- Reaction score
- 1
- Points
- 410
http://sympaticomsn.ctv.ca/servlet/ArticleNews/story/CTVNews/1099662680412_95071880?hub=topstories#
Victims' families angered by new Bernardo movie
CTV.ca News Staff
A Hollywood movie about notorious killers Karla Homolka and Paul Bernardo is sparking outrage, despite the producer's assurances it won't be exploitive.
Billed as "the incredible true story of Canada's most lethal couple," the movie Deadly has already been shot for the relatively low budget of less than $5 million US.
But Tim Danson, the lawyer who represented the families of victims Kristen French and Leslie Mahaffy, says there's no need for such a film.
"The public has what they want. They don't need anymore," Danson told CTV News. "There is nothing served at this point in time for a graphic, detailed re-presentation in Hollywood format of my clients' violation."
The film's Los Angeles-based producer, however, says the story of a couple without conscience is one that needs to be told.
"This story has a particularly compelling quality to it -- two people who were, to all intents and purposes, a happy, beautiful young couple who were able to descend into such a dark place," Quantum Entertainment's Michael Sellers told CTV, explaining that people need to understand how that can happen.
And besides, Sellers says, he's taken several steps to protect the victims and their relatives.
"The victims' family's situation is something that weighs heavily on all our minds.
"We changed all the names and we didn't have them physically resemble the victims. The actresses are over 18. We tried to show as much sensitivity as we could."
In addition, he says Deadly, which is now being edited, won't make it to Canada.
"We have no distributor in Canada, and honestly we have mixed feelings," he said. "I specifically reserved the right not to distribute in Canada. That's where it stands right now. There's still a lot of steps ahead of us."
Actress Laura Prepon, who also plays Donna on That 70s Show, will take on the role of Homolka. Misha Collins of 24 plays Bernardo.
Quantum will release the film early next year, just months before Homolka is due to be released from a maximum-security prison in Quebec.
Bernardo was declared a dangerous offender after he was convicted in the sex slayings of French and Mahaffy in 1995. He's serving a life sentence with no chance of parole.
There was a public outcry when Homolka struck a plea bargain with the authorities, cutting her sentence down to 12 years on two counts of manslaughter.
Two years ago, Danson succeeded in halting a Canadian company's plans to film their own version of the case.
Victims' families angered by new Bernardo movie
CTV.ca News Staff
A Hollywood movie about notorious killers Karla Homolka and Paul Bernardo is sparking outrage, despite the producer's assurances it won't be exploitive.
Billed as "the incredible true story of Canada's most lethal couple," the movie Deadly has already been shot for the relatively low budget of less than $5 million US.
But Tim Danson, the lawyer who represented the families of victims Kristen French and Leslie Mahaffy, says there's no need for such a film.
"The public has what they want. They don't need anymore," Danson told CTV News. "There is nothing served at this point in time for a graphic, detailed re-presentation in Hollywood format of my clients' violation."
The film's Los Angeles-based producer, however, says the story of a couple without conscience is one that needs to be told.
"This story has a particularly compelling quality to it -- two people who were, to all intents and purposes, a happy, beautiful young couple who were able to descend into such a dark place," Quantum Entertainment's Michael Sellers told CTV, explaining that people need to understand how that can happen.
And besides, Sellers says, he's taken several steps to protect the victims and their relatives.
"The victims' family's situation is something that weighs heavily on all our minds.
"We changed all the names and we didn't have them physically resemble the victims. The actresses are over 18. We tried to show as much sensitivity as we could."
In addition, he says Deadly, which is now being edited, won't make it to Canada.
"We have no distributor in Canada, and honestly we have mixed feelings," he said. "I specifically reserved the right not to distribute in Canada. That's where it stands right now. There's still a lot of steps ahead of us."
Actress Laura Prepon, who also plays Donna on That 70s Show, will take on the role of Homolka. Misha Collins of 24 plays Bernardo.
Quantum will release the film early next year, just months before Homolka is due to be released from a maximum-security prison in Quebec.
Bernardo was declared a dangerous offender after he was convicted in the sex slayings of French and Mahaffy in 1995. He's serving a life sentence with no chance of parole.
There was a public outcry when Homolka struck a plea bargain with the authorities, cutting her sentence down to 12 years on two counts of manslaughter.
Two years ago, Danson succeeded in halting a Canadian company's plans to film their own version of the case.
