Actress Keira Knightley has returned to the small screen. But this time, she reappears as the late journalist for Boston Record, Loretta McLaughlin, in Hulu’s new movie, Boston Stranger. The historical drama tells the story of McLaughlin as she documents the infamous serial killer, The Boston Strangler, with reporter Jean Harris (played by Carrie Coon) in 1962. McLaughlin was the first journalist to connect the murders and share the story. In 1992, she became the Editorial Page Editor for The Boston Globe. The movie began by showing viewers how differently male journalists were treated in the editorial industry as opposed to women. The men covered crime stories, while the women were assigned lifestyle topics. These centered around houseware, style, health, and product reviews.

The Boston Strangler was first introduced in 1962 after three older women were assaulted and strangled to death in Boston, Massachusetts. By 1964, the killer had taken the lives of ten other women in similar fashions. Even though the mystery was never fully solved, a man named Albert DeSalvo gave a detailed confession, almost closing the case. He was sentenced to life in prison in 1967 but escaped with two other inmates. However, he gave himself up not long after. In 1972, six years after being transferred to a different prison, DeSalvo was found stabbed to death in his cell. No one was ever charged with his death. Eventually, DNA evidence revealed that the murders were committed by more than one individual. That person or people were never identified.

I thought the movie was executed pretty well, but it wasn’t what I’d hoped for or expected. Honestly, I was pretty bored. I expected more of a 1960s version of a Criminal Minds episode. As an avid lover of thrillers and mysteries, I thought I’d see a bit more action. I wanted to be on the edge of my seat. The movie’s visuals lacked bright tones, likely to match its theme. Everything was pretty gray. Although I found the lack of action unexciting, I remembered the movie is technically a historical drama inspired by actual events. The writers likely wanted to focus on the stories of the female leads and make their stories heard.