Watch Dear Mr. Gacy
- R
- 2010
- 1 hr 43 min
-
6.4 (3,834)
Dear Mr. Gacy is a psychologically thrilling movie based on the true story of Jason Moss, a college student who corresponded with the notorious serial killer John Wayne Gacy in prison in the early 1990s. The movie follows Jason's obsession with Gacy and the twisted and dangerous relationship that forms between the two. The film opens with a montage of news footage and photographs of the real-life Gacy, who was convicted of raping and murdering 33 young men and boys in the 1970s. We see Jason (played by Jesse Moss) attending a college lecture on the psychology of serial killers, where he becomes fixated on the idea of corresponding with Gacy (played by William Forsythe). Jason sees it as an opportunity to study the mind of a sociopath firsthand.
Jason begins writing letters to Gacy, posing as a vulnerable young man in need of a mentor. Gacy takes the bait and starts sending lengthy, disturbing letters back to Jason, in which he discusses his crimes and the twisted motivations behind them. As the letters become more intense, Jason starts to lose touch with reality and becomes convinced that Gacy is his friend and ally.
Eventually, Gacy requests that Jason come visit him in prison. Jason agrees, but only on the condition that Gacy doesn't harm him. Gacy agrees, but the meeting is far from what Jason expected. The two men engage in a twisted and disturbing dance of manipulation and power, with Gacy asserting his control over Jason at every turn.
As the visits continue, Jason becomes more erratic and paranoid. He starts to neglect his school work and social life, instead focusing all his energy on his correspondence with Gacy. He becomes increasingly unstable, and even begins to fear that Gacy has taken control of his mind.
All the while, Gacy is using their relationship as a tool for his own twisted ends. He sends Jason a series of disturbing gifts, including a painting of an insane asylum and a clown suit. Meanwhile, Jason's girlfriend and friends try to intervene and pull him back to reality, but Jason is too far gone.
The film builds to a tense and disturbing climax, with Jason and Gacy's relationship spiraling out of control. Jason becomes increasingly convinced that Gacy is a danger to him, but he's unable to extricate himself from the relationship. The film makes it clear that, in the end, nobody wins in a relationship with a psychopath.
Dear Mr. Gacy is a well-made and gripping film, with strong performances from its cast. William Forsythe is chilling in his portrayal of Gacy, expertly capturing the man's charisma and twisted manipulation tactics. Jesse Moss is equally impressive as Jason, convincingly portraying his descent into madness.
The film is based on the book The Last Victim by Jason Moss, which recounts his real-life correspondence with Gacy. The movie takes some creative liberties with the story, but it stays true to the unsettling nature of their relationship.
Overall, Dear Mr. Gacy is a fascinating and disturbing exploration of the power dynamics at play in a relationship between a psychopath and his victim. It's not an easy film to watch, but it's a powerful reminder of the dangers of obsession and of the fact that some monsters live among us.
Dear Mr. Gacy is a 2010 crime movie with a runtime of 1 hour and 43 minutes. It has received moderate reviews from critics and viewers, who have given it an IMDb score of 6.4.