Doc on “Grim Sleeper,” 25-Year Serial Killer Who Targeted Black Women, Now on HBO

Updated 05/01/2015

‘Tales of the Grim Sleeper’ (2014)

Los Angeles’ infamous serial killer Lonnie Franklin, Jr. is at the center of Nick Broomfield ‘s latest documentary, Tales of the Grim Sleeper , has debuted on HBO.

In 2007, the residents of South Los Angeles, California learned that Mayor Antonio Villaraigosa and Police Chief William J. Bratton had been silent regarding an active serial killer, whose victims were black women and girls.

Earning the title of “Grim Sleeper” for a supposed break in killings between 1988 and 2002, Franklin’s reign of terror began as far back as 1985 and wouldn’t fully end until 2010, when he was finally arrested.

Charged with 10 murders and one attempted murder, he is also implicated in the deaths of at least six more women — two killed during the 14-year lapse. Women and girls from 180 photographs in Franklin’s collection remain unidentified .

Despite several frustrating delays, jury selection for Franklin’s upcoming trial is scheduled for June 30, 2015 .

Tales of the Grim Sleeper will feature interviews with Franklin’s friends and family, as well as the families of his victims, as it questions the racial politics that allowed the 25-year killing spree to carry on.

The film screened at Telluride Film Festival 2014, Toronto International Film Festival 2014, Zurich Film Festival 2014, New York Film Festival 2014, AFI Fest 2014, CPH:DOX 2014, DOC NYC 2014, International Documentary Film Festival Amsterdam (IDFA) 2014, the Museum of Modern Art, the Contenders Series 2014 , and Palm Springs International Film Festival 2015 .

Check out the trailer below and watch the film at hbo.com .

[via shadowandact ]

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