Watch The Strangler

The Strangler is a 1964 American horror thriller film directed by Burt Topper and starring Victor Buono, David McLean, and Diane Sayer. The film follows the story of Leo Kroll (played by Victor Buono), a frighteningly large and mentally unstable man who has a traumatic childhood and has been handed over to an orphanage. After spending years in the orphanage and growing into a hulking adult, Kroll becomes a laborer in a factory, but his coworkers jeer and taunt him for his size and strange behavior. One day, he finally snaps and strangles his tormentor to death. This event triggers a series of similar murders that sets the city on edge, and the police are hard-pressed to find the perpetrator.

Sergeant Frank Kafka (played by David McLean) is desperately hunting for the strangler but can't seem to get a break, until a lucky tip leads him to Kroll's door. However, Kroll proves tricky to catch and causes chaos wherever he goes. As the murders pile up, Kafka brings in a psychiatrist who believes that Kroll's upbringing in the orphanage and the mistreatment he endured there have led him to become a serial killer.

Meanwhile, as the police close in, Kroll has become enamored with a young woman named Joyce (played by Diane Sayer), who he meets at a bar. His obsession with Joyce leads to a dangerous game of cat-and-mouse between Kafka, Kroll, and the young woman, with Kroll becoming increasingly unstable and unpredictable.

The Strangler is a suspenseful and unsettling film that explores the psychology of a killer and the impact of childhood trauma. Victor Buono delivers an impressive performance as the towering and frightening Kroll, portraying him as both pitiable and bloodthirsty. David McLean offers a solid turn as Kafka, a determined and gritty detective who refuses to give up in the face of the killer's evasive tactics.

The film is also notable for its visual style, with director Burt Topper using creative camera angles and shading to heighten the tension and horror. The musical score by Albert Glasser is equally eerie and atmospheric, adding a layer of dread to the film's already intense proceedings.

Overall, The Strangler is a gripping and effective thriller that keeps audiences on the edge of their seats until the final credits roll. It is a haunting exploration of a disturbed mind, and one that leaves a lasting impression on those who watch it.

The Strangler is a 1963 horror movie with a runtime of 1 hour and 28 minutes. It has received mostly positive reviews from critics and viewers, who have given it an IMDb score of 6.6.