Review of The Manson Family (1997) by Kristal C — 14 Nov 2007

Before you read this thing I have to say about THE MANSON FAMILY, first read what I have to say about Roman Polanski's MACBETH. Finished? Okay. Basically, I have the exact same opinion of this film as I do that film.

Basically, the crimes committed by the family were extremely stupid and senseless. They were poorly planned, pointless, and didn't do any good for anybody. This film reminds me a lot of MACBETH. The insane tone of the film is the same, the violence is just as graphic and nasty, and the guy who plays Charlie Manson looks uncannily like Macbeth.

However, this film has something that MACBETH didn't have, and that was a heart. The deaths of the victims, particularly that of Sharon Tate, aren't gratuitous. Now, people may disagree with me, but let me state my case.

When people die on screen in this film, it is because the members of the religion are killing them. The film doesn't linger on the dead bodies and the blood and gore. The film shows exactly as much as it needs to show and then moves on.

It doesn't censor itself in any way. It shows the violence of the crimes in as sensitive a way as possible. Many people probably find this film almost nothing compared to the horror films out today, much like MACBETH.

But that's not the point. The point is that each and every one of the people who fell victim to the cult had done nothing to deserve it, and the reasons for them to die were simply not valid enough a reason for somebody to die.

It's just a disgrace that these people's lives were ended just because a bunch of idiots fell in love with a guy and did his stupid bidding. It's a shame. And many people who are talk about all these people who died always mention how it was horrible that Sharon Tate and her unborn baby were killed.

Honestly? Her death was no more tragic than the others. This film shows that. And for that, I'm recommending THE MANSON FAMILY, not because it's good, but because it's honest.