Featuring
the voices of Imogen Poots & Daniel Bruhl. Directed by Marcus
Vetter & Karin Steinberger. (2016/124 min).
Jens
Soring and Elizabeth Haysom are currently serving life sentences for
the brutal murders of Haysom's parents. Tried and sentenced
separately, their court appearances are
somewhat noteworthy today as being the first which were publicly
televised.
The
story goes that Elizabeth hated her parents so much she wanted them dead. She meets Jens in college, who falls so head-over-heels in love with her that he's happy to oblige. Both of their stories change significantly before, during
and after the trials. Speaking from prison 30 years later, Jens candidly
claims he was simply a lovesick rube duped by Elizabeth into taking
the fall, when if fact it was she and someone else who committed the
murders.
Killing
for Love is a documentary that looks back at this sensational case through old trial footage, interviews with people involved and written correspondence between Elizabeth & Jens
(voiced by Imogen Poots & Daniel Bruhl). Though Elizabeth
declined to be interviewed, Jens is more-than-willing. He doesn't paint
himself as a saint, but still maintains his innocence.
 |
| Jens' real crime? That haircut. |
Though
both sides of the case are presented, the film leans
toward the notion that Jens may have unwittingly been a patsy and Elizabeth herself committed the actual murders
(perhaps you shoulda showed up to defend yourself, huh, lady?).
Killing for Love is an interesting-if-overlong film that
treads similar ground to various murder docs typically shown on cable
TV, though hearing the tale from Jens himself (who does appear
remorseful) raises this a bit above the usual academic account of
horrific events. The admission that he threw away his entire life for
a woman is the most compelling part of the film.
Whether
or not we believe Jens, he makes Killing for Love is worth
checking out, but probably only once. Though never lurid or
sensationalistic, the film is sometimes pretty disturbing, and not
just the frequent images of the crime scene (which are graphic). Bruhl’s readings of Jens’ letters are creepy as hell.
EXTRA
KIBBLES
ALTERNATE
INTERVIEWS
TRAILER
KITTY CONSENSUS:
NOT BAD...LIKE CAT CHOW.
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