Charles Manson Documentary & Movies Based on the Serial Killer

All of the movies in this article are either 'loosely' based on Charles Manson and his crimes or give off a Manson vibe. Some of the narratives in this list of films are the same as true-life accounts of the Manson-led killings.

His name sparks debate due to his lengthy incarceration and his cult following killers. Many of his fans believe Manson's followers committed the crimes, not him. They say he shouldn't have been jailed for life.

He died in 2017, aged 83, and whatever your thoughts on his jail time most agree he is an interesting case.

Included here are tables of information covering Charles Manson documentaries, Charles Manson-inspired films, and quotes.

Was he guilty if he didn't commit the crime himself?

“I'm nobody
I'm a tramp, a bum, a hobo
I'm a boxcar and a jug of wine
And a straight razor ...if you get too close to me”
― Charles Manson

The storyline for Wolves at the Door

Set in 1969, some friends come together to hold a farewell party. All four are systematically stalked by people who seem to have randomly chosen them to torment.

Notable Cast Members

Kate Cassidy is the only one who presented with any filmography I had seen. She has appeared in the TV series Harper's Island and Melrose Place and was featured in Nightmare on Elm Street (2010,) Taken (2008), and Black Christmas (2006.)

Director and Screenplay

John R. Leonetti has smashed out the direction for this and for some other pretty cool movies like:

• Insidious (2011).
• The Butterfly Effect 2 (2006).
• Both "Annabelle" horror movies (one in 2014 and one released in 2017).

Gary Dauberman wrote the screenplay.

What the Critics Thought

This film is described as ‘loosely’ based around the murder of Sharon Tate by cult members led by Charles Manson. Not quite loose at all, the main protagonist, Sharon (played by Kate Cassidy) and is pregnant.

The other characters in the film are also named the same as the people murdered in the original true crime back in 1969.

Critics thought that the depictions of the murders in the film mirroring the real events of the true story was distasteful and written with the wish to exploit a horrible crime. They say it shows no regard to the surviving family members of the victims.

My Rating and Review

Wolves at the Door is brutal and so is the real story. I thought it was a terrifying account of the fateful series of deaths that happened. Charles Manson was a monster and so are his followers. He epitomizes what horror is all about. The pace is on an even keel for most of the film. Through camera long shots featuring the killers in the background and other use of low angles, silhouettes, and menacing covered faces, it resulted in an intensity that lasted throughout the film.

The whole set-up is like a game of hide-and-seek except that only one group is really playing.

I often wonder what motivates people to do evil things to ordinary people. The killers picked the couple so randomly. It sends a chill down your spine. The storytelling of this movie reflects just how random it all is. The acting was particularly believable with Kate Cassidy's performance pinning it all together.

I gave 'The Wolves at the Door' 3.5 knife-wielding psycho's out of 5

Storyline for The Strangers

Kristen and James arrive at his family’s holiday house after being at a wedding. Due to the events we see in a flashback, they are not in the best of minds. Late in the night there is a knock at the door and a woman asks for Tamara and Kristen tells her she has the wrong house and the woman says;

“see you later.”

James leaves the house to buy cigarettes and while he is gone, events unfold that leave Kristin to believe someone has been in the house. They have. Not only that, the people want James and Kristin dead. It’s a game of survival from there on in.

Notable Cast Members

Due to the masked villains not saying a lot, I wasn't going to mention any of the actors unless they did something spectacular and although the part played by DollFace is surprisingly model Gemma Ward and Mike, played by Glenn Howerton who was in Crank (2006,) they are very much unknown actors apart from the lead characters by Liv Tyler and Scott Speedman and I'm sure people know of them.

Director and Screenplay

Written and directed by Bryan Bertino, although centered on the true crime story, Bertino said in an interview his true inspiration came from something that happened to him while staying in a remote location and Bryan quoted this story:

“As a kid, I lived in a house on a street in the middle of nowhere. One night, while our parents were out, somebody knocked on the front door and my little sister answered it. At the door were some people asking for somebody who didn't live there. We later found out that these people were knocking on doors on the area and, if no one was home, breaking into the houses"

My Rating and Review

This film is great, I mean it is truly scary. It’s 'terror in company' and resonates heavily with the concept that a group of people can terrorize random people for no reason just as Manson did with his followers.

This movie is disturbing at which I may point out – may make me a horror movie degenerate for having thought so highly of it. I have seen this movie multiple times. Then I remember the situational context. I made excuses for James nicking off mid-scene trying to play the hero. Their lack of ability to have a cell phone that works on hand and why they are at the remote cabin in the first place sets the perfect storms' tension.

I felt the casting was well-selected. Liv Tyler always exudes a certain innocence and Scott Speedman has that 'nice-guy' feel about him. It makes sense for him to try to fix the situation.

At times The Strangers have a purpose. As viewers, we want to know what that motivation is. A sequel (The Strangers: Prey at Night) came out in March 2018.

I give 'The Strangers' 4 dead cell phones out of 5.

The storyline for You're Next

The Davison’s are a broken family and haven’t had a get-together in a long while. Head of the family is Aubrey and Paul and it’s their wedding anniversary. They invite their children and plus ones to the estate for a dinner party as an opportunity to mend some fences and show some gratitude for their beautiful family.

A gang of animal-masked intruders appears one by one. What do they want and why are they trying to kill them?

Notable Cast Members

All of the cast listed have lengthy if not well-rounded TV and movie filmology. When looking through the cast members it looks like a reunion of V/H/S cast members.

Director

Directed by Adam Wingard, he won critical acclaim for starting a new genre called Acid Horror with his movie called Pop Skull. which has a Manson vibe going on. Adam is coincidentally involved in V/H/S too.

My Rating and Review

This movie has one of the coolest kills scenes ever, which happens when the chaos starts. I would rank it among one of the best; “whoa, I didn’t see that coming," type scenarios in a horror movie ever.

I thought, when I first watched this, it would be a generic horror film. Despite lending itself to many other slasher movies You're Next does it differently.

The characters are all well-played, thought-out nicely and generally likable. Single location horror is not new, but it is good. Some people will find this film predictable but I didn’t. Maybe you won't see the twist coming either.

I think 'You're Next' is worth 4.5 masked assassins out of 5.

Is Rob Zombie a Manson Expert?

In House of 1000 Corpses (2003) Rob Zombie references Pat Krenwinkel killing Abigail Folger. There is a sequence called "stab the bunny" which has a visual nod and script hints that refer back to Vincent Bugliosi and Curt Gentry's description of this murder in the book "Helter Skelter."

is your mind blown too?