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Cast
James Woods
as Carl Panzram
Robert Sean Leonard
as Henry Lesser
Cara Buono
as Esther Lesser
Ellen Greene
as Elizabeth Wyatt
Robert John Burke
as R.G. Greiser
Lili Taylor
as Woman in Speakeasy
Seth Romatelli
as Teenaged Carl Panzram
Richard Riehle
as Warden Quince
Harold Gould
as Old Henry Lesser
John Bedford Lloyd
as Dr. Karl Menninger
Movie Info & Details
Release Year1996
Runtime1h 31m
LanguageEnglish
CertificationR
GenresDrama
Votes52
DirectorTim Metcalfe
WritersTim Metcalfe
TypeFeature Film
Rating5.8 out of 10
Cast10 credited
Also Known AsKiller: A Journal of Murder
About Killer: A Journal of Murder
Carl Panzram is sent to Leavenworth Prison for burglary. While there, he is brutally beaten by a guard. Neophyte guard Henry Lesser feels sympathy for Panzram, befriends him, and gets him to write his life story. Lesser learns that Panzram's past is much more violent than he thought, but also that he's capable of being a much better person than the rest of the prison staff believes - or so Lesser thinks.
Directed by Tim Metcalfe, Killer: A Journal of Murder leans on a strong ensemble — James Woods, Robert Sean Leonard, Cara Buono — to carry a story that balances spectacle with character.
The film landed with audiences for its craft and performances, and remains one of the most talked-about drama titles of 1996.
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