FREEWAY KILLER is an attempt to tell a story about a little-known serial killer who menaced the Californian highways in the late 1970s. While I appreciate that the film-makers made a great deal of effort in getting this unknown story to the screen, unfortunately their budget is so cheap that the result is an amateurish mish-mash of themes and set-pieces that have already been seen before countless times.With even a semi-professional sheen this might have been something good; as it stands, it's just another unpleasant serial killer outing, little different from the rest of the torture porn sub-genre of film-making. The killer is simply that, a sadistic brute who enjoys beating and murdering his victims who were in the main innocent hitch-hikers simply looking for a ride.The cast give amateurish performances with no sign of restraint. Michael Rooker contributes a blink-and-you'll-miss-it cameo enough to get his name in big letters on the DVD case. Even worse, FREEWAY KILLER is full of anachronisms as no effort has been made to give this film an authentic look or feel. For much better serial killer films, check out ZODIAC (whose period authenticity is breathtaking) or the incredibly disturbing SNOWTOWN whose killer had a similarly warped personality to the guy here.

I happened to watch "The Shining" the other day and as I flipped through channels today I found this excellent little movie- and an excellent actor channeling ol' Jack (Torrance/Nicholson). I really like the low budget feel of the movie and to be honest even the anachronisms. There are a few well done movies from the last few years which capture the weird feeling of the Seventies- "Tinker,Tailor,Soldier,Spy" and "Zodiac" are among these. I put this film in that company as far as Seventies-ese is concerned- anachronisms and all! This film really captures Strange California of that time and is well worth watching IMO.

Cunning and charismatic serial killer William Bonin (a creepy, intense, and convincing performance by Scott Anthony Leet) preys on various hapless drifters and hitchhikers on the California highways in the late 1970's. Director John Murlowski, working from a compact script by David Birke, relates the gripping story at a steady pace, maintains a dark grim tone throughout, firmly grounds the premise in a totally plausible everyday working class reality, and handles the potentially lurid subject matter in an admirably tasteful and thoughtful manner (this film is more of a stark character study than an all-out gorefest). Moreover, Murlowski and Birke wisely don't try to explain Bonin; instead they merely present him as a ferocious predatory monster who not only was addicted to and turned on by murder, but also was charming and sociable enough to persuade others to partake in his horrible activities. The fine acting from the sturdy cast rates as another major asset: Leet clearly dominates the picture with his thoroughly chilling portrayal of an unrepentant beast, with excellent support from Cole Williams as wide-eyed hanger-on Kyle, Dusty Sorg as scraggly and sensible partner Vernon Butts, Michael Rooker as the no-nonsense Det. Sgt. John, Debbon Ayer as the grief-stricken Ruth Slobo, and Eileen Dietz as Bonin's sickly alcoholic mother Alice. The startling moments of sudden brutal violence pack a harsh punch. Erik Godal's spare moody score and Murlowski's plain cinematography further enhance the overall gritty authenticity. Recommended viewing.

My brother and the brother of my best friend, was victims of Bonin. I found this movie very incomplete about the true facts. Bonin killed over 16 young men, he was only convicted of 14. Bonin and his minions, would use Chloroform to knock the victims out, they would then have sex with them and then kill them. The night when he was arrested he was in the act of abusing a young hustler in a gas station parking lot in Hollywood. Bonin was killing young men in the Los Angeles and Orange County areas for years. He was even on parole. He was on parole for the same thing. He was not under police watch. No one knew who The Freeway Stranglar was until he was arrested. He lived on Death Row for over 12 years.