Synopsis

August 9 & 10, 1969. This date annually marks the anniversary of two nights of murder and mayhem historically called the Manson murders. Since that time the public and the media have never ceased in their fascination with this bizarre case. Newspapers, magazines and television all follow the continuing saga of Charles Manson and his followers. Countless books and motion pictures declare to document, "just what happened". To varying degrees, most fail. Today the Manson phenomenon is more sensational and startling than it was 30 some years ago.

Official Review

For sheer ambition, “The Manson Family” deserves a 10 out of 10. Due to some flaws in execution and a somewhat vague (and occasionally frustrating) narrative, it falls a bit short of its lofty aspirations, but its potent stew of fact, conjecture, violence, sex, hallucinatory imagery, and ear-bending sound design for the most part work, due mostly to the film’s impressive cache of style. Instead of what it might have been – a gratuitous “Natural Born Killers” knockoff populated with actual persons and events – “The Manson Family” manages to paint a fairly vivid (if not always lucid) portrait of the kind of fervent loyalty that Manson was able to inspire, and continues to inspire today. …Read More