It also says the R-rated version on my DVD is 96 minutes long. Over on imdb and on dvdpricesearch.com it says the uncut/unrated version of Hillside Strangler is ALSO 96 minutes in length.

So what gives? Is the uncut movie really 96 minutes long? Or is my disc labelled rated R but it's actually the uncut version?

HELP!

:blink:

since this is a tV mocie, wouldnt the R rated version be the oversea theatrical cut, while the unrated one be the Tv cut?

Why would they put an MPAA rating on the overseas theatrical cut?

I have the unrated disc of THE HILLSIDE STRANGLER, I will check it out later today and tell you the exact running time to the second.

I do not believe THE HILLSIDE STRANGLER to be a TV movie, if it was they most have shot an entirely different film to the one I've seen! It was co-produced by Tartan Films, a British distribution company who ventured into film production with their true-life serial killer trilogy (the other two being ED GEIN and Matthew Bright's TED BUNDY). I understand Tartan are now set up in the US too, releasing THE HILLSIDE STRANLGER themselves as well as handling some of Park Chan-wook's films (SYMPATHY FOR MR VENGENACE and OLDBOY), Catherine Breillat's latest work.

Tartan's founder, Hamish McAlpine, is the chap who got into a scrape with Larry Clark while in negotiations to release KEN PARK in the UK. You have to respect a company that releases both the works of Bergman and HG Lewis!

Director in Flight with Distributor at London Film Fest

The UK version is 97m 57s per the BBFC website. It carries an "18" certificate with a "strong sexualised violence" advisory warning. This is certainly not a movie made for commerical US TV (but what about HBO ?).

HBO or no other US station (TV, cable or otherwise) that I know are mentioned anywhere in the credits but then I don't live in America so perhaps I'm wrong.

I was fortunate enough to see THE HILLSIDE STRANGLER at a theatrical screening at a horror film festival a few months ago. After some awful comedy horrors like CLUB DREAD and DEAD AND BREAKFAST (both of which had the audience howling with laughter...WHY!), THE HILLSIDE STRANGLER came on and shocked everyone into silence, and even offended a few people seated in front of me who left the screening midway through. A disturbing film, worth seeing, but I also liked TED BUNDY which many people disliked so be warned!

Don't know if the other one was a TV movie or not, but I think the confusion here might stem from the fact that there are two movies about the subject, both of which are calling themselves "The Hillside Strangler", and they were both made this year.

I saw the Tartan one myself at a film festival a few months ago and it certainly doesn't leave much to the imagination in terms of the crimes the guys committed. Twenty years ago this would very definitely have been a "video nasty" here in the UK.

I checked my unrated American DVD, the correct running time is the same as what Tim reported: 97 minutes 57 seconds.

OOPS, thought you were talking about one of those MOTW fromt he 80's!

Thanks for your post, Chris.

This helps me out a lot. I need to find a rental store that carries the unrated edition now.

Cheers!