Helter Skelter (2004)

This second made for TV adaptation attempt approaches the film with a much more cinematic style over the documentary approach of the earlier film. It rearranges the events in the novel chronologically as they occurred rather than by the order in which the evidence was discovered by police, as in the original film. Some of the dialogue has been specifically fabricated to promote the Helter Skelter theory prevalent in the novel as well. The film feels much more violent than it really is thanks to creative editing during the scenes of extreme violence and deploying techniques like color negativity to maximize impact but reduce visible gore. Davies plays the most convincing Manson to date, having extensively studied and recreated Manson's speech patterns and mannerisms. Overall, the film is an excellent interpretation of the devastating events of the murders, with solid acting lending credibility to the realism of the Family.

Rating: 8/10.