User reviews

Jason Moss (played by Jesse Moss, no relation), a college student attending UNLV, corresponds with serial killer John Wayne Gacy (William Forsythe),convicted of murdering 33 young men and boys, while on death row. They get closer and closer to each other... and each getting inside the other's head.

This film was very highly anticipated by me. I had actually corresponded with many (31) serial killers from 2001-2003, and was familiar with Moss' book. I had found it to be full of ego-stroking and gross exaggerations. Other reviews I read seemed to agree with me, and I was frankly disappointed that Moss went on to intern with the Secret Service, as I felt he was a hack. I hoped the film would correct some of this.

The film was developed with screenwriter Kellie Madison (her first script) and producer Clark Peterson ("Monster") along with interaction from Moss, at least up until his suicide on 6/6/06. They got permission from his widow, Charlotte, to go ahead, and made the film as we can see it today. Personally, I think they did a brilliant job. Some of the scenes (with the male hooker and the final confrontation, for example) are probably dubious, but they relate to the book. So, as far as adaptations go, it is pretty strong.

I had the pleasure to speak with Barry Boschelli, a lifelong friend of John Wayne Gacy, before seeing this film. You can see some clips of Barry in the special features. He not only told me some great stories about Gacy (which you can read in his book), but praised William Forsythe for his accuracy in the portrayal of Gacy. If Barry says Forsythe was great, who am I to argue? I thought so, too, and it seems to be supported.

I hope this movie brings more light to the life of Jason Moss. I would like to see a biography of him. What did his brother, parents and wife think of his adventures? His girlfriend in the film... was she a real person? Did his professor find this accurate? Menard prison? What more can be learned about his suicide and the date he chose to kill himself?

I would recommend this film, without a doubt, for anyone who read the book, whether you enjoyed it or not. I would also recommend it for any fan or student of John Wayne Gacy. The accuracy is debatable, but I think the film is a valuable piece that deserves to be in your library. And any fan of William Forsythe... he does not get the credit he deserves often enough. This may be his stand-out role.

Well paced thriller with a good amount of creepy.

I like it when there's a character who transforms in a movie. Moss becomes involved with Gacy who gets inside his head and stirs up some trouble. We see his character sink lower and lower as a result of his obsession. The fact that this is based on a true story where the student becomes successful but still succumbs to something dark and commits suicide brings layers to this movie; and a yearning to know many more details of what really happened between these two men.

Forsythe and Moss have good chemistry and depth.

I recommend. I will be very surprised if you do not google this story after viewing - I did.

The life story of Jason Moss is at least as intriguing – and slightly disturbing - as that of the people he dedicated his life researching… Imagining the depressing and harsh subject matter he dealt with continuously, I can more or less comprehend why he committed suicide at the age of 31, even though there isn't any actual indication that his work directly or indirectly led him to end his own life. Well before reaching the age of 20, Moss corresponded with several notorious serial killers such as Jeffrey Dahmer, Henry Lee Lucas and John Wayne Gacy. It was the latter with whom he corresponded the most intimately and published a book about his experiences, entitled "The Last Victim". "Dear Mr. Gacy" is the – reputedly very faithful – adaptation of this book and atmospherically unfolds how the ambitious 18-year-old Moss seeks contact with Gacy, only a couple of months prior to his execution, in order to deliver an accurate school thesis on the subject of "inside a serial killer's mind". Gacy was a homosexual and pedophile, convicted for the murder of 33 adolescent males, and thus Jason Moss' profile immediately raised his interest. They began to communicate through letters, later telephone calls and the two even met face to face shortly before John Wayne Gacy got executed through lethal injection. The film contains a handful of strong moments and a truly powerful performance by William Forsythe as Gacy, but overall seen, this isn't a hidden gem or even highly memorable thriller. Perhaps this is because you unintentionally compare it to the vastly superior "Silence of the Lambs" and "Seven", due to the element of interaction with a serial killer, but mainly it's because the screenplay is so ordinary and doesn't contain anything surprising or even remotely unusual. The bond between Moss and Gacy develops so damn predictable! Of course you know that the young criminology student gets way more than he bargained for when trying to provoke one of the most diabolical individuals of the planet. Of course you can predict that someone like Gacy, in spite of being behind bars and knowing his execution nears, can still easily manipulate and terrorize his newly found pen pal. And of course you can guess that Gacy's influence over Jason Moss becomes so strong and dangerous that his own private life narrowly gets ruined. Some of the sub plots are rather irrelevant, like Moss seeking contact with a victim that survived his encounter with Gacy several years ago, supposedly to ask for "advise" on how to confront him?!? Is it me or is this just totally inappropriate? Svetozar Ristovski's direction skills can only be referred to as neutral and the only true standout of this film is – naturally – Forsythe's stellar performance as John Wayne Gacy. William Forsythe is one of those rare character actors who has the ability to petrify you simply through his charisma and voice. Also given his resemblance to the real Gacy, especially at later age, I couldn't have imagined anyone else suitable for the role.

For a college term paper, a rather naive young man named Jason Moss (played by actor improbably named Jesse Moss) decides to interview notorious, real-life serial killer John Wayne Gacy (William Forsythe). The story, which is true, is set in the early 1990s.

Gacy was convicted in 1980 of killing over thirty Chicago area boys and young men in the 1970s, and was on death row when Moss sent Gacy the initial written inquiry. Through the plot, the two correspond via letter and talk on the phone. Eventually, Gacy arranges for a personal visit from Moss.

Jason comes across as smart, ambitious, and a bit smug and cocky. At no time does he express any genuine interest in Gacy as a person. Instead, Jason hopes to gain the confidence of Gacy so as to learn details about Gacy's experiences that law enforcement and the FBI were unable to learn. Jason's motives are thus somewhat selfish, and aimed at furthering his own academic career. I really didn't much sympathize with him or his tactics. And of course Gacy, the killer who dressed up as a clown, was truly evil. In short, there's no one to root for in this film.

This is an unusual movie in that close-up camera shots of characters comprise much, if not most, of the scenes. Lighting is conventional. The film offers little in the way of suspense. It comes across as a TV docu-drama. Casting and acting are acceptable.

For viewers interested in true crime stories, "Dear Mr. Gacy" offers a strange after-the-fact twist to a dreadful episode. And at the film's very end, the script makes a startling revelation about one of the real-life characters.

Jason Moss (Jesse Moss) is a normal college kid. Serial killer John Wayne Gacy is appealing his conviction, and Jason wants to do a paper on him. Jason starts to do research. Then he exchange letters and phone calls. He begins to change and becomes more than just a pen pal. More and more he's becoming a protégé and his next victim.

Jesse Moss is a reasonable actor who could be an everyday college student. The pace is slow due to the fact that the kid and Gacy don't go face to face until close to the end. When that meeting occurs, the intensity goes off the charts. William Forsythe is incredibly creepy and threatening. That one scene makes up for the rest of the movie.

When the subject comes up in everyday conversation of serial killers, personally two names immediately rear their heads in my mind. Jeffrey Dahmer and John Wayne Gacy. Gacy one of the more spookier killers i have read about in us history who was responsible for luring young male prostitutes home in his "nice guy" guise and murdering them and burying their many bodies in his root cellar of his own home. Based on true events that occurred during the last few weeks of Gacy's life before he finally succumbed to lethal injection On May 10, 1994. Young university law student approaches his professor with the idea on doing the latest required Theseus on Gacy himself sort of an psychological profile. The professor advises him to look elsewhere for a subject as serial killer Theseus's are Way over done. Jason promises he will deliver answers into Gacy's psyche that have never surfaced either by interviews by both the FBI and media. Jason then takes it upon himself to write a letter to Gacy on death row. A relationship between the two begins. Jason tiptoes around ,madness as he tries his best not to be sucked into Gacy's evil world. Jesse Moss was awesome in this and i couldn't help but compare him to a young Tom Cruise but that still remains to be shown. Forsythe who i feel is very underrated pulls off the Gacy character brilliantly. this movie pulls no punches in showing you the dirty parts of the world that are usually whitewashed by Hollywood!

This movie is uncomfortable to watch, but well acted. William Forsythe performs very effectively as creepy pedophile and serial killer Gacy. He portrayed the psychopath very realistically, particularly imposing his will during the conversations he had with Jason.

I did feel that the Jason character would have been more emotionally scarred by talking to this dude-even with experience talking to psychopaths who are NOT serial killers is exhausting.

Overall the movie was very well done, in my opinion. So SO glad I retired!!

Brilliant performance by Forsythe,, knew he could be creepy,, but, dang! Very good back and forth between the two lead actors. What starts out as an idea for a college assignment takes a young man on a journey no one in their right mind would choose,,, and he only realizes this when it's too late to back out. This would be a very good cautionary tale for anyone trying to get into the mind of a murderer. Proceed with much, MUCH, caution,,,

I wasn't sure I wanted to watch another moralistic 'movie-of-the-week' about a serial killer since they are usually whitewashed beyond recognition to make them palatable to mainstream America.

When I found out this was based on the true story of a college student contacting John Wayne Gacy in prison before he was executed, however, I thought I would give it a chance.

It all starts like a 'docudrama' by the look of the cast, but with the first glimpse of the gritty characterization of Jason's mother, this film took on a much edgier realism than I was expecting. It seemed to me that I had not seen a woman like this before - not pretty, not likable, not whitewashed.

In fact, none of the characters were Hollywood suburban - they were conflicted, vulnerable, angry, manipulative and contradictory. And, 'Jason Moss' takes us on a journey that seems ordinary at first, but step by step, the tension ramps up and we soon find ourselves betting against higher and higher stakes on a happy ending.

What we end up experiencing is an intense and uncomfortable story that goes far deeper into the psyche of Gacy and anyone who came into contact with him than the usual fare. The acting is superb on everyone's part, especially Jesse Moss and William Forsythe - so much so that I had a hard time connecting to the pix of the real people at the end of the film.

This is one of the best studies of serial murderers that I have ever seen. Watch it but be prepared to go places that aren't 'nice'. People are much scarier than we care to believe - an idea that John Wayne Gacy used skillfully to entrap his victims up until the end.

I caught this late at night on the Horror Channel so I wasn't expecting much, but DEAR MR GACY turns out to be an interesting little story about the real-life serial killer John Wayne Gacy. The film, playing out as a dark and psychological thriller, is based on a non-fiction book that tells the story of a college student who decides to research the killer for his end-of-year assignment. This requires him getting in touch with Gacy, an act which begins a sinister relationship.

DEAR MR GACY is a surprisingly mature handling of the material which offers a look into the dark psychology of a killer. Thankfully it eschews needless gore sequences - viscerally, it's a relatively tame production - in favour of some truly uncomfortable moments as the killer draws close to what will become his "last victim". The film benefits immensely from an excellent turn from William Forsythe, who turned from a B-movie kind of actor in the 1990s to a dark, imposing presence more recently (check out his work in BOARDWALK EMPIRE if you're a fan of him here). Jesse Moss is also a revelation as the student who quickly finds himself getting out of his depth. DEAR MR GACY is well worth checking out for those of us with an interest in the darker side of human nature.

This is a stupid, stupid, stupid, movie. The horrible story of the murders of at least 33 young boys at the hands of the monster, John Wayne Gacy, deserves better treatment than this. In a nutshell, you have one of the most notorious serial killers on record, Gacy, juxtaposed against inappropriate, "teen" male, beefcake in the form of Jesse Moss, who is a stagy, unnatural actor. He's no worse than the rest of this movie, but he is the "star" so he is, justifiable or not, the face of this failure.

I can not overstate the grotesque titillation being engaged in here. The protagonist, played by Moss, flexes shirtlessly through about half of this movie. There's even a quasi "Robert-Dinero-you-lookin'-at-me" scene where he flails and flexes ridiculously in front of the camera with a loaded gun. Why? What does his chest have to do with the true story of a disturbed teenager, Jason Moss, who had a fascination with serial killers and the details of their brutality?

This is a true story. But this movie doesn't tell it. The true story is not that of a normal teen working on a college term paper about John Wayne Gacy, who is drawn into the killers dark web, but at the end calls checkmate and triumphs over the evil Gacy. That's what the filmmakers would have you believe. In fact, the REAL story is one of a disturbed college student who had an unhealthy obsession with the brutality of serial killers, Gacy in particular, and who's personal demons eventually drove him to suicide. So, when you understand THAT truth, and you see THIS movie, with it's inappropriate and graphic homo-erotic titillation, horrific rape, torture, and murder scenes, you just want to vomit. There were at least 33 Gacy victims who's last hours, God forbid, days, on this earth were an unimaginable hell. Out of respect for them, their suffering, the suffering of their families to this day, burn this garbage and apologize. So disgusting. I wanted to barf.

This is a difficult movie to watch. I rented it over the holiday week for entertainment.

I felt the movie draws the viewer into the emotional sea of conflict and any flick that can do that, in my estimation is superior.

Certain parts are very difficult because they deal with sexuality , ciminiality and morals all at once.

The flick should not be rejected simply because it might to thought to be anti-gay. There were parts that I thought could pander to homophobic people.

I would recommend it and advise imagine you are 18 years old and dealing with a psychological experiment where you become the bait for the vampire.

I remember my surprise at the closing chapters of Capote's "In Cold Blood" (the book). Capote fairly well succeeds at showcasing how forensic psychologists place the events depicted within some kind of framework. At the end, you feel you understand how triggers can be set up for extreme behavior, then set off.

Although I didn't exactly expect it, I approached "Dear Mr. Gacy" with a dim expectation that it might fulfill this need; after all, the young guy's kicks off his project under the auspices of criminology class. The professor says to Jason, "You have to demonstrate a strong academic angle, here"... and then Jason appears to ignore this requirement. The filmmakers seem to assume that they could primp and preen the final product so as to redeem Jason's weird, obsessive bravado in our eyes. But, for my part, they don't.

Well, maybe with the allowable exception that. by showcasing "Gacy lite"--Gacy being able to "be Gacy" in the limited confines of penal lockup--perhaps we, the viewers, might be able to glean and meaningfully process some raw information.

After viewing "Dear Mr. Gacy", do _you_ feel you understand the mind of a serial killer? In short: I wanted understanding, I got a dark romp.

This is a strange kind of film to review. On the one hand its about a serial killer , on the other hand the serial killer is cooped up in jail, so there's limited threat to the protagonist.

The performances are good by both main actors and the plot is done well , I was just disappointed that this isn't really a thriller in the normal way and I'd say if you want something frightening you might want to look elsewhere.

As a drama though it works quite well and it held my attention till the end. There are some flash back scenes which provide more of the traditional thrills associated with serial killer movies.. but they're just flashbacks. It would have been great if the director had more of these scenes woven in to the story to remind us of what a truly despicable and frightening person Gacy was and why the protagonist should be scared, but he didn't and it is a decent enough watch all the same.

The Last Victim (AKA: Dear Mr. Gacy) is directed by Svetozar Ristovski and adapted to screenplay by Kellie Madison and Clark Peterson from Jason Moss' memoir novel The Last Victim. It stars Jesse Moss, William Forsythe, Emma Lahanna, Jeffrey Bowyer-Chapman and Patrick Gilmore. Music is by Terry Frewer and cinematography by Larry Lynn.

John Wayne Gacy, the mere mention of his name brings shivers, his legacy that of the rape, torture and murder of 33 young men between 1972-1978. Serial Killer films have always been popular, they tap into the psyche where fascination resides. Unfortunately more often than not the films don't contribute much in the way of provoking interesting discussion or adding insight to the killer who is the topic. In fact some skirt the line of tastelessness and exploitation to the point of making the adult viewer a trifle sheepish having just watched them. The Last Victim is thankfully a different beast.

Jason Moss was a criminology student who was fascinated by serial killers. Choosing to use that for the major part of his thesis, he would go on to form a dangerous relationship with the incarcerated Gacy. Posing in profile to that which Gacy was attracted to, Moss began with letters, then phone calls and eventually a meeting with the beast himself. Jason Moss would kill himself in 2006, the significance of which, dates and state of mind etc, are not covered here. This is purely about the naiveté of youth, dangerous fascination and the perils of letting a bona fide monster inside of your head.

It's not a blood soaked film, it's very character driven, the horrors more of the human mind. Boosted by an intense performance from Forsythe as Gacy, the pic is always compelling, though some poetic licence has been taken to advance the plot dynamics. The flashbacks used are well tied into the narrative thrust, tension is well orchestrated by Ristovski and Frewer's score is unobtrusive but still orchestral and eerie. One of the better serial killer movies available to the intrigued audience, but not because of any stalk and kill tactics and portrayals. 7/10

The setting is in 1994, however at 54:12 a girl walks into the school clearly on a cellphone

It's surprising that the substantial bulk of serial killer movies has yet to render anything really compelling about one of its most complex and twisted subjects --- John Wayne Gacy. The sheer number of accredited murders combined with the episodic series of cat and mouse plays throughout the convicted child killer/rapist's life would seem to be quite juicy fodder.

And yet, all we really have to show for it are two sub-par outings (a passable TV procedural starring Brian Dennehy and a really awful feature with hammy unknown Mark Holton). And then comes "Dear Mr. Gacy" which --- if you're not aware of its extremely factual basis --- almost sounds like a bad joke.

Crime student Jason Moss (Jesse Moss) embarks on an almost masochistic journey into fear and loathing by establishing a communication with the killer during his last months on earth at Illinois' Menard prison. His idea (and it IS a clever one) is to establish himself as a textbook victim that Gacy will have no choice but to lure into his web, granting Moss a first-hand look into the delusional self-aggrandizing psychopath's mind for his college Criminology term paper.

It's a scenario almost tailor made for a movie script because, as we all know by now in films, if you want something that badly, the worst thing that can happen is that you get it, and Moss does. He also finds himself playing a little too perfectly into Gacy's hypnotic spell, which is complemented by all the right situational elements of his own life --- boredom with his girlfriend, resentment of his controlling mother, subtle contempt for his passive brother's victim-hood at the hands of the school bully.

The weakest link here is Jesse Moss, and that's only very rarely. Mostly his performance is very good, though there are a few times it's hard to believe his reactions wouldn't be a bit more emotional after some of Gacy's truly threatening phone tirades. William Forsythe is a great actor and never more disturbing than in this role...he's the creepiest Gacy by far, expertly channeling his voyeurism with subtle bullying and manipulation, then morphing it into the "caring" love of a protective father figure, shifting on a dime. It's hard to know if his self-proclaimed stance as "king of the roost" at Menard is reality or in his head. His paintings were fetching a handsome sum near the end of his life, he had a cell with a view, TV, plants, and he could paint and smoke Cuban cigars smuggled in by guards who addressed him half-jokingly as "boss." Forsythe is a virtual cypher in the role, disappearing effortlessly into it, and leaving you very queasy in the process.

All in all, DMG is an intense, fun ride you won't forget. If it had a broader scope, it might just be the definitive Gacy biopic, but it probably wouldn't be as outright compelling, either. What's probably most disturbing about this particular story is what happened to the real Jason Moss, in the end. Be careful what you wish for, indeed.

I briefly dated Jason Moss after the book this film is based on was published. He was attending the University of Michigan law school at the time, and he seemed great at first. Then I got to know him better, unfortunately -- he was extremely cocky and just plain insufferable! Thankfully his true nature surfaced fairly quickly and I dumped him pronto!!!

Anyway, the film does take quite a few liberties with this supposedly true story, based upon Jason's novel. But I would take everything with a huge grain of salt, since I knew him personally and witnessed his deceptive behavior first hand (albeit after the story takes place).

All in all, I would recommend that the film be looked at as mostly fiction, as the book probably is as well.

Based on the true story of 18 year old college student Jason Moss (Jesse Moss), who finds himself in way over his head when he begins a relationship with notorious serial killer John Wayne Gacy (William Forsythe). As part of a term paper for his criminology class, Moss sends a letter to Gacy on death row, portraying himself as vulnerable with the hopes of eventually gaining his trust and getting inside the mind of this killer to possibly learn more about his crimes. A relationship between the two begins through letters and eventually phone calls, as Jason tries not to lose his own identity while being brought into Gacy's world.

Jesse Moss, whom I'd only seen previously in smaller roles, most notably "Ginger Snaps", shows he can hold his own as a lead. The real stand out, however, was William Forsythe. Remarkably intense and creepy, he seemed to embody John Wayne Gacy. It was one of the best portrayals I've seen of Gacy to date and rivaled that of Brian Dennehy's.

This movie has very little to do with Jason Moss' book. I had read "The Last Victim" before approaching this movie and I don't understand why they decided to make an adaptaion that is so different from the source. Why to make movies like this then if we cannot stay true to the facts? Why to change even most crucial moments? Gacy's portrayal is probably the strongest point of the movie, Jason comes across as very different from the book equivalent, and the book was written by himself. It's a nice movie to put as background for other activities but the books is definitely much better.

I was afraid for this flick for two reasons, is is said to be based on a true event, the John Wayne Gacy story and it was made by the producers of "Monster (2003)" another flick based on a true event (serial killer Aileen Wuornos). Monster did follow how it all happened so there it couldn't go wrong but on the part op Gacy there are so many flicks about him that aren't correct. Some did exploit his part as Pogo The Clown and let him do killings dressed as a clown, it never happened that way. But still the best flick about Gacy is To Catch A Killer (1992) and let the performance of Brian Dennehy in that particular flick being the best Gacy so far.

So with some prejudice I watched it. And I must say that I really enjoyed this flick. The title says Dear Mr Gacy but isn't really about Gacy. This flick is more about Jason Moss, a student who gets in contact with Gacy and gets obsessed with him. What happens with Jason is shown in this flick. To be honest, only two actors are in this flick and made this flick. First is Jesse Moss who plays Jason Moss and he did it in a perfect way. But he surely knew his stuff been in Final Destination 3, Ginger Snaps and the gem Tucker And Dale vs Evil. What he did here is really well done. Gacy is played by another famous horror actor William Forsythe. I have met the guy and yes he has that look in his eyes as seen in Halloween the remake and The Devils Reject. Both carry this flick.

It is filed under horror but I shouldn't say that it fits there. It's more a drama especially due what happened to Jason's life. But Svetozar Ristovski as director did well to keep you attracted to the screen. Naturally the whole true event is pure horror but I recommend this to everyone. It do has some news reel in the beginning and at the end some news reel about Jason. It really got into me, a sad story but one to watch. No special effects pure talking and still it gets you...as Gacy did. And William gets really close to Brian's Gacy performance.

Gore 0/5 Nudity 0/5 Effects 0/5 Story 5/5 Comedy 0/5

I don´t really care if what the movie presents is fictitous or not. The movie itself is bad on many levels. First of all the appeal. It looks like a TV movie. Secondly, there is the acting. Many wrote it before but I say it again - Jesse Moss is a bad De Niro imitation, nothing more. And unfortunately William Forsythe is no Anthony Hopkins. The psychological level of the story is very poor and even though we are supposed to like and understand Jason and his motives it doesn´t really work well. What makes the whole movie almost unbearable are the constant homophobic remarks and slurs and not just by the Gacy character but basically by everybody.

I picked up the book and couldn't put it down until 2 days later when I finished it. I was stoked when I found out there was a movie that's (loosely) based off the book. If you're a reader at all, get the book. The intensity of it is unbelievable. The movie was....eh. They just didn't capture the insanity in Gacy and how badly he got into this kids head. If you're not into books, it's a decent movie I guess. But do yourself a favor and get the book.

A film based on the book 'the last victim' co-authored by Jason Moss who had an obsession with and was the pen pal of the killer clown John Gacy.

It is a slow, well timed, minimalist, almost art house type film, think it is also directed quite well. It captures the emotional conflicts and feelings of both characters well I thought. Both leads are competent professional character actors. It is quite an interesting subject matter, the film delves into what it would be like for a teenager to correspond with a disturbed sociopath who is incarcerated and finally visit them. It is quite a tragic story that deserved to be told, Sadly Jason took his own life on June 6, 2006, the film states at the end. Anyway I recommend this film