Dear Mr. Gacy Blu-ray Movie

Rating summary

Movie		2.5
Video		2.5
Audio		3.0
Extras		1.5
Overall		2.5

Dear Mr. Gacy Blu-ray Movie Review

A missed opportunity for a better film.

Reviewed by Martin Liebman December 14, 2010

Don't assume anything of me.

What's a grade worth? For Jason Moss, the answer was, ultimately, his own life. Dear Mr. Gacy tells the true story of Jason Moss (Jesse Moss, coincidental similarities in name), a college Criminology student who dedicates a semester of his life to studying the soon-to-be-executed serial killer John Wayne Gacy (William Forsythe) as a basis for a term paper. What began as an idea for an interesting project snowballed into a life-defining foray into the psyche of a killer, while along the way a relationship between student and killer was forged that would ultimately produce a book, The Last Victim, aptly titled to be sure as Jason would take his own life in 2006. The Canadian-produced Dear Mr. Gacy fictionalizes the relationship between Gacy and Moss, the picture portraying the rise of an idea and the fall of a man as Jason allows his obsession with the killer to overtake his life and shape his destiny. Though the picture fails to live up to the potential of its infinitely intriguing subject material, it's a worthwhile piece of psychological drama that yields good characters and a thought-provoking premise.

Can this end well?

Criminology student Jason Moss has a fascination with serial killers, and with the date of John Wayne Gacy's execution looming, he seizes the opportunity to intermix personal interests and current events by making Gacy the subject of a college term paper. Moss' hesitant professor gives him the green light when the student promises a fresh new angle to a tired subject, and he gets to work by opening a correspondence with the death row inmate. To his surprise, Gacy responds -- with a questionnaire. Moss appeals to Gacy's psyche by dissecting interviews and posing as a burgeoning homosexual with family problems and a naïve outlook on social life. Gacy is taken by the boy and opens further dialogues, including telephone conversations, in which the two form a unique bond, even if Moss is secretly playing Gacy but slowly succumbing to the killer's intellect and power of suggestion. As Moss finds himself obsessed with Gacy and his project, he begins to exhibit a darker side that could potentially destroy all he knows and has worked for, all in the name of psychoanalyzing one of the world's preeminent serial killers. Ultimately, the project leads Moss down what may be a potentially life-altering path into the darkest recesses of humanity from which he may not be able to escape.

Dear Mr. Gacy is a movie that's easy to watch but not quite as captivating as it needs to be. Everything but a bigger budget is in place for a better movie, and the film works as well as it does thanks to an engaging story and two excellent lead characters that both keep this otherwise visually and structurally dull ship from sinking right off the bat. The premise is sometimes difficult to swallow -- talk about a dedicated student; here's hoping he had no other classes to worry about that semester -- but the film manages to create and maintain a fascinating dynamic that, if nothing else, may very well engender a desire in viewers to go pick up a copy of Moss' book on which the film is based. William Forsythe and Jesse Moss do justice to their parts; the roles call for psychological rather than physical performances, and while this isn't Anthony Hopkins and Jodie Foster, Dear Mr. Gacy does, at times, feel like Lambs light, thanks not necessarily to the premise but the battle of wits and the dark psychology that's explored through the dialogues between the lead characters. The chemistry between Moss and Forsythe is palpable but not quite fleshed out to its fullest potential, and while the picture does justice to Moss' downward spiral, one can't help but feel as if things were a bit too rushed in the name of keeping the movie manageably short in runtime. No doubt the book has a better handle on those critical nuances that would help anyone interested in the story to better grasp what really lies within the dueling minds of Moss and Gacy.

Dear Mr. Gacy manages to produce two solid characters and a weave a story that draws in its viewers, but the picture just can't escape that "movie of the week" feel. Maybe it's the minimal production values or some of the hard-to-swallow plot lines and developments that make it into the movie, but regardless, the picture is certainly not flashy or in any way visually attractive. That's not necessarily a detriment per se, but it does keep the movie from achieving greater status while also struggling to keep audiences interested when the story necessarily slows down or reaches critical junctures where the same tired, almost lazy filmmaking is evident no matter the thematic dynamic. Director Svetozar Ristovski (Mirage) goes through the motions and rarely finds a shot that's not routinely dull, but then again, when the picture consists of little more than dialogue -- and phone conversations at that -- the old point-and-shoot technique was probably the most logically sound choice, particularly given the evident budget restraints. Still, the shoestring quality is evident throughout, so much so that any momentum gained by the story and the interaction of the two primary characters is lessened or even negated by the absence of spit and polish. Story must always come first, but Dear Mr. Gacy just doesn't cut it if it strives to be more than a one-and-done TV-type movie.

Dear Mr. Gacy Blu-ray Movie, Video Quality 

Dear Mr. Gacy's 1080p transfer doesn't fare so well. This is an almost alarmingly flat image that's defined by a string of soft shots, excessive smoothness, and subpar detailing. The image enjoys the boosted resolution of Blu-ray, remaining stable on larger screens, but there's no escaping the transfer's many deficiencies even on smaller displays. Detail is disappointingly finite, with even basic textures on clothing and faces struggling to appear. Colors are dull and uninteresting, while flesh tones appear ghastly and blacks oftentimes appear too powerful for the transfer's own good. The transfer struggles through some moderate to severe banding, and various compression-related issues creep up occasionally. There's not much positive to say here; the transfer isn't a disaster by any stretch, but it more often than not simply seems to be hanging on rather than making an effort to be more than barely serviceable.

Dear Mr. Gacy Blu-ray Movie, Audio Quality 

Anchor Bay's Dolby TrueHD 5.1 lossless soundtrack fares better than the video presentation, but not by much. Dear Mr. Gacy is a sonically cramped and dull picture that delivers suitably clear and spacious music, but never does the presentation approach anything close to the seamlessly realistic flavors of the format's top soundtracks. Music occasionally drowns out dialogue, a problem that's primarily reserved for the opening minutes as the picture features a string of vintage news reports about the Gacy murders. The track delivers minimal atmospherics, most of which are handled by the front speakers. The slightest supportive elements -- a few chatty students inside what appears to be a college library or student union or a few shots on a busy city street -- manage to sneak into the back channels, but the surrounds are usually closed for business throughout. Chapter five pumps some life into the track with a bit of bass, though it's more sloppy than it is tight and refined. Dialogue, outside of the problematic opening minutes, is generally fine. This is an audibly unremarkable but generally proficient track. It gets the job done but does little more to excite the senses or support the movie.

Dear Mr. Gacy Blu-ray Movie, Special Features and Extras 

Dear Mr. Gacy includes only one extra. The Gacy Files: Portrait of a Serial Killer (1080p, 22:17) takes viewers on a journey into the life of the real killer. The piece features Actor William Forsythe retracing the life and times of John Wayne Gacy as he speaks with the killer's friends and defense attorney. The supplement also features interview clips with law enforcement officials and forensic scientists involved with the case. This is a well-structured piece that's actually more engrossing than the film.

Dear Mr. Gacy Blu-ray Movie, Overall Score and Recommendation 

Dear Mr. Gacy offers up a good story supported by decent performances but only passable execution. The microscopic budget is evident in every scene, and no matter how hard the story works or the actors try, Dear Mr. Gacy simply can't escape a generic made for television tenor. There's a good movie in here somewhere, and the lead actors do all they can to bring it out, but the film seems hamstrung by lackadaisical direction, a lack of money, and not enough time to really flesh out the characters and develop the story to all its potential. Fans of the book or the subject material will enjoy, but Dear Mr. Gacy isn't a movie to look to for flash and excitement. Anchor Bay's Blu-ray release is, much like the movie, serviceable but far from extraordinary. The 1080p transfer suffers through some problems and the lossless soundtrack scratches by with a decent-at-best effort. The lone supplement is quite good, but it's not worth the price of admission. Renting is the best option.