Gosnell - a riveting film
- Virgil Lassiter
- Oct 22, 2018
- 3 min read
With great apprehension I ventured out on the cold and windy fall weekend to go to the movies. Now, I have to admit that I am not a movie goer. It is something that is about once a year, if that. What drew me to the theatre was Gosnell, The Trial of America's Biggest Serial Killer.
I felt obligated to go since I was one of the first investors in the Indiegogo campaign to fund the production of a movie that Hollywood had snubbed.
If you recall the case, Dr. Kermit Gosnell a Philadelphia abortionist was indicted, arrested and ultimately convicted of killing late term, viable, live babies and is now serving life in prison.
I was a bit unsettled as I watch the innumerable trailers promoting films coming to the big screen soon. As the GVN production company logo filled the screen I took a deep breath and sat back hoping that the film was at least a quality production and not a political rant.
I had heard myself tell my wife on the way to the theatre. "Don't worry it is a crime story of the actual investigation and trial. I am sure it won't be gruesome." I think I was talking to myself as well.
With great relief the story followed actual investigative, prosecutorial and legal developments of the case. Not only was the movie well shot, well acted and directed, but it was careful to remain true to events. Clearly, the movie shows the underbelly of the abortion industry and a doctor who by all rights should not have been practicing anything.
Originally working an unlawful drug case centered around illicit prescriptions it is Dean Cain in the role of Detective James Woods that is the driving force prompting a homicide investigation based on what was exposed in the search for drugs in the clinic. Refrigerators filled with baby body parts, glass jars with the feet of aborted babies. The death of Karnamaya Mongar a 41 year old immigrant who died because of the abject indifference of Dr. Gosnell that allowed her condition to deteriorate for hours before sending her to the hospital where she died was the impetus to bring a homicide case. It was the detective work and investigative skill that lead to and developed the case for baby killings and late term abortions.
Detailed were the abhorrent conditions inside the clinic, the unlicensed and untrained staff who tended to the patients even going as far as preforming abortions in the Gosnell's absence. The search of his home revealed conditions that mirrored the squalor in the clinic. One dramatic scene has ADA Lexy Mc Guire, played by Sarah Jane Morris and Detective Stark, played by Alonzo Rachel searching the basement of the Gosnell house wearing yellow hazmat suits where they encounter the corpse of a dead cat and are immediately visited by an army of fleas creeping up the legs of the suits. So deplorable were the conditions that they encountered throughout the investigation.
The courtroom scenes were riveting. The image of the empty benches that had been reserved for the press was very telling. Testimony of Dr. North, a practicing abortionist was very disturbing as she explained in detail the process of abortion. Also, telling and verbally gruesome.
The atmosphere in the theatre was one of quiet anticipation. Any moment a horrible graphic image would be used to grad the audience, but it never came. The closest dramatic was when Dr. Gosnell commented "This baby is so big he could walk me around." just before he took scissors in his hands. Thankfully the screen went black at moment one perceived he "snipped" the neck of the baby.
As a movie the film was a professional production from start to finish. Quality direction, cinematography, solid acting performances and some really creative visual treatments moved the story along. Never once was I questioning what or how events were presented. Not once did I find it to drag or present irrelevant dialogue for dramatic affect.
Even the closing credits of the film are accompanied with actual crime scene photos, comments and text.
No one left the theatre until the final screen went to black. The procession of movie goers leaving were silent and processing what they had just seen.