North American Premiere
Charlie Says
Spotlight Narrative
| USA | 110 MINUTES | EnglishDrama, Biography
While the impact of his brutal murders has never strayed far from the cultural ether, the 2017 death of infamous cult leader, Charles Manson, as well as the upcoming 50th anniversary of his generation-defining crimes in the Hollywood Hills, has brought the memory of their existence into sharp focus. The possible paroling 2019 of “Manson girl” Leslie van Houten provides another reason to investigate the three women who blindly followed Manson’s horrific orders and found themselves put away for life.
Charlie Says, directed by masterful filmmaker Mary Harron and written by Guinevere Turner, tells the familiar story through fresh eyes—those of Manson’s most devoted girls, van Houten (Game of Thrones’ Hannah Murray), Patricia Krenwinkel (Sosie Bacon), and Susan Atkins (Marianne Rendón). Thanks to a devoted prison educator who slowly draws the women out from years of a madman’s mesmerizing and abusive spell (Matt Smith), the women’s story is told in eerily detailed flashbacks, forcing them to reflect on the path that lead them to such unforgiveable crimes.
—Liza Domnitz
Charlie Says, directed by masterful filmmaker Mary Harron and written by Guinevere Turner, tells the familiar story through fresh eyes—those of Manson’s most devoted girls, van Houten (Game of Thrones’ Hannah Murray), Patricia Krenwinkel (Sosie Bacon), and Susan Atkins (Marianne Rendón). Thanks to a devoted prison educator who slowly draws the women out from years of a madman’s mesmerizing and abusive spell (Matt Smith), the women’s story is told in eerily detailed flashbacks, forcing them to reflect on the path that lead them to such unforgiveable crimes.
—Liza Domnitz
Cast & Credits
Directed by
Mary Harron
Mary Harron is the writer and director of films including American Psycho, The Moth Diaries, I Shot Andy Warhol, and The Notorious Bettie Page. Her television credits include episodes of The L Word, Six Feet Under, Big Love, and Oz, and, most recently, The Following (FOX), Constantine (NBC), and Graceland (USA).
Director
Mary Harron
Producer
Cindi Rice, Jeremy M. Rosen, John Frank Rosenblum, Dana Guerin
Screenwriter
Guinevere Turner
Cinematographer
Crille Forsberg
Editor
Andrew Hafitz
Composer
Keegan DeWitt
US Distributor
IFC Films
Inspired by a book written by
Karlene Faith, Ed Sanders
Cast
Hannah Murray, Sosie Bacon, Marianne Rendon, Matt Smith, Merritt Wever, Chace Crawford, Suki Waterhouse, Annabeth Gish