Boston Strangler [2023] – Keira Knightley, Carrie Coon, Chris Cooper

Boston Strangler was a light, but pleasant, surprise about how two journalists fought sexism to successfully investigate murders in the sixties.

This re-imagination of the Boston Strangler is nowhere near perfect. Keira Knightley leads a strong cast, but its pendulous air and brooding soundtrack are a little suffocating. Frankly, the stars’ performances are wasted in this movie due to the way the story is being told. The narration blurs the story’s timeline without creating purposeful drama. Although all the elements are there for a spine-tingling Zodiac-style mystery thriller, the movie fails to build any real momentum and ends up completely running out of steam.

Are we trying to tackle women’s issues in the sixties? Are we trying to investigate a serial killer? Who knows?

The adrenaline rush of investigative work is nowhere to be found here. However, the movie capably captures the considerable frustrations of the investigation as well as the frustrations of sexism and corruption.

By the end, let’s just call it another well-done showcase for the kind of tough, investigative journalism that rarely exists today, even if the entire movie is not quite on par with recent productions.

Should you watch it?

Starring Keira Knightley & Carrie Coon, Boston Strangler is nowhere near as gripping as it should be. However, the worthy story and strong cast are often adequate compensation. 

Where can I watch it?

You can stream Boston Strangler exclusively on Hulu in USA and on Disney+ everywhere else.