See No Evil: The Moors Murders [DVD]

I remember watching the original showing of this dramatization back in May 2006, when it was released to coincide with the 40th anniversary of Brady and Hindley's convictions. It would have been natural for the storyline to have concentrated on the actual killing spree right from the very first murder, but it was a clever move to portray the story from the view of Hindley's sister and brother-in-law, who were totally unaware of what had happened until her brother-in-law witnessed the final murder.The portrayal of all the major characters was outstanding and appeared to closely resemble the people that Ian Brady, Myra Hindley, Maureen Smith and David Smith were back in the mid 1960s - from Ian Brady's psychotic tendencies and unusual obsessions, to a few sharp comments from Myra Hindley, to David Smith clearly being easy led and manipulated by an older man (Brady) who clearly exploited him and wanted to appeal to him as being "different" - particularly after the sudden death of his baby daughter.I did, however, notice a few differences between the DVD release and the original showing on TV.The music at the very beginning of the two versions is different - although I can't recall the artist or title of either song.In the TV showing, the four main characters are out in Hindley's car (a miniature pickup truck) when they stop at some temporary traffic lights, and Brady suddenly hurls a bottle of wine over the car which is revving up behind them. This scene is not included in the DVD version.In the DVD version, when David and Maureen Smith are taken in for questioning after Brady and Hindley have both been arrested, an unfamiliar-sounding performance by a church choir is playing on the tape recorder as the audio tape reaches its end. In the original TV showing, the tune is the Little Drummer Boy by the Ray Conniff singers - the same tune which featured on the real life tape recording of the attack on Lesley Ann Downey before she was murdered.The settings were very realistic. The Victorian terraces in Gorton where the characters were still living at the start of the story could have come straight out of a slum area ready for demolition in the mid 1960s. The new council estate at Hattersley where the characters were rehoused could have passed as a new 1960s council estate without all the modern alterations which most houses of that age now have (eg UPVC windows or the front gardens tarmacked over). The presence of cars which would have been a familiar sight on the road at the time made it appear even more true to the real events.An excellent showing, although I do wish that the minor alterations from the TV showing hadn't been made for the DVD.

I find it almost impossible to fault this film, which I missed on TV and have only just seen in this DVD version, in any way.To one's relief, it makes no attempt to depict the Moors murders themselves - only to tell the terrible story and, as far as possible, to describe and explain the murderers and other people they involved in their crimes..The central figures in this version are the teenage David Smith, principal - indeed, ONLY - witness for the prosecution, who having been tricked into witnessing one of Brady and Hindley's murders and having immediately (and VERY bravely) reported it to the police was subsequently accused of participating in it, and his luckless wife, Myra Hindley's younger sister Maureen.These two, at the time aged respectively seventeen and nineteen and awaiting the imminent birth of a second child (having lost their first) though exonerated on trial were subjected to unbelievable, and completely unjustified, public vilification for many years. Their marriage was broken up, their lives in many respects were ruined and both of them died much younger than they should have - Maureen in her thirties, David last year at the age of only sixty-four.I recently read (another purchase from Amazon) David's autobiography "Evil Relations" from which I was glad to learn that, at last happily married for a second time, he finally found a peaceful life in the Irish Republic. Perhaps this very fair television account may have contributed to that well-deserved peace and if so, one can only be thankful.A superb film, a wonderful script, magnificent casting and acting, Lancashire speech patterns perfect - a faultless depiction in both vision and sound of the world around Hyde, Cheshire some fifty years ago - as I know, having lived there at the time.If I could give this film more than five stars, I would do so.

Shocking true story. Maxine Peak is outstanding as ever.

I bought this because I like Maxine Peake - but was not at all sure that I really wanted to watch it. I am so glad that I did. Congratulations to Maxine Peake and Sean Harris for an incredible performances. I cannot imagine anyone wanting to taking on the roles of such despicable people as Myra Hindley and Ian Brady - but MP and SH did it and did it really well. The make up was brilliant and it was quite scary to see how they made Maxine actually look so much like Hindley.The film is chilling because it is real but, at the same time, it is compelling. Whenever Brady and Hindley are mentioned people immediately remember the children and the horrific things that were done to them - but this was the first time I had heard of Edward Evans, the 17 yr old who was their last victim. I had also never known that Hindley had a sister (played superbly by Joanne Froggatt) or given much thought to impact the murders must have had on Hindley/Bradys families as well as on those of their victims. This was handled very sensitively by the TV film.Both these vile people have now departed this life but the evil they did will be remembered for ever. In my opinion this film stands as an historic documentary and a memorial to their victims, their families and the efforts of all concerned in their capture.

Vielen Dank

Very good film on this hideous case - non graphic - focuses more on the lives of those involved and not the graphic murders - very well done.

I ordered this for my wife Sara. She was very pleased to receive it because she had wanted to see this for sometime. She said it was shocking to see that there are people in this world who have no conscience. These two killed young children (and probably more than they have found) and they seemed to like what they were doing-until they got caught. Isn't it the norm with these nuts-as soon as they get caught it was there buddy, wife, girlfriend, husband etc. and they made them do it or they would kill them. If you are in to true crime as my wife is, this was a pretty good DVD to watch.

Excellent retelling of the infamous case. If you like true crime movies, bios, and documentaries... I suggest you watch this movie.

Excellent !!! Brilliant acting by all with this very sensitive subject I would reccomend it.