Review of Aileen: Life and Death of a Serial Killer (2003) by Donna . — 17 Jul 2009

"We have evil in us, all of us do, and my evil just happened to come out because of the circumstances.".

This second documentary by Nick Broomfield on serial killer Aileen Wuornos focuses on her childhood and tries to find out how the murders came to be.

Nick Broomfield desperately wants to believe that Mallory (Aileen's first known victim) "tortured and tormented Aileen, pushing her into an insanity which lead to the other 6 murders.".

The facts however suggest otherwise. When first arrested Aileen told police that she shot Mallory believing that he was not going to pay her but beat her. Later this changed to shooting him during an argument and struggle, where they had both reached for her bag where she kept her gun. After killing Mallory Aileen robbed him and used his car to move...

Why believe her horrific second version, told on the stand, one year later, when on trial fighting for her life?!

After Mallory's death, Aileen killed at least 6 more people, simply to eliminate witnesses to her robberies, so that she could continue to work while also keeping Tyria happily by her side.

Aileen shows zero remorse here, unlike in the sympathetic biopic Monster, where she actually cries sorry to one victim who needs to be eliminated!!

In the documentary we also learn about Aileen's horrific childhood of abuse, abandonment, homelessness and prostitution.

From this we get to see the other side of Aileen, who was an incredible, incredible survivor who was failed by her family and community who were just not there.

What you ultimately take away from this documentary is that, if someone had given young Aileen the support, help and love that all children deserve, her murders just may never have happened...