The Honeymoon Killers is based on the real-life story of the known facts about the case of Martha Beck and Raymond Fernandez. The film is shot in a documentary style, which proves an adequate base for the film to work from; although it also makes the proceedings feel rather cold, and I have to say that I had a difficult time warming to the film. The idea of someone killing people he finds through a lonely heart club has been used numerous times in cinema, most notably in films such as 'Sea of Love', and I dare say that the inspiration for such films came from this real life case. The plot focuses on Martha Beck; an overweight nurse who meets Raymond Fernandez through a lonely hearts column. He's used to scamming the women he picks up in this manner, but the pair hit it off and it's not long before Raymond decides to bring Martha in on the scam, and she poses as his sister. However, she becomes jealous of the women that Raymond is picking up, and the deceit eventually leads to murder when she can't cope with other women invading her and her lovers' lives.
The film was originally going to be directed by Martin Scorsese, but the popular director was eventually replaced by writer Leonard Kastle. Whether or not Scorsese would have done a better job is up for debate, but Kastle does an adequate job, although the black and white photography is largely pedestrian. He does, however, succeed in building up his characters, and it's the situation is always believable because of that. The director also does well at providing the film with a fitting fifties setting, and some of the scenes are rather shocking as they include things such as a mother being murdered in front of her son. The acting is good, and Shirley Stoler in particular stands out as the central female. This was her debut performance, yet she performs like an experienced actress. Stoler does well at commanding every scene she's in, although her opposite number; Tony Lo Bianco, still manages a stand-out performance also. Overall, The Honeymoon Killers does well at providing a good account of an actual event; but I hesitate to call it a classic simply because I found it difficult to get into.
The film was originally going to be directed by Martin Scorsese, but the popular director was eventually replaced by writer Leonard Kastle. Whether or not Scorsese would have done a better job is up for debate, but Kastle does an adequate job, although the black and white photography is largely pedestrian. He does, however, succeed in building up his characters, and it's the situation is always believable because of that. The director also does well at providing the film with a fitting fifties setting, and some of the scenes are rather shocking as they include things such as a mother being murdered in front of her son. The acting is good, and Shirley Stoler in particular stands out as the central female. This was her debut performance, yet she performs like an experienced actress. Stoler does well at commanding every scene she's in, although her opposite number; Tony Lo Bianco, still manages a stand-out performance also. Overall, The Honeymoon Killers does well at providing a good account of an actual event; but I hesitate to call it a classic simply because I found it difficult to get into.