Conversations with a Killer: The John Wayne Gacy Tapes
Updated: Nov 23, 2022
(available on Netflix)
Warning: Disturbing images and details of crimes against children
FTC Rating: 3 out of 5
John Wayne Gacy was a moderately successful businessman, often seen volunteering dressed as a clown, and rubbing elbows with Chicago’s elite. This façade successfully hid a predator until 1978 when police discovered the horrors buried below Gacy’s modest home.
This three-part docuseries focuses on the investigation and trial of the notorious “Killer Clown”, including audio recordings of Gacy captured by his defence team.
Strengths:
- A plethora of historical photos and footage
- Details of the investigation and surveillance which finally led to John Gacy’s arrest
- Reveals Gacy’s modus operandi
- The reactions of police officers during the excavation process
Weaknesses:
- The Waterloo section of episode one is extremely problematic. In this episode of the docuseries, the interviews/structure often conflate Gacy’s crimes with homosexuality, which may or may not be intentional. It should have been made crystal clear that John Gacy was a rapist, a pedophile, and a murderer, irregardless of his sexual orientation.
- The quick cut scenes. These are in a similar style to those included in “Conversations with a Killer: The Ted Bundy Tapes” (see FTC review/recommendation). The inclusion of these images has a fetishizing effect which is highly inappropriate given the subject matter.
Final Thought:
- It is valid to ask if there is any probative value in the presented tapes. The docuseries made it clear that Gacy was a liar that routinely bent the truth to inflate his importance and serve his nefarious agenda. Perhaps listening to the tapes through this filter is telling…
Picture source: Netflix
