-adjusted): 2,970
Worldwide tickets sold (est.): 17,210
US/Canada gross: $97,362
US/Canada gross (inflation-adjusted): $157,811
US/Canada gross ranking (inflation-adjusted): 2,585
US/Canada opening weekend: $16,158
US/Canada opening weekend (inflation-adjusted): $26,190
US/Canada opening weekend ranking (inflation-adjusted): 2,422
Budget and Earnings Details
Production budget (est.): NA
Production budget (inflation-adjusted): NA
Production budget ranking: NA
Marketing and distribution budget (inflation-adjusted est.): NA
Box office net earnings to date (inflation-adjusted est.): NA
ROI to date (est.): NA
ROI ranking: NA
Director(s)
Nick Broomfield, Joan Churchill
Writer(s)
Nick Broomfield
Producer(s)
Jo Human
Film Festivals
Awards & Nominations
2 wins & 4 nominations
Academy Awards
All Critics (60) | Top Critics (26) | Fresh (51) | Rotten (9)
The film stands quite chillingly as a final statement from a woman trying to fight her own commodification.
May 21, 2004 | Rating: 3/4
Wesley Morris
Boston Globe
TOP CRITIC
A haunting exploration of a ruined and wasted life.
April 23, 2004 | Rating: 4/5
Jay Boyar
Orlando Sentinel
TOP CRITIC
[T]his movie literally gave me the chills.
February 13, 2004
Richard Roeper
Ebert & Roeper
TOP CRITIC
Engrossing, educational, amusing and disturbing.
February 13, 2004
Michael O’Sullivan
Washington Post
TOP CRITIC
Provides an opportunity to study one of history’s supposed anomalies: a female serial killer.
February 13, 2004
Desson Thomson
Washington Post
TOP CRITIC
Does afford a real-life view of Wuornos during the days of her final appeal and her ultimate date with death.
February 13, 2004 | Rating: B
Robert Denerstein
Denver Rocky Mountain News
TOP CRITIC
Self-righteously predictable.
April 19, 2022
Jim Schroeder
The Advocate
A deeply fascinating follow-up because of how much of Wuornos’ story is changed from one film to the next, as well as for its moving consideration of the complex and often unbalanced relationship between documentarian and subject.
November 28, 2018
Thrillist Entertainment Staff
Thrillist
The most intense depiction of the complicated relationship between documentary filmmaker and subject of all time.
September 8, 2014
Christopher Campbell
Nonfics
Alm de investigar com maior profundidade as origens da violncia de Aileen, o documentrio ainda comprova a perfeio da performance de Charlize Theron em Monster.
January 31, 2005 | Rating: 4/5
Pablo Villaça
Cinema em Cena
Broomfield’s misplaced exasperation is almost poignant.
May 25, 2004 | Rating: 3/4
Bill Chambers
Film Freak Central
Aileen is, if anything, a scathing indictment against the death penalty and its proponents, keeping with the concept that all life is precious.
May 4, 2004 | Rating: B-
Robin Clifford
Reeling Reviews…
Plot
A British documentarian creates a follow-up piece to his 1992 documentary of the serial killer Aileen Wuornos, a highway prostitute who was convicted of killing six men in Florida between 1989 and 1990, interviewing an increasingly mentally unstable Wuornos and capturing the distorted mind of a murderer whom the state of Florida deems of sound mind — and therefore fit to execute.
Trivia
Goofs / Tidbits
The documentary features interviews with Aileen Wuornos herself, as well as director Nick Broomfield who testified at her trial.
Nick-Broomfield.jpg
