"Deadly" - The Karla Homolka/Paul Bernardo story.

nelison · Post by **nelison** » 11/5/2004, 2:48 pm

http://www.thestar.com/NASApp/cs/ContentServer?pagename=thestar/Layout/Article_Type1&c=Article&cid=1099609815882&call_pageid=968332188492&col=968793972154

I am greatly disturbed by this. The girls who were killed and raped by Barnardo and Homolka lived around the corner from me, and were both abducted within a block of my home. It was a scary time to live in St Catharines Ontario. We weren't allowed to go outside of our houses (I was 6 at the time and we lived in an apartment with a large park in the back) and police were circling the neighbourhoods constantly.

I remember being deeply affected by this when I was little, and the fact that it is being reproduced into a movie makes me feel like shit. I can only imagine what the parents of the girls are going through.

I urge you all to boycott the movie when it comes out. No one should be making money from such a horrible story.

nikki4982 · Post by **nikki4982** » 11/5/2004, 2:57 pm

You need to login for that link... but yeah, I won't go see it. I don't understand how actual stories like this get turned into movies and such. It's just not right.

megxyz128 · Post by **megxyz128** » 11/5/2004, 3:04 pm

nelison · Post by **nelison** » 11/5/2004, 3:23 pm

Bernardo film set for spring release
Producer says it's not 'exploitative'
Families fear 'further violation'

LINDA DIEBEL
STAFF REPORTER

It had to happen. Hollywood has gotten its hands on the notorious story of Paul Bernardo and Karla Homolka.

A film called Deadly, will be out next April, just three months before Homolka is released from a Quebec maximum security prison.

The film's producer is an ex-CIA agent, the starlet playing Homolka comes from That 70s Show, and the City of Angels is playing Toronto.

It's the last thing the families of the victims wanted to happen.

When convicted sex killer Bernardo lost his appeal for a new trial four years ago, the families rejoiced. They knew they would have to deal with the eventual release of his ex-wife Karla Homolka, but his story, at least, was done. They wouldn't have to live through another chapter examining the grisly fates of their murdered daughters, Kristen French and Leslie Mahaffy.

"Their greatest nightmare has been averted,'' Tim Danson, lawyer for the families, told the Ontario Court of Appeal. But the public nightmare might not be over.

Hollywood has taken on the next chapter of the Bernardo-Homolka story, and the French and Mahaffy families are bracing for the worst.

Los Angeles-based Quantum Entertainment describes Deadly as "the incredible true story of Canada's most lethal couple."

"This is really disturbing," Danson said last night from his Toronto office. "Our greatest fear is that the film will constitute a further violation of Kristen French and Leslie Mahaffy and their families."

Not so, producer Michael Sellers said from Los Angeles.

"This is not in any way an exploitative movie. That has not been our approach, but it is a story that should be told. In true-crime circles, it is one of the 10 most famous cases" of the times.

A poster for the film shows a warm and fuzzy wedding portrait of the couple, before the crimes and before Homolka turned into the crown's star witness, plea-bargaining her way to a 12-year sentence on two counts of manslaughter, while Bernardo was convicted of first-degree murder and got life.

Videotapes of the crimes, taken by the couple themselves and showing Homolka's true participation, were not released until after her sentencing. Bernardo failed to convince the Ontario Court of Appeal of his ex-wife's role.

Danson said he was notified last March by Ontario officials that a Hollywood production company had successfully sought transcripts of Bernardo's first trial and other documents.

"The attorney-general's office wanted to give us a heads-up. Everybody has been extremely sensitive," he said. "The families were very disturbed when I told them but they felt powerless to do anything about it. ... I guess we were all hoping it would go away."

But Hollywood, it appears, can do what Toronto filmmaker Peter Simpson couldn't. He bought the rights in 1994 to Invisible Darkness, one of two books written about the case by Canadian writer Stephen Williams.

A public outcry ensued. Politicians recoiled in horror, with former NDP MPP Howard Hampton, now party leader, berating Simpson for attempting to "reap revenue'' from tragedy. Simpson eventually threw up his hands over the hassle and negative publicity, and the movie was never made.

Danson even won an order to have the Ontario attorney-general's office burn the Bernardo-Homolka videos, as well as autopsy photos and other evidence, in a precedent-setting move.

Author Williams has been involved in a long battle with the Ontario justice system. He faces charges over material printed in Karla: A Pact with the Devil, including the charge that he published banned material.

He said last night he didn't know anything about the movie, but added: "I hope they do something to take the material in another dimension." He is critical of the way police and the crown handled the case, saying that, by making a deal with Homolka, "they gave her a future."

So far, there's only Internet buzz about the movie. Among cast members are Laura Prepon, Donna on That 70s Show, as Homolka, and Misha Collins as Bernardo, directed by Joel Bender.

The film was written through court transcripts and other evidence in the public domain, according to Sellers. "We got most of our facts through Karla and her testimony, although we were very careful to include the counter-arguments that she was the one who really killed Kristen French and Leslie Mahaffy.

"I would say it is balanced.''

The film, now in post-production, was shot for less than $5 million (U.S.), with the San Fernando Valley, Beverly Hills and downtown Los Angeles doubling for Ontario locations.

"There's a switch,'' said Sellers, an ex-CIA agent who was expelled as a spy from the Soviet Union in the mid-1980s and got his start in the movie business in the Philippines. He made Fortunes of War, with Martin Sheen and Haing S. Ngor, as well as Vlad, with Billy Zane.

Manette Rosen, a writer who researched the film in Toronto last spring, said she met with police involved in the case at headquarters, as well as a crown attorney whose name she couldn't remember offhand.

She said officials involved in the case were extremely helpful.

Danson said he wants to see the movie. His next move, he said, will be to start making calls to Los Angeles.

happening fish · Post by **happening fish** » 11/5/2004, 4:27 pm

Yeah, Leslie Mahaffy's body was dumped up the road from my house in the forest there. I fucking hate Hollywood.

You know what I hate even more? That crazy fucking homicidal psychobitch Homolka getting out because she played the lawyers like a fucking violin. She was most certainly the real sick mastermind behind this - Bernardo was the twisted lackey. Oh god, I still remember the self-satisfied little smirk on her face as she left the courtroom... it makes me want to vomit.

Dr. Hobo · Post by **Dr. Hobo** » 11/5/2004, 4:41 pm

they both are in kingston right now

happening fish · Post by **happening fish** » 11/5/2004, 5:22 pm

Aye, but not for long.

nelison · Post by **nelison** » 11/5/2004, 5:46 pm

Well Paul will be there for life thankfully. Karla won't last long on the outside. I don't know how the hell she would show her face in public without getting it kicked in.

happening fish · Post by **happening fish** » 11/5/2004, 5:54 pm

It is very easy to alter ones appearance, Jim. Especially if you're a woman.

Chop off the hair, dye it brown, change the clothing... and they don't even have to tell anyone where she's living. Pray she doesn't move in next to YOU.

nelison · Post by **nelison** » 11/5/2004, 6:26 pm

True, but eventually word gets out where she is unless they ask she moves to some remote area in the territories. You would be surprised just how many people want her dead, and think that if it wasn't Canada she would have received the death penalty.

I just know that if I were her I'd be worried about what will happen when released from prison.

happening fish · Post by **happening fish** » 11/5/2004, 9:17 pm

I somehow don't think she's worried. That cruel, psychopathic, megalomaniacal arrogance... brrrr.

Rusty · Post by **Rusty** » 11/5/2004, 10:36 pm

happeningfish wrote:It is very easy to alter ones appearance, Jim. Especially if you're a woman.

Chop off the hair, dye it brown, change the clothing... and they don't even have to tell anyone where she's living. Pray she doesn't move in next to YOU.

I think you mean SHE better pray she doesn't move in next to ME. No matter where she goes, someone is going to recognize her and kill her. She would have been safer in jail.

starseed_10 · Post by **starseed_10** » 11/6/2004, 9:39 am

you're kidding yourself man.

Joey · Post by **Joey** » 11/6/2004, 11:23 am

i also lived near where this happened but i'm curious to see the movie ..

Rusty · Post by **Rusty** » 11/6/2004, 5:10 pm

starseed_10 wrote:you're kidding yourself man.

Not even, my mom would probably kill her or anyone on my street probably, their is a lot of little kids living here and nobody would want her around them.

Johnny · Post by **Johnny** » 11/6/2004, 5:26 pm

Then your mom would be no better that her

Axtech · Post by **Axtech** » 11/6/2004, 5:27 pm

Exaggerate much?

EDIT: That was to Rusty, not Johnny.

Rusty · Post by **Rusty** » 11/6/2004, 5:29 pm

Axtech wrote:Exaggerate much?

EDIT: That was to Rusty, not Johnny.

Only a wee bit.

Joey · Post by **Joey** » 11/6/2004, 5:29 pm

it's so easy for her to hide .. all she has to do is go to someplace like newfoundland for example where nobody will know her .. this story is old and hasn't been in the news for ages and it's SO easy to change your looks .. different hair color, different hair style, maybe add some glasses and voila, completely different person .. i mean this happened what like 10-11 years ago? nobody from out of ontario will probably even remember this or possibly never heard about it to begin with.

Axtech · Post by **Axtech** » 11/6/2004, 5:33 pm

Hell, most people wouldn't recognize her today (in and out of Ontario) without any changes, if it wasn't for the publicity from this damn movie. The name, sure, but I doubt people would know her by face.

That having been said, in her position, I'd definately make some changes.