Gacy (2003)

17% of critics liked it
(6 reviews)
27% of users liked it
(3,899 ratings)

For those who don't know the name and legacy of John Wayne Gacy, the movie is based on the true story of one of the nation's most prolific serial killers (33 murder convictions). Gacy depicts the methods upstanding citizen and neighborhood party clown Gacy (Mark Holton) used to seduce young men,… More For those who don't know the name and legacy of John Wayne Gacy, the movie is based on the true story of one of the nation's most prolific serial killers (33 murder convictions). Gacy depicts the methods upstanding citizen and neighborhood party clown Gacy (Mark Holton) used to seduce young men, slaughter them and then hide their bodies in the crawl space under the house he shared with his wife (Joleen Lutz) and children. ~ Buzz McClain, Rovi

Rating, Runtime: R, 1 hr. 29 min.
Directed By: Clive Saunders
Genres: Drama, Horror, Mystery & Suspense

In Theaters: Jan 1, 2003 Wide
On DVD: May 13, 2003

Critic Reviews

Stefan Birgir Stefansson, sbs.is
i'm pretty sure Gacy's life wasn't this boring
Steve Crum, Video-Reviewmaster.com
Was this movie really necessary? Sickoid film content is far from entertaining.
Martin Scribbs, Low IQ Canadian
Gacy channels its horror through bicentennial suburban kitsch, clowns-in-the-closet visuals, and a heaving, foul, maggot-carpeted crawlspace deep with death and lies.
David Nusair, Reel Film Reviews
We barely learn a thing about [Gacy], other than the fact that his father abused him and he hates his wife.
Chuck Wilson, L.A. Weekly
In this unenlightening, dramatized account of Gacy's crime spree, first-time writer-director Clive Saunders, working with television writer David Birke, displays little genuine interest in why Gacy killed.

Critic ratings and reviews powered by RottenTomatoes.com

Fresh (60% or more critics rated the movie positively)

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Featured Audience Ratings

Cassandra M

John wayne Gacy a real life serial killer, now a horror movie. I liked this movie, but beware it is kind of a slow moving movie.Based on a true story of a serial killer, model citizen,loving father and husband. serial killer John Wayne Gacy, a man with over 30 dead men and boys… More
John wayne Gacy a real life serial killer, now a horror movie. I liked this movie, but beware it is kind of a slow moving movie.Based on a true story of a serial killer, model citizen,loving father and husband. serial killer John Wayne Gacy, a man with over 30 dead men and boys entombed in the crawl space underneath his house which he shared with his family.Mark Holton Does a Great acting job as Gacy.If you like serial killer movies and like to peer into their lives -then you might like this movie.
Lady D

A made for tv version of the story based on the real life Serial Killer John Wayne Gacy and as a result it's not a particularly well acted piece. It's a no thrills, straight forward telling of the horrific murders, but it at least tells the events of the remorseless Man.
Wahida K

The Movies based upon true stories and serial killers are the creepy ones.
_kelly .

Watched this after watching the A&E Biography on Gacy. Felt like the screenwriters should have also watched that as they missed out on what could have been stunningly horrifying scenes in the film. In real life, one of Gacy's intended victims and then boarder escaped; he… More
Watched this after watching the A&E Biography on Gacy. Felt like the screenwriters should have also watched that as they missed out on what could have been stunningly horrifying scenes in the film. In real life, one of Gacy's intended victims and then boarder escaped; he arrived home to find Gacy drunk and sporting his clown attire, he cuffed the young man and began taunting him in the clown voice, until Gacy suddenly snapped into a rage and began chasing and attacking the man, screaming "I'm gonna rape you!". This story was told by the man who lived it in the A&E special, which is available on Youtube if you like to see. In real life, Gacy also invited the police investigating him to dinner at his place where he served fish; the stench of rotting bodies from the crawlspace was overwhelming and enabled them to secure the search warrant ending in his arrest. Instead of recreating these precious eerie and REAL moments, the script distorts things greatly and I'm not even sure what the hell they're going for. Acting is unanimously terrible, with the lead being the only one to occasionally not suck. Very minimal on killing and violence; very scarce blood, no rape scenes, and few creepy moments from the actor playing Gacy. Some shitty shots of a few bugs crawling around attempt to add some grotesquery and movie plays with the idea that Gacy is psychologically tormented through audio montage but weakly and only for one scene towards the end. This is a big SKIP. Go for fiction or the Dahmer movie, or the penultimate real-life based serial killer flick Henry: Portrait of a Serial Killer.
Nicki M

Very poorly edited, but entertaining and horrible. What an awful man!
Nicky M

Another "real life biography" that seems to skim over the true facts to make a more entertaining movie. It does get across the sickness of this serial killer but slowly without much depth. Still... clowns!
Barry L

Nasty man but a very good film showing how the loony operated....Ive always hared clowns...