Interview with a Serial Killer

This film was the last ever interview with Arthur Shawcross, who murdered 11 women and 2 children, before his death in a maximum security prison in New York last year. It was an extraordinary experience. The original plan was to record an interview with Shawcross and a criminal psychologist, but it became apparent that he was so used to dealing with psychiatric professionals, the content of the interview was almost useless. After visiting the scenes of his crimes in upper New York state, and interviewing police involved in the case, we returned to the prison and effectively ‘door stepped’ him. He reluctantly agreed to an interview, which was both bizarre and chilling, and which he eventually walked out of. The film was based on the issue of nature or nurture - whether evil is innate or the result of behavioral influence, and featured eminent psychologists who claimed Shawcross was the victim of childhood abuse, and police who insisted he was a sadistic killer who simply enjoyed his crimes and notoriety.