The Child I Never Was (2004)
Far be it from me to criticize a serial-killer biopic for attempting to show restraint and not wallow and sadism (we don't need more films like The Hillside Strangler)... but I'm afraid that's what I have to do with this German genre effort. The problem here is that, like Dahmer before it, the choice was made to ultimately go too tasteful and sterile. The cinematic eye begins to feel passive, and the audience is detached from the experience of watching the film. Character and narrative involvement is thus kept to a minimum; we might as well be watching the weather report for all the passion evinced here. Message to filmmakers: I can understand not wanting to skew towards the lurid, but at least try to look like you give a damn about the film you're making. The accomplishment of Henry: Portrait of a Serial Killer just looks more impressive every year.
Grade: C
Far be it from me to criticize a serial-killer biopic for attempting to show restraint and not wallow and sadism (we don't need more films like The Hillside Strangler)... but I'm afraid that's what I have to do with this German genre effort. The problem here is that, like Dahmer before it, the choice was made to ultimately go too tasteful and sterile. The cinematic eye begins to feel passive, and the audience is detached from the experience of watching the film. Character and narrative involvement is thus kept to a minimum; we might as well be watching the weather report for all the passion evinced here. Message to filmmakers: I can understand not wanting to skew towards the lurid, but at least try to look like you give a damn about the film you're making. The accomplishment of Henry: Portrait of a Serial Killer just looks more impressive every year.
Grade: C
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