Manson

Disturbing and engrossing documentary about the Manson family as well as the murders they committed. The title's a bit misleading, as the bulk of the docu is about his brainwashed family and other people who crossed paths with him, although clips of interviews with the man himself appear here and there.

Highlights of the film have to be the interviews with Squeaky Fromme and friends where they proclaim Manson is Jesus reincarnated and present their own skewed philosophies on their way of life.

Manson (1973)

*** 1/2 (out of 4)

The television movie HELTER SKELTER is what most people remember when they think of the serial killer, his family and any sort of entertainment. This documentary was released three years before that film and features Vincent Bugliosi as he discusses the crimes, the cult members and various other subjects.

For the time this here is certainly a very entertaining documentary and it really makes you see how things were just a few years after the original murders. We learn about Manson, his rise to power, why the murders were committed and of course we get to meet and see the family. The family is what really makes this documentary stand apart as we get interviews with several family members as they discuss the power of Manson.

The interviews with the family members were certainly the most fascinating thing because you can't help but wish that the police had just dropped a bunch of bombs on these freaks when they went to arrest Manson for the car theft. As were told, the group was arrested for lesser charges because they were eventually charged with the murders that were committed.

It was rather creepy watching these family members as they talk about their plans including killing Frank Sinatra. Watching this documentary you really get a great idea of how crazy these people were and it just makes you wonder why more terror wasn't committed.

The Manson murders occur with the finality and shock of those horrendous 2 years - 68-69 where the assassinations of several political leaders left a"lawless", "desperate vacuum". What may have started out as a sick,twisted plot (because Manson's record deal with Terry Melcher went sour) became a nightmare-media-pumped circus that year. Its macabre scenario was coupled with the investigation of JFK - by Jim Garrison also. It signified the end of the 60's. The thought of chaotic ,violent, revolution replacing hopeful, non-violent social protest. This made the youth susceptible to any leader, and a lost,desperate and amoral person such as Manson began the litany; "im simply a reflection of what you want to see" "I'm just being used" - This is a pretty good documentary. I'ts disjointed narrative and unfocused colors make it seem as disruptive as the times. Today, days are empty, meaningless and lost. People are spiritually unfulfilled, but want simple entertainment and just want to work. The 60's represented change, but once the means of change were co-opted by the secret state - revolution came. People wanted to make a difference but the Manson followers were manipulated to live care free lives and destroy the lives of the privileged. This film is worth seeing!

This is one of the best documentaries made on Manson and his cult "Family". There is extensive footage of the most important cult members talking about "the Family" and life with Charlie. In addition, the film includes fascinating footage that the family members apparently took of themselves as they lived communally on the Spahn ranch. The most chilling sections involve 3 young women (Lynette Fromme,Sandra Good, Mary Bruner) who explain their views of Charlie and the Tate/La Bianca murders while each one cradles a rifle and passes a snake between them. This film also has very creative cinematography making extensive use of three-panel screens and bold primary colors saturating the frames. Since the documentary Woodstock was shot in 1970, this film seems to have been influenced by it in the use of quick cutting and the tri-panel screens. As part of the sound track there are many "trippy" folk songs (good .wav material) sung by two ex-Manson family members -Brooks Poston and Paul Watkins. While some of the narration by Pearson and Bugliosi is creaky and dated, the bulk of the documentary, especially the extensive interviews, is disturbing and fascinating at the same time. A very good film.

"Manson" is a sad, disturbing film. It's horrible enough to hear the details of the Tate/LaBianca murders being recounted and to see the vicious, empty look in the eyes of Charlie's girls as they brandish guns and spout their guru's "philosophy"...but that's not all this documentary has to offer. Indeed, it poses a question of even greater importance than Manson's crimes: what happened in the '60s? Why did it all end so badly? The soundtrack, performed by former Family members "Little" Paul Watkins (at one time Manson's right-hand man) and Brooks Poston, consists of slow, slightly corny-sounding, but haunting and utterly apt acoustic songs. "Have you ever wondered what you were here for?" Watkins solemnly intones during the opening theme. "Have you ever wondered, 'Is there more?'" Later, talking about his involvement with Manson, Watkins says frankly, "I thought Charlie was Jesus." It is at this point that the sociological question which meanders its way through the film like a deep, dark river becomes apparent: what made these young people feel so lost and confused that they needed a Christ-figure, and what made them believe that Charles Manson was the messiah they sought? I'm afraid that we lost the last of our innocence and goodwill at the end of the '60s...and that if we do not examine how flower power, peace symbols and the Monterey Pop Festival led to sleaze, the Manson murders and Altamont in the space of just two short years, we'll never get it back.