What happens when you light a match on to hot oil and stand directly in front of it? You will get burned badly and the scars will be left permanently as an ugly reminder. Now imagine if you repeated this experiment several times over the span of a couple of years how these exterior scars would overlay each other causing more and more permanent damage. That is what happened in the case of the real life Honeymoon Killers Raymond Fernandez and Martha Beck, who this crime film is based upon.
It is filmed in a quasi docudrama style, and for the period of 1970, was bold and daring in displaying the intense relationship that existed between these two callous killers. Adding to the documentary style the film was released in black and white with limited camera angles and the sound quality made us the audience feel as if it was a home made 35mm film and we were right in the room with them while they plotted and then carried out their murders.
Actress Shirley Stoler who played Martha Beck was so believable with her envy over her Spanish lover and co-conspirator Raymond Fernandez (played by Tony Lo Bianco) that you could actually feel sorry for her initially until you witness how evil she really was.
I recommend watching this version first, and then watch the 2006 remake in a colour version titled Lonely Hearts with Jared Leto and Salma Hayek in the lead roles and also starring the late and great James Gandolfini as Det. Charles Hilderbrandt, and John Travolta as Det. Elmer Robinson. The film styles are quite different but with the same result. Murder is murder, and who doesn't enjoy a good murder mystery real life crime drama brought to life by the film industry for the viewing audience's entertainment.
I give this film a 7 out of 10 rating
It is filmed in a quasi docudrama style, and for the period of 1970, was bold and daring in displaying the intense relationship that existed between these two callous killers. Adding to the documentary style the film was released in black and white with limited camera angles and the sound quality made us the audience feel as if it was a home made 35mm film and we were right in the room with them while they plotted and then carried out their murders.
Actress Shirley Stoler who played Martha Beck was so believable with her envy over her Spanish lover and co-conspirator Raymond Fernandez (played by Tony Lo Bianco) that you could actually feel sorry for her initially until you witness how evil she really was.
I recommend watching this version first, and then watch the 2006 remake in a colour version titled Lonely Hearts with Jared Leto and Salma Hayek in the lead roles and also starring the late and great James Gandolfini as Det. Charles Hilderbrandt, and John Travolta as Det. Elmer Robinson. The film styles are quite different but with the same result. Murder is murder, and who doesn't enjoy a good murder mystery real life crime drama brought to life by the film industry for the viewing audience's entertainment.
I give this film a 7 out of 10 rating