Gosnell: The Trial of America's Biggest Serial Killer (2018) User Reviews

not preachy, just the facts

[pchristle · 8/10 · 12 October 2018]

I saw the "Gosnell" movie today It is very well done, well-acted, well-written, not preachy but truthful, powerful and suspenseful --- highly recommended for all people with open minds.

Nick Searcy was intense and formidable as the defense lawyer opposing the Assistant DA, a mother of five, played by Sarah Jane Morris, who was strong, passionate, and appealingly vulnerable. Dean Cain and Alfonzo Rachel were believable as the cops who set the investigation into motion (albeit a tad clichéd). Janine Turner had a brief appearance as Dr. North, an abortionist undergoing a gradual awakening to her own complicity as a witness at the trial. Earl Billings was totally creepy as the baby killer, Gosnell.

I thought it would be hard to watch this film, considering the subject matter, but it actually was quite riveting and not overdone.

The most powerful drama of the year

[eacurtis-03865 · 7/10 · 12 October 2018]

I saw "Gosnell" on the opening day, and I have to saw that it is probably the most powerful drama of the year. The movie doesn't preach on the issue of abortion, it tells a story. A true and very chilling story of a sick, wicked abortionist who is "America's biggest serial killer." Very good acting and overall filmmaking quality. Exceptional film. HIGHLY recommended.

I remember this story

[stevedeiters · 8/10 · 13 October 2018]

I remember when this story first broke. It was shocking then. This movie brings details to light that makes you really think. It's well done. It's solid truth. But it's not pretty.

Surprisingly Good

[aryangodfather-55981 · 7/10 · 16 October 2018]

Saw the movie today. Was not sure what I was going to get. I only went because I was interested in the actual case, and also was relieved by what I had seen that it mostly stays apolitical and lets the story speak for itself. I was pleased to see what I had read/heard was generally accurate. The script was tight, and generally the acting was excellent (Jeanine Turner's character felt the most mis-cast/off, and the blogger, pivotal to making the case go in the movie feels a bit to convenient as a writer's artifice). Production-wise, the greatest weakness was the cinematography. At times the framing just wasn't up to snuff. Searcy does a great job as both a director and actor, Other actors that stand out are Sarah Jane Morris (she undergoes a believable character arc) and Earl Monte is calmly disturbing in the titular role.

That said the movie flowed well, and though there could be many gross-out/gore scenes, they were avoided, and instead what was unseen was what turned my stomach the most.

My biggest complaint where I think they makers went to far and showed their bias was in the closing credits as the included some photos of the crime scene. Nothing overly disturbing (one may be a bit much), but I prefer they had just given the web link for those interested - which they do with one image key to making the case that obviously would have went to far.

I will recommend this movie, and would score it a solid 7 out of 10.

Just the Facts Ma'am

[poortopp-17926 · 9/10 · 13 October 2018]

Gosnell: The Trial of America's Biggest Serial Killer. It's not the gross out propaganda film that certainly could have been. It's "just the facts ma'am" of a story of heinous killings that just happened to take place in a legal abortion clinic, but outside of anyone's definition of abortion. The movie is a thought provoking journey into a terrible crime that the media was afraid to report because of its political implications. Solid acting and screenplay conveys this bizarre criminal episode perfectly, without the frills or preaching.

"...Not a case about abortion -- it's a case about murder"

[evening1 · 6/10 · 13 May 2022]

Here is a stunning depiction of the little-known story of Baby Boy A and his chamber-of-horrors place of birth.

"They looked like babies to me," says a cop who perhaps had not thought much about abortion till being assigned to the Philadelphia case.

There are powerful performances here by Earl Billings as Dr. Kermit Gosnell, Dean Cain as Det. James Wood, and Sarah Jane Morris as prosecutor Lexy McGuire.

What a shocking story of how Pennsylvania gave more oversight to nail parlors than it did abortion clinics! We also learn of the very sad case of a Bhutanese refugee who didn't survive an abortion in the City of Brotherly Love. Indeed, "she paid for her own death," we're told.

Remaining a mystery in this incredible tale is the doctor at its heart, a person who said he wanted to serve the underserved, and seems shockingly detached throughout what his side called a "prosecutorial lynching."

"I'm quite concerned about the turtles in my office. They're an endangered species," he confides as he is led off to jail.

Important viewing for anyone who wants to take a stand on abortion.

I've never seen this many fake reviews ever! This is the kind of production value you see in bad late night television.

[keysersoze-60183 · 1/10 · 24 January 2019]

Definitely flat out paid 9-10 star reviews. I couldn't finish it after 30 minutes completely based on the acting, directing, sound, and overall production. Yes, I came into it with an open-mind. I chose it because the reviews on imdb were so high. 10, 10, 10, 9, 10, 9, 10, 10? OMG. This movie is flat out terrible, regardless of the controversial theme.

Boy was I wrong....

[pmjdjr · 9/10 · 13 October 2018]

I went to see Gosnell yesterday and expected to see a sort of anti-abortion docudrama. But instead I saw an excellently made taut crime & courtroom movie performed by a cast of veteran actors. It was engrossing, intense, powerful and yet heartwarming, the kind of movie that arouses every emotion and leaves you with the realization that rarely have you been so enlightened and enriched by a movie. This is a must-see film, one that not only provides immediate reward, but the kind that stays with you for a long, long time. Superb acting, directing and story - a rare diamond in the rough that you have to see.

suprisingly good for such a provocative topic

[natcalgary · 6/10 · 4 February 2019]

I am glad there was no real propoganda for either side of the abortion arguement. Just facts. It made for a great movie.

On a side note the picture of baby A was down right disturbing. It looked like kid.

6.2

Bad on every level

[Robertsonwilcox · 1/10 · 22 October 2018]

This absolutely is an anti-abortion movie, no matter how many times it's repeated both in the movie itself and here in the reviews. But it's fine for a movie to have a point of view. The problem here is that this is bad art. Heavy handed, poorly acted, full of cliché and worn tropes, this movie is an unentertaining slog.

Chilling

[ugadawgfan-47499 · 10/10 · 13 October 2018]

Regardless of one's feeling on abortion, I would hope that rational people would agree that killing a baby born alive is absolute murder. Dr. Gosnell, obviously, felt that once a baby was "marked for death" it was fine to kill it by any means necessary... His utter disregard for human life was simply horrific.

As for the movie itself, I thought that the actor that played Dr. Gosnell was excellent. Not only did he really look like him, he did an amazing job of subtly portraying a crazy person who thought he was some kind of hero to women in trouble. The movie was well-produced, had all-around great acting and kept me on the edge of my seat the whole time. I would highly recommend this movie to any audience of teenagers on up. If you see it, make sure to stay through the credits... they show photos of the actual crime scenes and the real people who were involved in the case.

3801 Lancaster Avenue

[lavatch · 7/10 · 3 March 2019]

In the prosecution's case against Dr. Kermit Barron Gosnell, a concerted effort was made to not argue the pros and cons of abortion. Instead, the goal was to address the facts of an alleged pattern of homicide committed at the clinic at 3801 Lancaster Avenue in Philadelphia. So, too, the filmmakers of "Gosnell," were able to stay away from the politics of abortion to raise awareness about a relatively unpublicized trial in 2013.

It is also a credit to the film artists that they were able to withstand a media boycott that clearly limited the opening of their film in movie theaters around the nation. After a modest premiere in limited theaters, the film was released directly to the public. Apparently, the initial DVD release of "Gosnell" was a top seller on Amazon, beating out award-winning films like "A Star is Born" and "Bohemian Rhapsody," and its entire inventory at Walmart stores was sold within a matter of days.

Whether the viewer is pro-life or pro-choice, the film tells an important story not in some distant time in the past when "backyard mechanics" were the main venue for abortions, but a clinic in Philadelphia in contemporary times run by Dr. Gosnell from 2009-13. The trial before the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania found the doctor guilty on multiple counts of murder, and the jury was clearly able to set aside their views on abortion to examine the evidence objectively. Dr. Gosnell is now a lifer with no chance of parole.

Beyond the good performances of the district attorney Lexy McGuire, as played by Sarah Jane Morris, and the undercover cop James "Woody" Wood, as played by Dean Cain, the most interesting character was a reporter-blogger named Molly Mullaney, as played by Cyrina Fiallo. The reporter, who was obviously pro-choice, was successful in looking at the case impartially and succeeded in providing invaluable evidence for the prosecution. She was also instrumental in filling the seats in the courtroom, which were empty at the start of the trial due to lack of coverage of the case in the media.

The character of Molly Mullaney was refreshing in the light of the diminishing lack of journalistic integrity in the mainstream press today. While this film was far too gruesome in the details presented visually about the malpractice in Dr. Gosnell's clinic, it highlighted the absolutely essential function of a free and unbiased press in a democratic society. This film has neither a liberal nor conservative bias, and it took some courage and tenacity to see this film through to completion. Everyone associated with this project is to be commended.

Wow. Just wow

[keithinseattle · 1/10 · 28 October 2018]

The title says it all. What a nightmare of a movie and what an unapologetic piece of propaganda. There should be a free refund for people who can sit through this whole thing. The acting wasn't terrible, but what an awful movie. Time I will never get back

I'm converted

[HonestIndyReviewer · 5 February 2019]

After watching this and letting it sink in, I'm 100% pro life. What a fantastic movie about something so horrific. I'm satisfied with the outcome of this case and I pray to end abortion nationwide. Seriously, a heartbeat is a heartbeat. On a cinematic level, this movie is shot well and the acting is really good. A must watch!

Groundbreaking in one sense of the word.

[calebdrogers · 7/10 · 2 February 2019]

This review kind of needs two separate sections.

Filmmaking:

Pretty standard stuff. No major technical errors, and all of the actors turn in performances ranging from perfectly fine to pretty good. The writing, as I understand it, relies heavily on actual court documents and therefore can't be judged too harshly. All in all, a perfectly acceptable film from a filmmaking point of view.

Content: The story, or at least the idea behind the story, is completely unheard of in the movie business. Abortion is simply a topic that does not get covered. It's a taboo. Fortunately, this film never becomes too preachy, and relies almost entirely on witness testimony for any inflammatory accusations. The actual morality of abortion is never questioned, only one man's malpractice of it.

I would suggest this film to anyone interested, but certainly wouldn't force anyone to watch it if they don't really care.

Great crime drama--but it really happened

[mitch-42413 · 9/10 · 13 October 2018]

Much of the film taken from actual witness and trial transcripts. I thought it was very well done. The "pro-choice" prosecutor wasn't intending to make a case against abortion--people can claim the film has a "pro-life" agenda but it's easy to see it doesn't. The only side that made it about abortion was the doctor's defense. A good movie in terms of acting, filmmaking, pacing, and a solid storyline.

It's a tough subject, but no gory pictures. Teens and up should have no issues seeing this movie.

Partial Birth Horror

[misfitone38 · 6/10 · 16 February 2020]

It seems they had a horror picture in the works and decided not to deliver it full term.

It was clear that the intent was not to debate abortion or to question the impact of Roe v Wade. Instead, the focus is to expose abortion for what it is and how it is conducted, especially during later stages of the pregnancy.

During one scene a witness for the prosecution is describing how pregnancies are ended in the supposedly "friendlier" confines of a women's health clinic. Director Nick Searcy, who also plays Gosnell's defense attorney, does a clever job of showing that the "healthy" alternative isn't a far leap from the gruesomeness that went on in Gosnell's clinic.

There's also a clever use of a POV shot. It can almost be used to analyze someone's views on the subject. If you instantly recognize the point of view, then there is no debate.

So why pull the punches during scenes when they were raiding the clinic? It was like tv detectives showing up to a crime scene. It should've been presented like something out of "Silence of the Lambs" or investigating a John Doe murder in "Se7en." After all, there were fully developed feet in those jars.

Dire!

[khunkrumark · 3/10 · 18 February 2019]

Terrible acting, direction and story telling.

A cop wets his prissy knickers when he steps in cat poo, but is nun-plussed when looking at jars of preserved baby parts. The fat bearded cop is the comedy relief but nobody is laughing. The cops fight the FBI for jurisdiction... WOW, that's new!

This slow moving snore-fest should have been left on The Hallmark Channel. The script is almost 100% cliched, infantile nonsense. That this terrible TV movie got any reviews at all is a testiment to what a horrible place we are at in 2019 when it comes to original TV programming.

Drab and boring.

Great Movie Depiction of a Terrible Story that Needs to Be Heard

[alison-92617 · 10/10 · 13 October 2018]

Great acting and directing, a gripping storyline, characters with depth. Terrible story but it needs to be told. Very glad that I saw this with my teenaged son.

The worst details are told rather than shown, so don't worry about it being too gruesome to bear. The focus is on depicting the personalities and psychological trauma of the women (both employees and patients) who were part of the story, the people who felt called to prosecute this murderer, and Gosnell himself with his bizarre perception of ethics.

Great documentary

[MeiSsLman · 7/10 · 16 February 2019]

Based in actual information documentary films, I enjoyed it

Like a show on Fox

[nilssonmagnus4 · 1/10 · 23 January 2019]

I couldn't finish this movie. It had the same kind of acting that you would find on CSI Miami or something. At the start I thought it was some kind of joke or some kind of satire acting in the movie universe. If you have problems with TV shows on Fox, like the Flash out Green arrow, this is not a movie for you. It's like every actor is trying to one line every line of movie. Even the music is awful.

Well made film about the Gosnell Trial

[sroney-48030 · 10/10 · 12 October 2018]

This film really does a nice job in showing the audience all the events leading to the prosecution of Dr. Kermit Gosnell. It's a film worth seeing regardless of one's political views and it shows how an irresponsible doctor put many lives in danger.

A good movie about a horrible; horrible truth; it will give you nightmares

[marymargaretwithrow · 6/10 · 22 March 2019]

What a horrific movie; it will give me nightmares; sad beyond words - truly abortion kills babies and this man took it a step further; may he get what he deserves - Acting was great and this movie showed me things I never knew; horrific.

Poor Acting, Not Produced Well - Did Not Enjoy. Not Life Changing What so Ever.

[cei000 · 2/10 · 11 February 2019]

I saw all of the amazing reviews for this movie and I decided to rent it on Google play with my husband. It was upsetting that we had spent the four dollars. Also, was painful to get through. The acting was awful. The movie is based on a true story which always intrigues me and one that is on a quite controversial and much debatable subject. I also must mention that I am a very neutral party, that does not slant one way nor another - but very much middle of the road. With this said, the film was very low budget and produced by a party that does have their own agenda (once you Google a bit further). Additionally, the majority reviews here, are likely of individuals who follow that agenda / belief system. The movie is not on the same caliber with other movies. If you look on IMDB for other movies with a 7 star rating (for an average), and reviews that give it a 10/10 - I'm just saying to the mainstream / very middle of the road audience beware. You will probably be highly disappointed. I also watch very low budget films, and this just certainly wasn't for me. Nor would I think it would be for most.

A thought-provoking and well-made film

[delta_vega · 21 October 2018]

Whether you oppose or support abortion on demand in principle, you will find this docudrama to be an eye-opener. In a largely matter-of-fact way, this film tells the story of the atrocities committed by an abortion doctor whose crimes amount to no less than genocidal acts which have been largely ignored by the establishment media. The film is not propaganda, but it is thought-provoking and well-made, and it just might make you reconsider how abortion should be better regulated to prevent these inhumane acts from ever happening again.