THE HONEYMOON KILLERS is a cult film, to be sure. One of those forgotten gems just begging for higher recognition (like SPIDER BABY and DON'T LOOK IN THE BASEMENT!), the film is a realistic portrayal of the true-life murderers who preyed on Lonelyhearts column readers.
Shirley Stoler and Tony LoBianco play the two lovers, Martha and Raymond, who meet through a Lonelyhearts column. When Martha discovers that Raymond is a gigolo who planned on using her for her money, she ditches her job as a nurse, plants her mother in a rest home, and takes off to live with him, becoming his partner in crime. The two genuinely love each other, much like a modern-day Bonnie and Clyde...except Clyde has a heavy Latino accent and Bonnie weighs upwards of 200 pounds! The couple, using aliases, pose as brother and sister as Raymond marries women and Martha steals their valuables. Eventually, Martha's jealousy over Raymond's many women drives her to murder most foul.
Many have compared THE HONEYMOON KILLERS to HENRY: PORTRAIT OF A SERIAL KILLER and BONNIE AND CLYDE. I can safely say that it beats BONNIE AND CLYDE into the ground and gives HENRY a run for its money. Shirley Stoler is absolutely fantastic and deserved much more fame and many more roles than she received. Tony LoBianco is pretty good, too, but is less memorable. In HONEYMOON KILLERS, Martha is in charge of the situation. She is the one who commits the murders, she is the one who bosses Raymond around, she is the one who controls Raymond's choices, and she is eventually the one who gets sentenced to death with her man.
Filmed in lush black and white on grainy film stock and featuring a classical music/public domain soundtrack, THE HONEYMOON KILLERS really does pack a punch today with its cheap documentary-like feel. It would make a perfect double bill with NIGHT OF THE LIVING DEAD! Though a little slow to begin with, HONEYMOON KILLERS eventually leaves its soap opera beginnings and delves into the deep, dark side of human nature. It is fascinating to view Martha at the start of the film and witness her drastic change to homicidal maniac. Absolutely essential viewing for any film fan!
Shirley Stoler and Tony LoBianco play the two lovers, Martha and Raymond, who meet through a Lonelyhearts column. When Martha discovers that Raymond is a gigolo who planned on using her for her money, she ditches her job as a nurse, plants her mother in a rest home, and takes off to live with him, becoming his partner in crime. The two genuinely love each other, much like a modern-day Bonnie and Clyde...except Clyde has a heavy Latino accent and Bonnie weighs upwards of 200 pounds! The couple, using aliases, pose as brother and sister as Raymond marries women and Martha steals their valuables. Eventually, Martha's jealousy over Raymond's many women drives her to murder most foul.
Many have compared THE HONEYMOON KILLERS to HENRY: PORTRAIT OF A SERIAL KILLER and BONNIE AND CLYDE. I can safely say that it beats BONNIE AND CLYDE into the ground and gives HENRY a run for its money. Shirley Stoler is absolutely fantastic and deserved much more fame and many more roles than she received. Tony LoBianco is pretty good, too, but is less memorable. In HONEYMOON KILLERS, Martha is in charge of the situation. She is the one who commits the murders, she is the one who bosses Raymond around, she is the one who controls Raymond's choices, and she is eventually the one who gets sentenced to death with her man.
Filmed in lush black and white on grainy film stock and featuring a classical music/public domain soundtrack, THE HONEYMOON KILLERS really does pack a punch today with its cheap documentary-like feel. It would make a perfect double bill with NIGHT OF THE LIVING DEAD! Though a little slow to begin with, HONEYMOON KILLERS eventually leaves its soap opera beginnings and delves into the deep, dark side of human nature. It is fascinating to view Martha at the start of the film and witness her drastic change to homicidal maniac. Absolutely essential viewing for any film fan!