On H List of Movie Reviews
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The Honeymoon Killers (1970)
Rate:
10
Viewed:
3/17, 7/20
3/17:
Do you want to see one of the most unusual pictures about a serial killer couple?
Then, check out The Honeymoon Killers whose tagline reads, "Ray and Martha are in love. They're on a honeymoon.
(The bride is in the trunk.)" Tony Lo Bianco and Shirley Stoler will forever be remembered for their portrayals of Raymond
Fernandez and Martha Beck, aka "The Lonely Hearts Killers," who may have murdered at most twenty women during the late 40's
before they were executed in their 30's.
Almost never violent, The Honeymoon Killers, which is mostly shot on locations, is a stark black-and-white unHollywood
picture that's chilling to watch. It's as real as it gets, being in the same vein as
Henry: Portrait of a Serial Killer.
One aspect I like the most is the cast of ordinary-looking people. They story is accurate with several small changes.
All in all, Leonard Kastle, a Juilliard-trained opera composer who directed The Honeymoon Killers, stated, "I was
revolted by that movie [Bonnie and Clyde]. I didn't want to show beautiful shots of
beautiful people."
7/20:
The Honeymoon Killers is hands down the best film of the Lonely Hearts genre.
Shirley Stoler and Tony Lo Bianco turn in career-defining performances as Martha Beck and Raymond Fernandez, respectively.
Hence, they were sadly robbed of Oscar nominations. Their plain-looking characters occurred in real life, and
they're shockingly evil during the final half hour.
All in all, brilliantly shot in black and white, The Honeymoon Killers is a true crime masterpiece.