Boston Strangler (2023)
75%RT Audience Score: 76%
Awards & Nominations: NA
Boston Strangler is a film that attempts to capture the essence of old-school journalism and the struggles of women in a male-dominated industry. While the performances by Keira Knightley and Carrie Coon are commendable, the film falls short in building suspense and momentum. The reliance on a brooding soundtrack and a shot-through-a-dirty-fishtank look ultimately detracts from the strong performances and accurate rendering of mid-century gender inequality. However, the film does push the audience to question the reliability of its narration, making it a worthwhile addition to the true crime genre. Overall, Boston Strangler is a decent effort, but it fails to reach the heights of other films in the genre such as Spotlight or Zodiac.
Boston Strangler is a movie that will keep you on the edge of your seat, but not because of the suspense. Rather, it’s because you’ll be constantly adjusting your glasses to see through the dirty fishtank look that the filmmakers seem to love so much. However, the performances by Keira Knightley and Carrie Coon are top-notch, and it’s worth watching just to see them kick butt in a male-dominated world. Plus, it’s always fun to question who the narration is coming from, right? Overall, it’s a decent addition to the true crime genre, but don’t expect it to be the next Spotlight or Zodiac.
Production Company(ies)
20th Century Studios, Hulu, LuckyChap Entertainment, Scott Free, The Walsh Company
Distributor
Hulu
Release Type
Streaming, Streaming (Hulu)
Filming Location(s)
Boston, Massachusetts, United States
MPAA / Certificate
R
Year of Release
2023
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Color:Color
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Sound mix:Dolby Digital, Dolby
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Aspect ratio:2.39 : 1
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Runtime:1h 52m
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Language(s):English
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Country of origin:United States
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Release date:Release Date (Streaming): Mar 17, 2023
Genre(s)
Crime/Drama
Keyword(s)
starring Keira Knightley, Carrie Coon, Alessandro Nivola, Chris Cooper, David Dastmalchian, Robert John Burke, directed by Matt Ruskin, written by Matt Ruskin, crime, drama, R rating, box office performance, budget, reviewed by Randy Myers, Claudia Puig, Stephanie Zacharek, Noel Murray, Elizabeth Gregory, David Fear, Carla Renata, Aaron Neuwirth, Dennis Schwartz, Jennifer Green, Johnny Loftus, Kate Sánchez, producer Tom Ackerley, Josey McNamara, Michael J Pruss, Ridley Scott, Kevin J Walsh, MPAA rating, Loretta McLaughlin, Jean Cole, Detective Conley, Jack Maclaine, Albert DeSalvo, Eddie Holland, journalist, Boston Strangler murders, investigation, Dolby Digital, Flat (1.85:1), Hulu
Worldwide gross: NA
Worldwide gross (inflation-adjusted): NA
Worldwide gross ranking (inflation-adjusted): NA
Worldwide tickets sold (est.): NA
US/Canada gross: NA
US/Canada gross (inflation-adjusted): NA
US/Canada gross ranking (inflation-adjusted): NA
US/Canada opening weekend:
US/Canada opening weekend (inflation-adjusted): NA
US/Canada opening weekend ranking (inflation-adjusted): NA
Budget and Earnings Details
Production budget (est.): $5,000,000
Production budget (inflation-adjusted): $5,000,000
Production budget ranking: 1,817
Marketing and distribution budget (inflation-adjusted est.): $2,692,500
Box office net earnings to date (inflation-adjusted est.): NA
ROI to date (est.): NA
ROI ranking: NA
Carrie Coon – Jean Cole
Alessandro Nivola – Detective Conley
Chris Cooper – Jack Maclaine
David Dastmalchian – Albert DeSalvo
Robert John Burke – Eddie Holland
Director – Matt Ruskin
Producers – Tom Ackerley, Josey McNamara, Michael J. Pruss, Ridley Scott, Kevin J. Walsh
Writer – Matt Ruskin
Director(s)
Matt Ruskin
Writer(s)
Matt Ruskin
Producer(s)
Tom Ackerley, Josey McNamara, Michael A. Pruss, Ridley Scott, Kevin J. Walsh
Film Festivals
Awards & Nominations
NA
Academy Awards
All Critics (100) | Top Critics (26) | Fresh (64) | Rotten (36)
The matchup of Keira Knightly and Carrie Coon punches up this involving, period-rich but somewhat ordinary thriller that celebrates old-school journalism.
March 22, 2023 | Rating: 3/4
Randy Myers
San Jose Mercury News
TOP CRITIC
It’s not as good as Spotlight or Zodiac, but it’s perfectly involving.
March 21, 2023
Claudia Puig
FilmWeek (KPCC – NPR Los Angeles)
TOP CRITIC
Knightley, in a performance as crisp as the corners of an envelope, makes McLaughlin’s perseverance—and the pressures she faced as she also tried to be a good wife and mother—deeply believable.
March 21, 2023
Stephanie Zacharek
TIME Magazine
TOP CRITIC
The film… mostly works, thanks to Ruskin’s other angle: interrogating how the meaning of this story changes over time.
March 21, 2023
Noel Murray
Los Angeles Times
TOP CRITIC
Although all the elements are there for a spine-tingling Zodiac-style mystery thriller, the film fails to build any real momentum and ends up completely running out of steam.
March 20, 2023 | Rating: 3/5
Elizabeth Gregory
London Evening Standard
TOP CRITIC
The reliance on the shot-through-a-dirty-fishtank look ultimately starts undercutting what is good about the movie: the work of its leads.
March 20, 2023
David Fear
Rolling Stone
TOP CRITIC
Carrie Coon and Keira Knightly are equally yoked in strength, vulnerability and tenacity explored through two women fighting it out and standing their ground amongst a male chauvinistic world of journalism. Moves a little slow, but well worth the ride
March 22, 2023
Carla Renata
The Curvy Film Critic
While admiration comes with adapting an important story, the delivery doesn’t seem to be up to the challenge.
March 22, 2023 | Rating: 4/10
Aaron Neuwirth
We Live Entertainment
Even if getting fine performances by Keira and Carrie, and being correct on the social issues–it’s bland and lacks suspense.
March 22, 2023 | Rating: B-
Dennis Schwartz
Dennis Schwartz Movie Reviews
Boston Strangler features intelligent performances and some accurate rendering of mid-century gender inequality. I
March 21, 2023 | Rating: 3/5
Jennifer Green
Common Sense Media
Keira Knightley leads a strong cast in Boston Strangler, who all lend real watchability to this true crime tale even as its pendulous air and brooding soundtrack begin to get a little suffocating.
March 21, 2023
Johnny Loftus
Decider
…Boston Strangler is a good addition to the true crime genre of films if only because it pushes the audience to question who the narration is coming from.
March 21, 2023 | Rating: 6.5/10
Kate Sánchez
But Why Tho? A Geek Community…
Plot
Loretta McLaughlin becomes the first journalist to connect the Boston Strangler murders and attempts to continue her investigation alongside colleague and confidante Jean Cole.
Trivia
Goofs / Tidbits
The ending mistakenly gives the impression that there is doubt about DeSalvo being the Boston Strangler. DeSalvo was linked to a Strangler murder via DNA evidence and confessed to the others.
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