Aileen Wuornos - The Selling of a Serial Killer

Starring:Arlene Pralle, Aileen Wuornos
Studio: Dej (Ingram)
Product Type: DVD

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Chilling, disturbing, and maddening, this documentary examines the life of America's first female serial killer after her incarceration. Documentarian Nick Broomfield interviews a rather pathetic Aileen Wuornos, looking wan in her orange prison jumpsuit and sounding none too bright. Those around her, including her eccentric, born-again Christian lawyer, come across as moral criminals, using and abusing the media limelight for personal gain. Known for exposing the creepy and the crass, Broomfield simply turns on his camera and steps back. It does not take long before we are able to discern who is helping Wuornos, and who is trying to cash in on her notoriety. The downside of a Broomfield production is that he is almost a one-man show, and the lack of a budget is sometimes painfully apparent. Still, this is one of his best, both for the subject matter and the questions he raises. --Rochelle O'Gorman

Customer Reviews:

Interesting Critique Of The American Legal System Marred By Hypocritical Director.......2007-03-29

Aileen Wuornos became known as America's first "female serial killer" after committing a series of 7 murders against men who solicited her as a prostitute. Aileen claimed self-defense from rape but ended up pleading guilty upon the advice of her incompetent lawyer, Steve Glazer, and her nutty fundamentalist adopted step-mother, Arlene Praelle.

The best part of the film was the interview with Aileen herself. She comes across as a person who is clearly emotionally damaged, partially due to childhood sexual abuse by her father. But she also is suprisingly intelligent and aware of how she is being used and manipulated by those around her.

Much of the rest of the movie involves the director, Nick Broomfield, visiting with Steve and Arlene in hopes they can help him set up an interview with Aileen. Steve and Arlene demand money for themselves and definitely come across badly. But I also think Bromfield himself comes across as a hypocrite since he, like they, is obviously using Aileen in order to make money and advance his career.

Aileen, on the other hand, is angry about how she is being abused by the system, especially the corrupt cops who are involved in a movie deal based on her case. But, of course, she is in jail and powerless to change her circumstances. She is hoping Broomfield can help her get an appeal. But he seems not to have helped her much in that regard.

Florida politicians, the court system, bad cops, Aileen's lousy lawyer and crazy stepmom, all are held up to the light here and come out looking terribly.

Deeply Disturbed but Badly Wronged.......2007-01-24

Nick Broomfield's death row documentary interviews with the serial killer who admitted murdering seven men in Florida. Wuornos grew up in a horribly dysfunctional home, was adopted by a crazy born-again woman, represented by a sleazy attorney, and exploited by the police who were making movie deals during her trial. She was the oppressed victim who became the oppressor, but whom we cannot help but love.

uneven but riveting.......2004-11-18

Though by now outdated, this 1992 documentary of Aileen Wuornos outlines a tragic, horrible story of a woman who was fated for disaster from childhood, with one terrible event following another, until she was labeled as the "first woman serial-killer" for the murder of seven men during 1989-1990, and was betrayed by her girlfriend Tyria Moore into a confession, and also allegedly had her case manipulated by some investigators who were at the same time making movie deals.
Aileen was a person who comes off as a tough, street-smart woman, who is also an emotional and psychic disaster zone; the doctors who examined her described her as "a damaged and primitive child",

Made by Nick Broomfield, this documentary has some fuzzy audio at times, and camera shots that on occasion weave and jump, but there are many sections that are gripping, like the footage of Wuornos in court as well as being interviewed in jail, and the chilling tour of "Old Sparky", as the Florida electric chair is nicknamed (in January of 2000, Florida Legislature allowed lethal injection as an alternate method for death).
I first heard of Wournos from the TV film "Overkill: The Aileen Wournos Story" which had a fabulous portrayal by Jean Smart, but which Wournos herself called "bogus". Since then there have been many books and films on her story, and much money has been made from this woman who lived in poverty, and scratched out a living as a prostitute.
Aileen Wournos was executed on October 9th, 2002, by lethal injection.

Total running time is 1 hour and 28 minutes, and the only DVD "Extra" is the trailer for "Monster", the 2003 film for which Charlize Theron received an Oscar for her portrayal of Wuornos.

Excellent follow-up to the movie.......2004-09-26

Very interesting account of how lowest of the low swarmed in to try to make money off Alieen. The born-again christian? who adopted Alieen and then tried to sell her story. Also, the attorney was a complete and total joke. The disorgainzation of Alieens personality became apparent as the film progressed. I felt the movie was well done and a must for anyone interested in this case.

An opportunity for interested parties to make money.......2004-09-12

This is a startling documentary that offers riveting insight into the way the legal system can abandon the disenfranchised and the poor. The movie also stands as a good companion piece to the Charlize Theron's Monster. While current Oscar Queen Charlize did a terrific job of portraying the homely, luckless lesbian hooker, this film ultimately gives a much more accurate insight into the real Aileen Wuornos. In Monster, Theron portrayed Wuornos as a kind of stupid, helpless victim who was addled by drugs and alcohol - which in some respects she was, but in this documentary she comes across as quite articulate, intelligent, and totally aware of what's going on around her. Aileen is very alert to the fact that certain individuals are trying to make money out of her story, and she's very conscious of the fact that the legal system and society as a whole is eventually intent on casting her aside.

Between 1989 and 1990, Aileen Wuornos haunted the interstates of jerkwater Florida, and committed seven murders. All of the victims were middle-aged, white males, who had tried to pick her up, and according to her, abused and raped her. Directed by Nick Bloomfield, this 1992 BBC-funded documentary focuses more on the ensuing media frenzy than the actual killings and their aftermaths. Wuornos is now on death row and is being steadily convicted of all seven murders. Broomfield interviews Arlene Pralle, who has adopted Wuornos as her spiritual "daughter." Arlene is a horse breeding Christian fundamentalist who prattles on about the glory of God and feels the need to rescue and save this poor woman from her predicament.

Also interviewed is Steve Glazer, Wuornos' generously proportioned, hippie public defender, who offers second-rate legal service, and is more interested in promoting his music than truly representing Eileen. Both Pralle and Glazer come across as conniving and duplicitous, and after promising Broomfield that he can have an interview with Wuornos and see all her personal effects for a mere $25,000, it rapidly becomes clear that they are ultimately out to make money from Wuornos while she lies rotting in jail.

Broomfield's also uncovers a bit of media scheming by the county police departments' to sell the rights to the story, which eventually results in a lieutenant's resignation. And there's also the revelation that Wuornos' original court assigned public defender didn't bother to present the evidence that Wuornos' first victim had been previously convicted of rape. Wuornos comes across as paranoid, bitter, and resentful about a system that has let her down. Everybody was against her, her one true love had abandoned her and turned her in, and no one would listen to her when she claimed to have committed the crimes in self-defense. This is a chilling and sad story, but it's a story that certainly needs to be told. Mike Leonard September 04.

Aileen Wuornes: The Selling of a Serial Killer - The 1992 Interviews

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Aileen Wuornes: The Selling of a Serial Killer - The 1992 Interviews
Starring: Aileen Wuornos
Director: Nick Broomfield
Manufacturer: First Look Pictures
ProductGroup: DVD
Binding: DVD

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Similar Items:

Aileen - Life and Death of a Serial Killer
Lethal Intent
Monster / Aileen - Life and Death of a Serial Killer
The Female Homicide Offender: Serial Murder and the Case of Aileen Wuornos
Dead Ends: The Pursuit, Conviction and Execution of Female Serial Killer Aileen Wuornos, the Damsel of Death (St. Martin's True Crime Library)

ASIN: B000A2X3HA
Release Date: 2005-07-26

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