I’m surprised it took as long as it did. Usually, when something performs as well as ‘Dahmer’ did, we see a string of similar productions from different studios competing in the trend. For example, a plethora of movies, games, and animated projects were ready to launch the day ‘Steamboat Willie’ entered the public domain. Ever since we watched Jeffrey Dahmer eat his neighbors and witnessed Evan Peters’ complete immersion in that role, there hasn’t been a pressing need to explore the motives of a murderer again. No one was in a hurry to reenact the stories of other serial killers. However, ‘Gacy: Serial Killer Next Door’ is taking a more pulpish, almost cartoonish approach to this very real subject matter.
Yes, it’s true that Gacy dressed up as a clown for children’s birthday parties. However, he didn’t wear the makeup when committing his crimes, and he certainly didn’t laugh maniacally like the Joker beating Batman in a game of Uno. The trailer heavily portrays Gacy as a comic book villain type of character. I haven’t seen the full film yet, so I could be mistaken, but that’s the impression the first trailer gives.
The synopsis for Gacy: Serial Killer Next Door went like this:
A teenager’s life in a quiet suburb changes drastically when John Wayne Gacy, a famed serial killer, becomes his neighbor. His curiosity leads to dark secrets and a frightening journey from innocence to a dire clash with evil.
The sound mix in the trailer sounds slightly off. Gacy’s laugh is blowing out the speakers and sending the needle into the red. Hopefully, they have this fixed by the time the film arrives.
The film stars Ryker Baloun, Shelby Janes, Mason McNulty, Ashley Ray Keefe, and John Omohundro. And directed by Michael Feifer.
You can watch Gacy: Serial Killer Next Door when it arrives On Demand beginning January 30th .
