Acensbart Excellent but underrated film

Salubfoto It's an amazing and heartbreaking story.

Mandeep Tyson The acting in this movie is really good.

Josephina Great story, amazing characters, superb action, enthralling cinematography. Yes, this is something I am glad I spent money on.

dougdoepke Fascinating film about crimes that gripped the nation in 1969. Had the first victims not included Hollywood celebrities, I doubt the sensationalism would have been so pervasive. Nonetheless, the state's account is told in painstakingly detailed fashion, while it's a tribute to the filmmakers that not even the many lawyerly conflabs manage to pall. Of course, there were social-political agendas at stake at the time. Many folks saw the Manson murders as logical outcome of an undisciplined, hedonistic hippie movement. After all, what else could be expected of rootless sex-happy druggies. On the other hand, counterculture folks did their best to disassociate a lunatic Manson and his witless followers from movement principles. The movie essentially presents the case from prosecutor Bugliosi's point of view, but is wisely careful not to indict the counterculture as a whole. Railsback plays the bearded lunatic with wild-eyed abandon—how much is true to life and how much caricature is open to speculation. Most unnerving to me, however, is Nancy Wolfe as Susan Atkins. Her need to believe in a leader-type, any leader who pays her attention, suggests an undercurrent more alarming than Charlie himself. Then too, Wolfe plays Atkins with effective and understated malign. On the other hand, DiCenzo's prosecuting attorney is clearly the hero. Wisely, Bugliosi comes across as a consummate professional, without swagger or ego. Thus the contrast with Manson is striking, leaving no doubts about the trial's outcome. Note too, how police bureaucracy mishandles the Tate murder weapon, making prosecution more difficult, a good touch to include. Too bad, however, that Manson's charismatic side is not included. For example a scene that shows how he was able to emotionally seduce his followers. As things stand, we get the dramatic effects without the seductive cause.On the whole, the long version, 180-minutes, is slickly done, especially for a TV movie. Now that 50-years have passed, most Americans have no living memory of what a splash the freighted crimes made. In that sense, the movie—for better or worse-- amounts to an entertaining visual record.

TheBlueHairedLawyer Charles Manson's murders likely freaked the hell out of people back in '69! And chances are it gave hippies a bad rep. Hippies are annoying, but they're more or less just kids looking to have fun, rebel and make friends....So, how did Charles Manson, who leaded a hippie group at a secluded ranch, convince them to kill innocent people? As the movie explains in its brightly colored film stock and sitar soundtrack, Charles Manson was a psychopath. Many of the hippies following him were under 18, runaways, escapees from mental hospitals and "straight camps" (which were extremely frightening places at the time) or so high on drugs that they had virtually no idea of what they were doing. It's surprisingly disturbing and sad for a 1970's movie, and it's also very nostalgic if you like the style of the Sixties or if you're into that grainy film look that older films have. It's a reflection of the times, of the fear society had of rebellious teens, of the hippie counterculture and of a man who obviously needed psychiatric help but never got proper treatment.

perjensen-2 Simply said, the 1976 version of "Helter Skelter" is incontestably one of the best docudrama's ever made. Not only does it stick close enough to the book that it renders reading it merely a plus, but the locations, clothes, set design, language, and haunting soundtrack topped off with Steve Railsback portraying Manson is so 'real' that one wonders if newsreels were used to duplicate it all. Railsback particularly was so good that it borders on the surreal. His 'look', hair, tone of voice, body shape, height, even the eerie shine in his eyes - so close to Charlie that when you see Railsback in other roles you probably won't recognize him. But virtually everyone did a terrific job at recreating the characters, such as Nancy Wolfe as Susan Atkins and Marilyn Burns as Linda Kasabian. So even if this movie is 3 hours long it doesn't matter. It keeps your attention from start to finish. It portrays the impact of such a bizarre murder case better than any movie can possibly do. However, a note of interest is the film gives a better understanding of how Vincent Bugliosi handled such a difficult case. It also gives a much closer look at various conspirators, such as Susan Atkins and Leslie Van Houten. Just as surprising, much of the dialogue in grand jury, court, and interview scenes are taken directly from official transcripts. Altogether, "Helter Skelter" is the book come to life. It's a frightening but accurate film that captures the story as well as can be done. If you are a movie buff, then this belongs in your collection.

Scarecrow-88 Stunning, matter-of-fact television film runs around three hours but holds it's grip the entire time. Steve Railsback is absolutely mesmerizing(..and terrifying)as Charles Manson, the cult leader claiming to be Jesus Christ and commanding his followers(four of them mainly)to murder rich "pigs" in California. Most notable was pregnant actress Sharon Tate, famous director Roman Polanski's woman, along with others in the house that horrible night. Along with those were the La Biancas, also unfortunate chosen victims of the Manson followers. Along with Railsback chilling portrayal was Nancy Wolfe as Susan Atkins who will bring eerie goosebumps as she describes in luridly evil(yet coldly and unapologetically)detail how she murdered Sharon Tate as she begged for herself and the unborn baby she was carrying. Not to mention how she describes the "gurgling sound" that a victim makes choking in their own blood. We also hear about how a fork was used to carve "war" in Mr. La Bianca's torso. Another interesting(..and good)casting choice is Marilyn Burns in the important role of Linda Kasabian..the young follower who would be the ultimate voice that put away five cold blooded killers. George DiCenzo portrays DA Vincent Bugliosi, the man whose life would certainly be effected by the immense strain of putting together an extremely difficult case against Manson..who was the lynch-pin in causing a rest in the fear so many were feeling.The film covers in pain-staking detail the events before, during, & after the case(even the mass media aspects revolving around the case).