KILLER: A JOURNAL OF MURDER

US, 1995, 97 minutes, Colour.
James Woods, Robert Sean Leonard, Ellen Greene, Robert John Bourke, Steve Forrest.
Directed by Tim Metcalfe.

Killer: A Journal of Murder offers a tour-de-force performance by James Woods as Carl Panzram who confessed to murdering twenty-one people and was considered America's first recognised serial killer. The film is a violent film, Woods portraying Carl Panzram with intensity and brutal force.

The film is framed by the memories of the guard who got to know Panzram in Leavenworth Jail, Henry Lesser, a liberal Jewish prison guard played by Robert Sean Leonard and, framing the film and with a commentary, by Harold Gould.

The film shows in vivid flashback the life of Panzram, from migrant German family born in 1891, his being a young offender, his being in institutions and jails, his escapes, his being a burglar. At some stage, he started to kill people. For the film, the action takes place in Leavenworth in 1929. The guard recognises something of the humanity and intelligence in Panzram despite his attitudes and violence, especially when he is needled by one of the guards whom he later brutally kills. He forms a friendship with Henry Lesser who provides him with paper and pencil so that he can write his memoir. An important part of the memoir is when a warden, experimenting with more life-affirming attitudes towards prisoners, offers Panzram the opportunity to test his freedom, his commitment to his word as well as offering him opportunity to read a great deal of literature. This warden is played by veteran Steve Forrest. However, Panzram ruins everything by a sexual assault on the librarian (Ellen Greene).

Panzram wants the law to execute him for the murder of the guard, despite Lesser's wanting to have him declared insane. The film makes the comment, voiced by psychiatrists and other characters, that society has formed Panzram, that the brutal upbringing was merely transferred into the way he dealt with others. A visit from Lesser to the prison, a discussion about his life, Lesser trying to affirm him leads then to his execution. The film ends with the memories of Steve Forrest's warden how Panzram carried the flag in the prison baseball team.

The film offers a critique of society towards prisoners and offers possibilities for consideration for rehabilitation.

1. The portrait of a criminal? His historical and social context? The brutalisation of his American experience? The consequences? His violence, his nihilism?

2. The portrait of a sympathetic guard, caught up in the prison system, trying to understand the criminal mind, making concessions? Clashes with the members of the system?

3. The two stories intertwining, the editing and intercutting of the stories, the guard and the criminal coming together, their lives intertwined, life and death?

4. The tone of the film, the portrait of a serial killer? The brief running time? The invitation to the audience to try to understand criminals, the background of crime, appropriate punishment, the effects of punishment? The possibilities of rehabilitation - or not? Capital punishment?

5. The portrait of Carl Panzram: James Woods' performance, his intensity? As a boy, his voice-over giving a commentary on his family, his parents, criminal activity when he was young, in and out of jail? His killing a man, the consequences? His violence, lack of conscience, a violent spree? His being in jail, cantankerous and hard? Treatment by the other guards? His being singled out, solitary, brutalisation? His story about meeting Warden Casey, his chance for a new life, the different kind of prison? His being trusted, his going out, the possibility of his never coming back? His return? His treatment by the warden? His intellect, studies, reading? His going to the library, the sympathetic friendship with the librarian? Going home with her, the meal, the savagery of his sexual attack on her? His losing his privileges? His transfer? His finally finishing up in the big prison, being treated as a villain? Lesser and his interest, sympathy, helping him? Panzram and the clashes with Lesser? Beginning to trust him? Getting the pencil and paper? Getting the manuscript out? The importance of his writing his own story? The trial, his wanting to be executed? His violent behaviour and getting himself into the court, refusal of legal aid? Refusal of Lesser's help? The growing desperation and his wanting to die? His book and the appreciation of the editor? The visits? Moving towards his execution, the final meal, Lesser and his not wanting to come, his change of heart? Going to his death, his appreciation of all that Lesser had done for him? The tragedy of a criminal life and its waste?

6. Lesser, his Jewish background, the 1920s? Wife and family? Home life? His being accepted as a guard, his not being like the others, the clashes with some of the others, especially R.G. Greiser? His doing his duty, not approving of the violence? The interview with the governor? His sympathy towards Panzram, smuggling in the pencil and paper? Getting the manuscript out? At home, the alienation from his wife, her not understanding? His becoming absorbed with his job, the night hours, on guard, supporting Panzram? Sending the manuscript away, the negotiations with the publishers? The visit? His wanting to protect Panzram, not wanting him to die, saying he was unable to go to the execution? His change of heart, going to see Panzram, the appreciation? The voice-over from the older Lesser reminiscing on what had happened?

7. R.G. Grieser and the other guards, their violent attitudes, treatment of Panzram? The ethos of the guards, the spurning of the criminals? The fights with Panzram - and Panzram's violent attack on him in order to go to court and to be executed?

8. Warden Casey, an enlightened perspective on prisoners, trust, the running of the prison, letting people go out? His interest in Panzram, trusting him, urging him to go? Waiting for his return? His disappointment in Panzram's violent attack on the librarian? Lesser ringing him after Panzram's execution and expressing his appreciation - and Casey's remembering of Panzram carrying the flag for the team?

9. The Lessers, the parents, their expectations for their son, opportunities and America - the opposite of those for Panzram? Lesser's wife, her feeling of distance from her husband, trying her best to understand him? His introversion and wanting to be alone, studying, writing?

10. The librarian, her interest in Panzram, helping him, their discussions, friendship, her affirmation of him? The meal, the shock of his attack on her?

11. The portrait of life in prison in the early part of the 20th century? Court proceedings, Panzram's behaviour, insolence, wanting to get himself condemned, the attitude of the judge, exasperation? The execution scene - the grim reality of capital punishment?

12. An interesting film, portrait of characters, historical context, criminal justice?