Based on the true story of the Boston Strangler murders, Kiera Knightly and Carrie Coon give us a compelling inside look at the pair of female journalists who helped to break the story of the Boston Strangler. Told from an angle most people know little about, BOSTON STRANGLER, is a true-crime documentary coming to some theatres on March 17 and streaming on Hulu.
(L-R): Carrie Coon as Jean Cole and Keira Knightley as Loretta McLaughlin in 20th Century Studios’ BOSTON STRANGLER, exclusively on Hulu. Photo by Claire Folger. © 2022 20th Century Studios. All Rights Reserved.
BOSTON STRANGLER Review
As a trained journalist, the story behind Matt Ruskin‘s BOSTON STRANGLER is a fascinating one. While it is a true-crime documentary and thriller, it is more of a love letter to the two female investigative journalists who broke the story of the Boston Strangler, an angle that most people know nothing about and for which the pair of women are rarely credited.
(L-R): Keira Knightley as Loretta McLaughlin and Carrie Coon as Jean Cole in 20th Century Studios’ BOSTON STRANGLER, exclusively on Hulu. Photo by Claire Folger. © 2023 20th Century Studios. All Rights Reserved.
Keira Knightley plays Loretta McLaughlin, Record-American newspaper reporter who becomes the first journalist to connect the Boston Strangler murders. As the mysterious murderer claims more victims, Loretta continues her investigation alongside Jean Cole (played by Carrie Coon). Given the time in history, the duo finds themselves thwarted by the blatant sexism of the time period. Regardless, the duo persists and pursues the story despite the high personal and professional risk to uncover the truth in the 1960s.
Keira Knightley as Loretta McLaughlin in 20th Century Studios’ BOSTON STRANGLER, exclusively on Hulu. Photo courtesy of 20th Century Studios. © 2022 20th Century Studios. All Rights Reserved.
The movie is relatively slow-paced, leaving little room for the thriller element. This film won’t grab the viewer in a way that really nails the feel of the serial killer aspect of the film. However, it is apparent that the gem of this film is the dynamic story of these trailblazing women in the newsroom, and that is where this film shines as it tackles the sexism that female journalists faced in the 1960s.
Knightly and Coon both deliver strong, compelling performances.
(L-R): Keira Knightley as Loretta McLaughlin and Chris Cooper as Jack MacLaine in 20th Century Studios’ BOSTON STRANGLER, exclusively on Hulu. Photo by Claire Folger. © 2023 20th Century Studios. All Rights Reserved.
Chris Cooper is a solid choice for the tough and hard-to-impress Record-American editor Jack MacLaine. Cooper conveys the perfect balance between a gritty editor of a predominantly male newsroom with an editor who wants to take a chance on Loretta and guide her when he realizes she’s got what it takes to break this story.
Alessandro Nivola as Detective Conley in 20th Century Studios’ BOSTON STRANGLER, exclusively on Hulu. Photo courtesy of 20th Century Studios. © 2023 20th Century Studios. All Rights Reserved.
Heavily influenced by David Fincher’s work in the thriller genre, the addition of filming much of this movie in Boston in the neighborhood where these murders took place—as well as using content from the original case files—made for a more haunting background and realism to the story.
Chris Cooper as Jack MacLaine in 20th Century Studios’ BOSTON STRANGLER, exclusively on Hulu. Photo courtesy of 20th Century Studios. © 2023 20th Century Studios. All Rights Reserved.
About BOSTON STRANGLER
From 20th Century Studios and award-winning writer-director Matt Ruskin (CROWN HEIGHTS) comes BOSTON STRANGLER, a true-crime thriller about the trailblazing reporters who broke the story of the notorious Boston Strangler murders of the 1960s. BOSTON STRANGLER will premiere March 17, 2023, exclusively on Hulu in the U.S., Star+ in Latin America, and Disney+ under the Star banner in all other territories. The film follows Loretta McLaughlin (Keira Knightley), a reporter for the Record-American newspaper, who becomes the first journalist to connect the Boston Strangler murders. As the mysterious killer claims more and more victims, Loretta attempts to continue her investigation alongside colleague and confidante Jean Cole (Carrie Coon), yet the duo finds themselves stymied by the rampant sexism of the era. Nevertheless, McLaughlin and Cole bravely pursue the story at great personal risk, putting their own lives on the line in their quest to uncover the truth.
BOSTON STRANGLER stars two-time Oscar® nominee Keira Knightley (THE IMITATION GAME, PRIDE & PREJUDICE), Emmy nominee Carrie Coon (FARGO, THE GILDED AGE), Alessandro Nivola (AMSTERDAM), David Dastmalchian (DUNE), Morgan Spector (“Homeland”), Bill Camp (JOKER) and Academy Award winner Chris Cooper (ADAPTATION). Written and directed by Matt Ruskin, the film is produced by Ridley Scott (THE MARTIAN), Kevin J. Walsh (HOUSE OF GUCCI), Michael Pruss (AMERICAN WOMAN), Josey McNamara (PROMISING YOUNG WOMAN), and Tom Ackerley (I, TONYA), with Michael Fottrell (THE FATE OF THE FURIOUS) and Sam Roston serving as executive producers.
Genre: Historical Crime Thriller
Runtime: 112 mins.
Rating: R
Written and directed by: Matt Ruskin
Produced by: Ridley Scott, Kevin J. Walsh, Michael Pruss, Josey McNamara, Tom Ackerley
Executive Producers: Michael Fottrell, Sam Roston
Cast: Keira Knightley, Carrie Coon, Alessandro Nivola, David Dastmalchian, Morgan Spector, Bill Camp, and Chris Cooper
BOSTON STRANGLER will premiere March 17, 2023, exclusively on Hulu in the U.S., Star+ in Latin America, and Disney+ under the Star banner in all other territories.
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