by Frank Calvillo
As a native Texan who found himself living in London for five years, I naturally encountered a number of individuals, many of whom became close friends, who would oftentimes air out their frustrations with my country with regards to a number of issues through healthy debate and honest discussion. One of the strongest hot-button topics was the idea of capital punishment. It seemed that every person I met was so vehemently opposed to the act of execution more than perhaps any other issue. The brilliant, yet devastating 10 Rillington Place gives some insight about where such strong feelings stem from.
Based on the true story, 10 Rillington Place stars Richard Attenborough as Mr. Christie, a retired Army officer living in London who is also a serial killer. Using the ploy of offering assistance to girls in trouble, Christie lures unsuspecting victims into his home and drugs, rapes, and strangles them before burying their bodies in his backyard. When Tim and Beryl Evans (John Hurt and Judy Geeson) and their infant daughter Geraldine rent the upstairs flat from Christie, it would appear he has found latest victim, and in Tim, the country would find the perfect scapegoat in one of the most notorious true-crime cases in British history.
One of the most impressive aspects about 10 Rillington Place is how it functions as a stark and realistic recreation of one of the most notorious British serial killers. A combination of sharp camera movements and lack of music gives the whole experience an authenticity which is truly priceless and all the more frightening from start to finish. Scenes such as Christie’s first appearance in the film, to the killing of Beryl, captures that cinema verite feel many similar productions strive for, but never quite capture. The whole film plays out with a kind of dread absent from other film versions of true-crime cases, mainly because of the simplistic nature of the proceedings and the heartbreaking destruction of a young family who clearly loved each other.
Documentary-esque features aside, those involved with the making of 10 Rillington Place clearly haven’t forgotten that this is first and foremost a piece of cinema. Director Richard Fleischer greatly succeeded in bringing both the factual and the cinematic to the screen in a variety of different ways. The biggest of these ways was in not having the audience stay in Christie’s point of view, thus making him silently methodical and all the more menacing as if he were a wolf lurking in the shadows. The instance where Christie sees Beryl as a potential victim is eerie, and the tension when builders show up, inadvertently threatening his plans, is superbly handled. True aspects of the crime, such as Tim going along with, and eventually helping Christie get rid of the body, and a harrowing execution scene, provides the film with many shocking moments. The events in the film end up being handled so effectively and with such a riveting momentum, that they shock both those who know about the case, and those who are hearing about it for the first time.
It’s insane how into his role Attenborough is. His subtle, quiet mannerisms radiate nothing but unsettling fear throughout every one of his scenes. Even during moments where he isn’t the focus of a scene, it becomes impossible not to be transfixed by him and the look in his eyes, which shows that the wheels are turning inside his head. Not to be outdone, Hurt is incredibly electrifying as the frustrated and uneducated husband trying to make a home for his family and give them a good life. The actor does some of his best work when he realizes that his wife has died, giving a totally gut-wrenching performance.
The real-life case brought about instrumental changes in British law with regards to how such crimes were handled and tried. 10 Rillington Place is the perfect example of a tragedy. Its absolutely impossible to finish the film without feeling an overwhelming amount of sadness and grief. Some may be immediately put off or disgusted by the content, while other true-crime enthusiasts would embrace it because of the real-life factors. In the end, 10 Rillington Place is a film strong enough to draw tears at the thought of the love, hope and promise that was so viciously stolen.
The Package
Two wildly different commentary tracks accompany the release of 10 Rillington Place. The first features Hurt, in which he describes the overall process of shooting, working with Fleischer and Attenborough, and how he was able to continuously channel Evan’s torment throughout the shoot. The second track, featuring Geeson and Twilight Time’s Lem Dobbs and Nick Redman, has its participants discussing a variety of topics, including the film’s look and feel, the actual case itself and the state of London during the time the events took place.
The Lowdown
A pair of powerhouse performances anchor an already intense tale of one of the most notorious serial killer cases of all time, as well as one of the greatest miscarriages of justice in British history.
