Dear Mr. Gacy
Encyclopedia
Dear Mr. Gacy is a 2010 Canadian drama thriller film directed by Svetozar Ristovski
, starring William Forsythe
and Jesse Moss
. The film is based on Jason Moss's memoir, The Last Victim
.
) decides to write to serial killer
s and attempt to gain their trust through impersonating a typical victim or admirer. He reasoned that gaining their trust, possibly learning more about their stated crimes or unsolved murders, was a way to distinguish himself as a job candidate.
He sends a carefully crafted letter to John Wayne Gacy
(William Forsythe
) in prison, portraying himself as a vulnerable, sexually confused boy. The film unfolds as Gacy, suspicious at first, puts Moss through intense emotional tests via letters and collect calls, and an eventual face-to-face visit in prison.
The story opens with Moss' fascination in Gacy's case as Gacy, having spent 13 years on death row
, awaits the court's decision regarding his appeal. Moss, a criminology
student, forms a plan to get inside Gacy's head, hoping to uncover new information regarding his murders and write a standout term paper on Gacy in the process.
He sends Gacy his first letter, and is at first untruthful, telling him he has no girlfriend and a bad relationship with his supposedly abusive
parents. He also states that his little brother, who is being bullied at school, sees him as a hero and would do anything for him. Gacy's first response is to send a questionnaire regarding Moss' personal and sex life. Moss, seeing an interview in which Gacy admits to engaging in sodomy
, adopts a different tack. He begins working out, taking pictures of himself posing shirtless, and portraying himself as increasingly vulnerable and lonely in his letters. He informs Gacy that he has considered hustling
or nude dancing in order to earn extra money. Gacy, beginning to open up, acts understanding and supportive in his letters, encouraging Moss to take up hustling and even giving him advice on technique and safety precautions, asking Moss to "tell me all about it...don't hold back."
Moss improvises, not wanting to lose the connection he has made with Gacy, but unwilling to go quite so far as to sell himself on the street. He pays a male prostitute to be interviewed so as to provide Gacy with the information he wants. The hustler takes him to a bar, buys him a drink and answers several of his questions before telling Moss to follow him. Standing up, Moss realizes he has been drugged. Fleeing the bar, he manages to get to his car before passing out.
The next day, Gacy calls, asking how it went. Moss tells him he was approached by a buyer who drugged him before attempting to rape
him. Enraged, Gacy offers to have the man "taken care of", and tells Moss that he is very protective of the people he is close to.
Over the next few days, Moss and Gacy correspond over the phone. Gacy sends him money, shares his beliefs on power and control, and tells Moss that he is his only friend, and that he and Moss "are more alike than you know". Gacy then encourages him to commit incest
with his brother. A visibly shaken Moss hangs up and ignores Gacy's calls for several days. When Moss finally answers Gacy's insistent nightly calls, Gacy is furious with him, warning him to "remember who I am" and even goes so far as to threaten to send people to his house.
The next few days see Moss' performance in class and his relationship with his girlfriend rapidly deteriorating. He becomes paranoid, arming himself with his father's pistol when at home, and beating up a bully who is terrorizing his brother. He refuses to go with his family to visit his grandmother and remains home alone, on edge and drinking heavily. When the doorbell rings late at night, he answers the door with the gun, only to find it is his girlfriend. They are interrupted by a call from a distraught Gacy, who tearfully informs Moss that his appeal has been turned down and he is to be executed in six days. Moss' girlfriend reacts furiously to Moss' accepting the call, as does Gacy upon hearing her voice in the background. She leaves and Gacy hangs up. Moss, on the point of losing control, goes out and rents a prostitute, taking the woman to a motel. He forces her onto her stomach, attempts to restrain her when she protests, nearly suffocating her. When she screams for help, he suddenly realizes what he is doing, and leaves, horrified with himself.
Gacy calls him again, acting sympathetic and apologetic, and invites Moss to come meet him in person before he dies. Moss, while considering this, contacts one of Gacy's victims, who escaped by jumping from a car. His harrowing story is told in a flashback where Gacy taunts, rapes and torture
s him before he escapes.
Moss ultimately accepts Gacy's invitation, travelling to the prison where they finally meet face to face. The guards, with whom Gacy has formed a friendship, photograph them together at Gacy's request, then leave them alone. They are amicable at first, eating and joking together, Gacy showing him letters and requests he has received, and also shows him his case file. Upon Moss asking him about his first murder, however, Gacy becomes hostile and aggressive, telling him how much power he has over Moss and how easy it would be to kill him. He becomes more and more physical, starting with flirtatious contact and eventually threatening to rape and kill him. Moss fights back, abusing Gacy physically and verbally before the guards pull him off. Gacy appears delighted by this, reminding him forcibly once again that they are alike.
Moss, traumatised, goes home and reunites with his concerned parents. When Gacy calls again, he tells Gacy that he was "playing him from the start", and informs him of his college thesis, mocking him for failing to figure it out. Gacy hangs up silently and prepares to die.
Moss does not watch the news report on Gacy's execution, and becomes withdrawn and reticent. Several days later, he receives a final letter from Gacy, telling him that although he was fooled by Moss' letters, it has proved to him irrevocably that they are very alike, and ends with "it's time to die now. See you on the other side, buddy".
The film ends with a real-life interview with the real Jason Moss, and shows the real photo taken of Moss and Gacy several days before the execution, stating that Moss went on to graduate and write a book on his relationship with Gacy before committing suicide
in June 2006.
in an attempt to determine if there was more to be learned if one was to impersonate their typical victims or act as an ardent admirer.
The focus of the film is Moss' interaction with John Wayne Gacy (convicted of murdering 33 young men and boys), with whom he developed the strongest relationship.
Screenwriter Kellie Madison approached Clark Peterson
, executive producer of Monster, to attempt to bring the story to life. It was during the course of their discussions with Moss, who was thrilled at the prospect of developing his novel The Last Victim
into a film, that they learned of his suicide
on June 6, 2006. After an appropriate period of time had passed, they approached Moss’ widow and ultimately were able to gain acceptance of the proposal, and Dear Mr. Gacy was developed. This is Kellie Madison’s first adaptation to the big screen. The film was shot in Vancouver, British Columbia.
Svetozar Ristovski
Svetozar Ristovski is a Macedonian film director who now resides in Canada. Largely inspired by filmmakers such as Andrei Tarkovsky, Stanley Kubrick, Federico Fellini, Robert Bresson and Michelangelo Antonioni, Ristovski developed a passion for filmmaking while living in...
, starring William Forsythe
William Forsythe (actor)
William Forsythe is an American actor, known for playing "tough guy" roles. He is also a writer, and has several short stories that are set to be published.-Early life:...
and Jesse Moss
Jesse Moss
-Life and career:Moss was born in Vancouver, British Columbia. He is best known for his roles of Jason Wise in Final Destination 3 and Quinn McKaye on Whistler, for which Moss won a Leo Award for Best Lead Performance by a Male in a Dramatic Series in 2007. Moss starred in the Dear Mr...
. The film is based on Jason Moss's memoir, The Last Victim
The Last Victim
The Last Victim: A True-Life Journey into the Mind of the Serial Killer is a non-fiction work by author Jason Moss in which he details his fascination and subsequent correspondence with several notorious American serial killers. It was published in 1999....
.
Plot
As part of his college thesis, Jason Moss (Jesse MossJesse Moss
-Life and career:Moss was born in Vancouver, British Columbia. He is best known for his roles of Jason Wise in Final Destination 3 and Quinn McKaye on Whistler, for which Moss won a Leo Award for Best Lead Performance by a Male in a Dramatic Series in 2007. Moss starred in the Dear Mr...
) decides to write to serial killer
Serial killer
A serial killer, as typically defined, is an individual who has murdered three or more people over a period of more than a month, with down time between the murders, and whose motivation for killing is usually based on psychological gratification...
s and attempt to gain their trust through impersonating a typical victim or admirer. He reasoned that gaining their trust, possibly learning more about their stated crimes or unsolved murders, was a way to distinguish himself as a job candidate.
He sends a carefully crafted letter to John Wayne Gacy
John Wayne Gacy
John Wayne Gacy, Jr. was an American serial killer, rapist and clown who sexually assaulted and murdered at least 33 teenage boys and young men between 1972 and 1978. Gacy buried 26 of his victims in the crawlspace of his home, buried three others elsewhere on his property, and discarded the...
(William Forsythe
William Forsythe (actor)
William Forsythe is an American actor, known for playing "tough guy" roles. He is also a writer, and has several short stories that are set to be published.-Early life:...
) in prison, portraying himself as a vulnerable, sexually confused boy. The film unfolds as Gacy, suspicious at first, puts Moss through intense emotional tests via letters and collect calls, and an eventual face-to-face visit in prison.
The story opens with Moss' fascination in Gacy's case as Gacy, having spent 13 years on death row
Death row
Death row signifies the place, often a section of a prison, that houses individuals awaiting execution. The term is also used figuratively to describe the state of awaiting execution , even in places where no special facility or separate unit for condemned inmates exists.After individuals are found...
, awaits the court's decision regarding his appeal. Moss, a criminology
Criminology
Criminology is the scientific study of the nature, extent, causes, and control of criminal behavior in both the individual and in society...
student, forms a plan to get inside Gacy's head, hoping to uncover new information regarding his murders and write a standout term paper on Gacy in the process.
He sends Gacy his first letter, and is at first untruthful, telling him he has no girlfriend and a bad relationship with his supposedly abusive
Child abuse
Child abuse is the physical, sexual, emotional mistreatment, or neglect of a child. In the United States, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and the Department of Children And Families define child maltreatment as any act or series of acts of commission or omission by a parent or...
parents. He also states that his little brother, who is being bullied at school, sees him as a hero and would do anything for him. Gacy's first response is to send a questionnaire regarding Moss' personal and sex life. Moss, seeing an interview in which Gacy admits to engaging in sodomy
Sodomy
Sodomy is an anal or other copulation-like act, especially between male persons or between a man and animal, and one who practices sodomy is a "sodomite"...
, adopts a different tack. He begins working out, taking pictures of himself posing shirtless, and portraying himself as increasingly vulnerable and lonely in his letters. He informs Gacy that he has considered hustling
Hustling
Hustling is the deceptive act of disguising one's skill in a sport or game with the intent of luring someone of probably lesser skill into gambling with the hustler, as a form of confidence trick...
or nude dancing in order to earn extra money. Gacy, beginning to open up, acts understanding and supportive in his letters, encouraging Moss to take up hustling and even giving him advice on technique and safety precautions, asking Moss to "tell me all about it...don't hold back."
Moss improvises, not wanting to lose the connection he has made with Gacy, but unwilling to go quite so far as to sell himself on the street. He pays a male prostitute to be interviewed so as to provide Gacy with the information he wants. The hustler takes him to a bar, buys him a drink and answers several of his questions before telling Moss to follow him. Standing up, Moss realizes he has been drugged. Fleeing the bar, he manages to get to his car before passing out.
The next day, Gacy calls, asking how it went. Moss tells him he was approached by a buyer who drugged him before attempting to rape
Rape
Rape is a type of sexual assault usually involving sexual intercourse, which is initiated by one or more persons against another person without that person's consent. The act may be carried out by physical force, coercion, abuse of authority or with a person who is incapable of valid consent. The...
him. Enraged, Gacy offers to have the man "taken care of", and tells Moss that he is very protective of the people he is close to.
Over the next few days, Moss and Gacy correspond over the phone. Gacy sends him money, shares his beliefs on power and control, and tells Moss that he is his only friend, and that he and Moss "are more alike than you know". Gacy then encourages him to commit incest
Incest
Incest is sexual intercourse between close relatives that is usually illegal in the jurisdiction where it takes place and/or is conventionally considered a taboo. The term may apply to sexual activities between: individuals of close "blood relationship"; members of the same household; step...
with his brother. A visibly shaken Moss hangs up and ignores Gacy's calls for several days. When Moss finally answers Gacy's insistent nightly calls, Gacy is furious with him, warning him to "remember who I am" and even goes so far as to threaten to send people to his house.
The next few days see Moss' performance in class and his relationship with his girlfriend rapidly deteriorating. He becomes paranoid, arming himself with his father's pistol when at home, and beating up a bully who is terrorizing his brother. He refuses to go with his family to visit his grandmother and remains home alone, on edge and drinking heavily. When the doorbell rings late at night, he answers the door with the gun, only to find it is his girlfriend. They are interrupted by a call from a distraught Gacy, who tearfully informs Moss that his appeal has been turned down and he is to be executed in six days. Moss' girlfriend reacts furiously to Moss' accepting the call, as does Gacy upon hearing her voice in the background. She leaves and Gacy hangs up. Moss, on the point of losing control, goes out and rents a prostitute, taking the woman to a motel. He forces her onto her stomach, attempts to restrain her when she protests, nearly suffocating her. When she screams for help, he suddenly realizes what he is doing, and leaves, horrified with himself.
Gacy calls him again, acting sympathetic and apologetic, and invites Moss to come meet him in person before he dies. Moss, while considering this, contacts one of Gacy's victims, who escaped by jumping from a car. His harrowing story is told in a flashback where Gacy taunts, rapes and torture
Torture
Torture is the act of inflicting severe pain as a means of punishment, revenge, forcing information or a confession, or simply as an act of cruelty. Throughout history, torture has often been used as a method of political re-education, interrogation, punishment, and coercion...
s him before he escapes.
Moss ultimately accepts Gacy's invitation, travelling to the prison where they finally meet face to face. The guards, with whom Gacy has formed a friendship, photograph them together at Gacy's request, then leave them alone. They are amicable at first, eating and joking together, Gacy showing him letters and requests he has received, and also shows him his case file. Upon Moss asking him about his first murder, however, Gacy becomes hostile and aggressive, telling him how much power he has over Moss and how easy it would be to kill him. He becomes more and more physical, starting with flirtatious contact and eventually threatening to rape and kill him. Moss fights back, abusing Gacy physically and verbally before the guards pull him off. Gacy appears delighted by this, reminding him forcibly once again that they are alike.
Moss, traumatised, goes home and reunites with his concerned parents. When Gacy calls again, he tells Gacy that he was "playing him from the start", and informs him of his college thesis, mocking him for failing to figure it out. Gacy hangs up silently and prepares to die.
Moss does not watch the news report on Gacy's execution, and becomes withdrawn and reticent. Several days later, he receives a final letter from Gacy, telling him that although he was fooled by Moss' letters, it has proved to him irrevocably that they are very alike, and ends with "it's time to die now. See you on the other side, buddy".
The film ends with a real-life interview with the real Jason Moss, and shows the real photo taken of Moss and Gacy several days before the execution, stating that Moss went on to graduate and write a book on his relationship with Gacy before committing suicide
Suicide
Suicide is the act of intentionally causing one's own death. Suicide is often committed out of despair or attributed to some underlying mental disorder, such as depression, bipolar disorder, schizophrenia, alcoholism, or drug abuse...
in June 2006.
Cast
- Jesse MossJesse Moss-Life and career:Moss was born in Vancouver, British Columbia. He is best known for his roles of Jason Wise in Final Destination 3 and Quinn McKaye on Whistler, for which Moss won a Leo Award for Best Lead Performance by a Male in a Dramatic Series in 2007. Moss starred in the Dear Mr...
as Jason Moss - William ForsytheWilliam Forsythe (actor)William Forsythe is an American actor, known for playing "tough guy" roles. He is also a writer, and has several short stories that are set to be published.-Early life:...
as John Wayne GacyJohn Wayne GacyJohn Wayne Gacy, Jr. was an American serial killer, rapist and clown who sexually assaulted and murdered at least 33 teenage boys and young men between 1972 and 1978. Gacy buried 26 of his victims in the crawlspace of his home, buried three others elsewhere on his property, and discarded the... - Emma LahanaEmma LahanaEmma Kate Lahana is a New Zealand actress and singer, known for her roles as Kira Ford on Power Rangers: Dino Thunder and Charlotte Monroe on Hellcats.-Career:...
as Alyssa - Jeffrey Bowyer-ChapmanJeffrey Bowyer-ChapmanJeffrey Bowyer-Chapman is a Canadian born film and television actor. He is best known for his work on the American television series SGU Stargate Universe, Iron Man: Armored Adventures and as an international fashion model signed with NEXT Model Management in New York City.-Early life:Born in ...
as Diego - Patrick GilmorePatrick Gilmore (actor)Patrick Gilmore is a Canadian actor best known for playing the role of Dale Volker in the science fiction series Stargate Universe. He has also been seen in other science fiction shows such as Battlestar Galactica and Eureka, as well as playing Trennan in Riese...
as Glen Phillips - Andrew AirlieAndrew AirlieAndrew Airlie is a Scottish-born Canadian actor.He has starred in television series including Breaker High and his TV credits include guest starring in popular television shows such as Monk, Smallville, Stargate SG-1 and The X-Files. He had television regular roles as Mr...
as Professor Harris - Cole HeppellCole HeppellCole Heppell is a Canadian actor.In 2006, He was nominated for a Young Artist Award of Best Performance in a Television Series - Guest Starring Young Actorfor: "The Dead Zone: Heroes & Demons-Filmography:...
as Alex Moss - Belinda MetzBelinda MetzBelinda Metz was a Canadian solo recording artist from the early to mid 1980s who has since turned to acting. She also has credits as a choreographer and songwriter.- Biography :...
as Valerie - Michaela MannMichaela MannMichaela Susan Mann is a Canadian actress, and a member of the UBCP. She currently lives in Vancouver, British Columbia.-Career:...
as Autumn - Michael KopsaMichael KopsaMichael Kopsa is a Canadian voice, film, television and stage actor, notable for his role as Char Aznable in the English dub of Mobile Suit Gundam and for his role as Commander Volcott O'Huey in Galaxy Angel. He has also provided the voice of Beast in X-Men: Evolution...
as FBI Agent - Eric KeenleysideEric KeenleysideEric Keenleyside is a Canadian actor.He lives in Tsawwassen, British Columbia, Canada, with his wife, Peg, and their two children. He was born in St. Stephen, New Brunswick and grew up in London, Ontario, and spent time in Brisbane, Australia...
as Stan - Daryl Shuttleworth as Thompson
- Brett Dier as Marcus
- Jaren Brandt-Bartlett as Mike
- Hunter Elliott as Tim Carsey
- Kai Kennedy as Bobby
Production
The film based on the real life story of Jason Moss, who as a college student attending UNLV, corresponded with five prominent serial killers on death rowDeath row
Death row signifies the place, often a section of a prison, that houses individuals awaiting execution. The term is also used figuratively to describe the state of awaiting execution , even in places where no special facility or separate unit for condemned inmates exists.After individuals are found...
in an attempt to determine if there was more to be learned if one was to impersonate their typical victims or act as an ardent admirer.
The focus of the film is Moss' interaction with John Wayne Gacy (convicted of murdering 33 young men and boys), with whom he developed the strongest relationship.
Screenwriter Kellie Madison approached Clark Peterson
Clark Peterson
Clark Peterson is an American film producer and entertainment executive.-Biography:A graduate of Stanford University, Peterson began his career working in development and production for producer Roger Corman, where he was involved in a number of independent productions...
, executive producer of Monster, to attempt to bring the story to life. It was during the course of their discussions with Moss, who was thrilled at the prospect of developing his novel The Last Victim
The Last Victim
The Last Victim: A True-Life Journey into the Mind of the Serial Killer is a non-fiction work by author Jason Moss in which he details his fascination and subsequent correspondence with several notorious American serial killers. It was published in 1999....
into a film, that they learned of his suicide
Suicide
Suicide is the act of intentionally causing one's own death. Suicide is often committed out of despair or attributed to some underlying mental disorder, such as depression, bipolar disorder, schizophrenia, alcoholism, or drug abuse...
on June 6, 2006. After an appropriate period of time had passed, they approached Moss’ widow and ultimately were able to gain acceptance of the proposal, and Dear Mr. Gacy was developed. This is Kellie Madison’s first adaptation to the big screen. The film was shot in Vancouver, British Columbia.