Watch 10 Rillington Place

10 Rillington Place is a 1971 British crime drama film directed by Richard Fleischer and starring Richard Attenborough, Judy Geeson, and John Hurt. The film is based on the real-life case of the mass murderer John Christie, who was responsible for the deaths of at least eight women. The movie takes place in the mid-1940s in Notting Hill, London. We meet the seemingly normal couple, John and Ethel Christie, who live at 10 Rillington Place. John, a former police officer, is a quiet, unassuming man who appears to be kind and helpful to his neighbours. However, what his neighbours don't know is that John is a serial killer who has been using his home as his killing ground.

The movie is divided into three parts. In the first part, we are introduced to John Christie and his life in Rillington Place. John is shown to be a man with a variety of quirks and habits that may seem harmless at first, but gradually we begin to see the darkness beneath. He targets lonely, vulnerable women who he lures to his home and then kills. These scenes are shot with a sense of dread that builds throughout the film, and we begin to see the noose tightening around John's neck.

In the second part of the movie, we are introduced to Timothy Evans and his wife Beryl, a young couple from Wales who move into the upstairs flat at 10 Rillington Place. Timothy is portrayed as a hapless, not-too-bright fellow who struggles to provide for his family. John Christie takes advantage of Timothy's vulnerability and begins to manipulate him, eventually leading to the untimely death of the Evans' daughter.

The third part of the movie follows Timothy's murder trial, where he is accused of killing his wife and daughter. John Christie testifies against Timothy, and the young man seems to have no one on his side. This section of the movie is a gripping courtroom drama that highlights the injustices of the British legal system at the time. The entire trial is based on circumstantial evidence, and the prosecutor uses Timothy's low IQ and lack of education to paint him as a feeble-minded killer.

10 Rillington Place is a harrowing depiction of a serial killer and the innocent people who were caught up in his web of deceit. The film is shot with a stark, almost documentary-style realism that adds to the overall sense of dread and horror. Richard Attenborough gives a chilling performance as John Christie, and his portrayal of the serial killer is one of the most unsettling in cinema history.

The movie also raises larger questions about the nature of justice and the flaws of the legal system. Timothy Evans, who was wrongly convicted of his wife and daughter's murder, was later pardoned posthumously. The case led to a change in the death penalty laws in the UK, and it played a significant role in the eventual abolition of capital punishment in the country.

In conclusion, 10 Rillington Place is a gut-wrenching true crime movie that is not for the faint of heart. It is a powerful indictment of a serial killer and the flawed legal system that allowed him to perpetrate his crimes for so long. A must-watch for those interested in true crime stories, and a cautionary tale about the dangers of trusting your neighbours too much.

10 Rillington Place is a 1971 crime movie with a runtime of 1 hour and 51 minutes. It has received mostly positive reviews from critics and viewers, who have given it an IMDb score of 7.5.