Aileen Wuornos: The Selling of a Serial Killer (1992)

Nice effects though.

Good films always raise compelling questions, whether the format is fiction or documentary fact.

This is a coming of age storyline that you've seen in one form or another for decades. It takes a truly unique voice to make yet another one worth watching.

It's easily one of the freshest, sharpest and most enjoyable films of this year.

Well-meaning but certainly scattershot, the David Brent-inspired lawyer was head-shakingly bizarre. Were his attempt at providing the soundtrack a condition of accessing Wuornos? This was my first introduction to Wuornos's story, having come upon this without realizing the connection Charlize Theron's 'Monster' (2003).Overall it was an interesting snapshot of 1990s Americana, be it Florida, serial killers, or struggling musicians.*** This review may not contain spoilers ***

I must confess that I'm sort of addicted to Nick Broomfield's documentaries, where, he never takes no for an answer and his relentless pursuit of subjects whether paid or not. If they are paid, and wont grant an interview, he throws such a guilt trip on them as he does with Arlene, one of Aileen Wuorno's friend. A testimonial for his stubborn pursuit, is the list of calls that were not returned or shunned as the end credits roll! This adds a certain humor to the otherwise drab movie meant for intellectuals and not for people who watch imbecile animation movies. The only one that comes close to Nick Broomfield is Mike Wallace of "60 Minutes" but Wallace, is chasing con artists and broiler room operators and not serial killers. I have seen "Monster" and the other "Wuornos" Doc. from Broomfield. Suffice to say it makes a riveting piece of a movie. Since we know the subject of the movie has been found guilty by a jury and the only question remains, is how she could have avoided the death penalty? The most chilling scene is the rundown of an execution in an actual chambers.It's obvious that she hated males of certain age, who resembled her father and self defense could not have been the motive for seven murders! I think she would have been serving life, if she was represented by some one like F. Lee Bailey, which brings up the crucial question that public defenders are not in the same league as private lawyers. This movie shows that there is legal system but no justice when pedophiles are free and a serial killer is executed.

I thought this movie was awful. I give it no stars. Arlene Pralle, and her husband are nuts. Adopting a serial killer, excuse me? I'll say it, there are just some odd people in this world.I thought the Pralle's were also very greedy people, who only did it for money. Aileen is one scary and intimidating person who needs to grow up. She obviously never did and hated men with every fiber of her being.She was married to one guy for three months, until Aileen beat him with his own walking stick. That's when she hit the streets again. She started on the streets at age 15.

"Aileen Wuornos: The Selling of a Serial Killer" is a disturbing documentary in which no one comes out in a positive light: not the police, not the lawyers, not the judges, not the media, certainly not Aileen Wuornos and not even the filmmakers.This documentary by Nick Broomfield is unfocused, and the filmmaker and his small crew are often part of the saga. It paints a rather grim picture, where police are more concerned about possible movie deals than arresting the right person (although they did have the right person, almost by accident), where lawyers are slime buckets even when masquerading as laid back rejects from the '60s and '70s "flower power" era, and where people who claim to be spiritual and doing "God's work" come out looking no less mercenary or self-serving than anyone else (well, except maybe the killer and the sleazy lawyer).Filmmaker Broomfield doesn't give us nearly as many facts as you might expect - and in this case, even wish for - in a documentary of this type. Much of the film consists of him traipsing around with his small film crew, trying to convince somebody to talk to him. He seems often to miss the point, and doesn't ask the most relevant or probing questions. I never could decide, while watching this film, how much of that was on purpose, for effect, and how much was just him not doing a very good job. It does add to the overall dark impression in the film, that few people really know the truth, know what's going on, and that fewer still care... Interesting in places, disturbing in others, downright scary if you come out of this believing this is how the criminal justice system works (or not) in this country, Broomfield's film is certainly thought provoking, if somewhat confused and lacking focus.