I love Keira Knightley as an actress in many other movies, but somehow she didnt shine in this role as a female journalist unravelling a serial murder mystery.

The bad: this movie is simply going through the motions. No surprises. No spark or punch. No real thrill. No originality. Everything about this serial killer movie has been done better by others before...

More bad: it has got an annoyingly heavy soundtrack, that must constantly remember me as a viewer, that now THIS scene and now THAT scene is ominous and spooky. When it's no such thing. Bummer!

Not any good? Honestly, I have been critisizing this movie but it's not a terrible movie, merely a rather BLAND and BORING one.

Similar to many other reviewers on Imdb, I also had many flashbacks of the brilliant movie called "The Zodiac" (2007). Go watch THAT movie instead of this formula failed COPYCAT flick! "The Zodiac" (2007) is HIGHLY recommended by me and by many other true fans of this genre!

The acting is fine and the cinematography is purposely dark and moody. It works. As long as you do not go into this like it's a history book or a documentary you will be fine. Much of what they portray is true. If you use Wikipedia on any of the characters you will learn more. Understand that at the beginning of the film they say it is "inspired" by a true story. Do you realize that just by using that statement they can completely create another narrative. I mean, it's just inspired right? I'll give you an example...it was long thought that Albert DeSalvo was the THE Boston Strangler. History has since showed a more plausible explanation. I won't get into that..the example is one they used to create mystery and drama. Reporter Loretta McLaughlin was set to go interview DeSalvo in prison. The night before McLaughlin was set to go DeSalvo is stabbed in prison. DeSalvo WAS stabbed in prison...in 1973 over drug dealing, not in the 60s and not to shut him up. So, the acting is very good, the moody camerawork works, some of the storyline is true and much of it is bologna.

Call me old fashioned but when a movie has the title "Boston Strangler" then I'm kind of expecting a good chunk of the movie to centre around, you know, the murders.

What we have instead is a story about predominantly a woman struggling to get recognition in a world that is trying to keep women down.

Now if we remove that aspect then what you're left with is a reporter trying to solve a crime and finding roadblocks constantly, negativity from loved ones and support from another reporter who seems to be more respected.

If that sounds at all familiar then maybe you've seen David Finchers "Zodiac". Which frankly is a far batter movie than this.

I can't recommend this movie becy honestly it just didn't grab my attention enough.