The Todd Killings (1971)

A shiftless psychopath (Robert F. Lyons) lives off his enabling mother (Barbara Bel Geddes). He is also popular with the high school set who think he's cool ..... so what if he's a serial killer. Directed by Barry Shear (WILD IN THE STREETS). A nasty piece of exploitation cinema all the more revolting because it's based on a true story (names have been changed for the movie), that of serial killer Charles Schmid. Joyce Carol Oates used the Schmid case as the basis for her short story WHERE ARE YOU GOING, WHERE HAVE YOU BEEN? which was turned into the movie, SMOOTH TALK (1985). With the exception of Fay Spain as the first victim's mother, there isn't a single likable character in the movie and the film's portrayal of its female characters borders on misogyny. As the serial killer, Lyons isn't charismatic enough to make us understand how he became the "Pied Piper" of the high school set. He just comes across as creepy. I don't think the film's aim was to make a suspenseful thriller but rather a portrait of a psychopath but it's a lousy movie anyway you look at it. With Gloria Grahame, Richard Thomas, Ed Asner, James Broderick, Belinda Montgomery and Holly Near.