When a filmmaker takes on a story based on the crimes committed by a real serial killer, they have to walk a fine line. If they cross that line, it can feel disrespectful to the victims… and can even seem like they’re glorifying the killer. That’s not something Devanny Pinn intends to do with her feature directorial debut a 1970s serial killer tale called Black Mass. Speaking with Rue Morgue, she revealed that Black Mass focuses on the victims rather than the killer.
Inspired by real events, Black Mass is set over a 24-hour period in Florida during the winter of 1978 when college girls were being stalked by a serial killer. Eric Pereira and Brandon Slagle wrote the screenplay. Cast members include Lew Temple (The Devil’s Rejects), Jeremy London (Mallrats), Lisa Wilcox (A Nightmare on Elm Street 4: The Dream Master), Michelle Romano (Escape From Ensenada), Kathleen Kinmont (Halloween 4: The Return of Michael Myers), Eva Hamilton (Mutilator 2), Chelsea Gilson (The Wrong Cheer Captain), Jenny Wenger (Battle for Saipan), Eileen Dietz (The Exorcist), Andrew Sykes (Suburbicon), Jennifer Lynn Warren (American Horror Story), and Susan Lanier (Wes Craven’s The Hills Have Eyes).
Pinn told Rue Morgue, “Black Mass aims to tell a famous serial killer’s story from a perspective that has not yet been done – by spending a day with the victims. The media has played a significant role in giving murderers publicity and lending celebrity, even at times a ‘cool factor,’ to their persona. I feel it’s time to change that narrative. It’s time to shift the public’s focus to the people whose lives were prematurely taken from them and I saw Black Mass as an opportunity to approach that cinematically.“
Romano added, “It was important to both of us to honor these women as the beautiful people that they were; filled with hope and love… and life. They were real people, not just victims.“
And Nicklin said, “It was very important to me to capture the essence of the person my character is based on. I want the audience to feel her warmth and light, and how brightly she shined so that they can understand how devastating and truly evil the events that happened to her were.“
Black Mass is being produced by Pinn’s Jaguar Motion Pictures and Roman Media for Cleopatra Entertainment. Slagle serves as executive producer alongside Brian Perera, Yvonne Perera, Gigi Jankowski, and Miranda Mariposa. Romano and Tim Yasui are co-producers, and Lanier is an associate producer, as is Anjanette Miller.
Cleopatra Entertainment will be releasing Black Mass in the US. The project is being presented to potential international distributors at the Cannes Film Market.
It definitely sounds to me like Pinn approached Black Mass with the right mindset, and I look forward to seeing how it has turned out. Does this movie sound interesting to you? Let us know by leaving a comment below.
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