The Beauty Queen Killer: 9 Days of Terror

The "Beauty Queen Killer" refers to Christopher Wilder, an Australian-American serial killer who abducted and murdered at least eight young women during a six-week crime spree across the United States in early 1984. Wilder targeted attractive young women, often aspiring models, enticing them with promises of modeling careers. He would then abduct them, often at gunpoint. His victims included beauty queens, models, and other young women.

His crime spree began in Florida and continued across the country. Wilder was known for his charm and ability to gain the trust of his victims. His crimes were meticulously planned, and he often used disguises and assumed different identities.

The case of Christopher Wilder remains a chilling reminder of the dangers that can lurk behind seemingly ordinary individuals.

Fascinating because so few people know about this killer since there was no trial, and yet rather than glorifying him the focus here is on the victims and Tina's mix of survival instinct, defiance, and regret that will never leave her. She's brave for speaking out when so many people at the time thought she was an accomplice -- only because they don't understand the sick dynamic the killer created on his spree. In this age of armchair experts it's really interesting to watch the same kind of victim blaming happen pre-internet in the 1980s. This is great true crime that sheds light on a very undercovered story.

The documentary added a little to what I already knew from Dateline or other such shows. The fatal flaw is that the survivors are not compelling characters.

ABOUT MY REVIEWS:

I do not include a synopsis of the film/show -- you can get that anywhere and that does not constitute a meaningful review -- but rather my thoughts and feelings on the film that hopefully will be informative to you in deciding whether to invest 90-180 minutes of your life on it.

My scale: 1-5 decreasing degrees of "terrible", with 5 being "mediocre" 6- OK. Generally held my interest OR had reasonable cast and/or cinematography, might watch it again 7 - Good. My default rating for a movie I liked enough to watch again, but didn't rise to the upper echelons 8- Very good. Would watch again and recommend to others 9- Outstanding. Would watch over and over; top 10% of my ratings 10 - A classic. (Less than 2% receive this rating). For Lifetime Movies for Chicks (LMFC), drop the above scale by 3 notches. A 6 is excellent and 7 almost unattainable.

So we are supposed to believe when Wilder left Tina in the car alone in the woods when he took Dawn to stab her this Tina girl couldn't just run away and hide in the woods? She just sat there and waited for Chris to return? She 100% was an accomplice. Tina was a participant and knowingly active bait for his victims. She didn't do anything to stop what was happening??!! Was she drugged? Did I miss something? I get it..you are a victim and feel helpless but to do nothing while it happens to other girls in your presence? She is a sick as he was. Tina should be ashamed and held accountable for all of this too.

*The Beauty Queen Killer: 9 Days of Terror* is a chilling, suspenseful crime thriller that keeps viewers on the edge of their seats from start to finish. Based on real events, the film follows a brutal killer who targets beauty queens in a small town, plunging it into a state of fear. The atmosphere is dark and foreboding, and the tension builds steadily over the nine days of terror. The cast delivers strong performances, especially the lead, whose portrayal of fear and determination is captivating. While the pacing can occasionally drag, the psychological depth and eerie setting make this a compelling, edge-of-your-seat experience for true-crime enthusiasts.