In yet another Hollywood glorification of real-life events, helmer Brian De Palma – the go-to guy these days for such flicks – steps up to direct a reinterpretation of the classic 1968 film The Boston
Stranglers.
But while the 1968 film starred Tony Curtis and was based on a book by Gerold Frank, De Palma plans to explore a recent nonfiction work by Susan Kelly; “The Boston Stranglers: The Public Conviction of Albert DeSalvo and the True Story of Eleven Shocking Murders”.
Kelly’s book, though out of print, draws a wry portrayal of the events between 1962 and DeSalvo’s eventual jailhouse murder in 1973. DeSalvo may have confessed to the crimes, but Kelly (like many in those days) thinks he really had nothing to do with it. The book was adapted by Alan Rose (“Head of the Class”).
If one draws upon De Palma’s filmmaking history, you already know that he doesn’t shy away from controversy and dramatic subjects. By taking on gangsters in 1987’s “The Untouchables” and a neglected, telekinetic teenager in “Carrie”, de Palma established himself as one of the drama kings of the Hollywood scene. His last true commercial hit was 1996’s “Mission: Impossible”, but his rep for drama makes new collaboration seem like a good fit.
This upcoming film was once attached to director Carl Franklin at Paramount Pictures with Sid Quashie as the screenwriter. From there it seems that a producer, Franklin and Quashie all dropped out and the rights were sold to Valhalla Motion Pictures. But from murders that happened 30 years ago, with no new evidence or theories; can De Palma make this film relevant and worthwhile? David Fincher did so with San Fran zodiac murders.
Gale Anne Hurd will produce this film for Valhalla and Kevin Kelly Brown will be the executive producer.
