Review of Off the Pig (Newsreel #19) (1968) by Simon T — 13 Jan 2014

The victim of a hysterical proto-sadist video press campaign which killed its initial theatrical run, The Black Panther is actually anything but the insensitive exploitation piece that damned it so long to distribution limbo.

Charting the bizarre killing spree of wannabe criminal mastermind Donald Neilson, this insightful, intelligent thriller feels chillingly authentic in its construction. No avant-garde pretentions or sensationalist hyper reality to be found here unlike its accused grindhouse bretheren. Director Ian Merrick is to the point with his direction and only benefits the film with his "lack of adventure" should I say, but major credit goes to Michael Armstrong who's minute detail script does what the journalists at the time couldn't be bothered with and lays out fully the whole grim affair to the best the evidence avaliable could suggest. Donald Sumpter is fearless as Panther. A little theatrical for some maybe, but you have to concider that this was no ordinary serial killer. A house thief that turned to armed robbery, then kidnap for ransom, this was no helpless manchild or crusading zealot, he really thought himself as a criminal genius and so would be full of himself, yes? Sumpter understood this and his portrayal of Neilson as the tragic fool gives great clarity to the events on top of the well researched script.

Overall a horrific, challenging and truthful dramatization that is a masterclass in true life crime filmmaking, a true hidden gem.