A deeply disturbing true story…

Paul Bernardo and Karla Homolka’s psychological dance with death and depravity – faithfully recreated here in stunning performances by Misha Collins and Laura Prepon – will haunt you forever…because it’s true.

Every scene of the film was derived from events transcribed in court testimony using police reports, interviews between Karla and her psychiatrist, and videotape of the crimes shot by the perpetrators themselves. But perhaps even more shocking than the serial rapes and murders by Bernardo, is the question of how and why a woman could love such a man to the point of becoming his accomplice…which began with her own sister?

As the gruesome events unfold, the utter lack of remorse from Paul and his quirky charisma paint a delusional world of normalcy for Karla, conflicted by her conscience but still unable to escape. In the end, this gripping, tension-packed film leaves the viewer to ponder the psyches of two individuals in a tragically demented relationship, and to judge: Was Karla herself caught in Paul's web, a victim? Or did the fact that she joined him in his crimes in spite of having an apparent conscience make her evil even deeper than his?

Offical Site with Trailer



There is a lot of controversy over this film. The families aren't too please about it either.

I'm looking forward to this movie. It's from her point of view of all that happened and she is pretty messed up so it should be extreme.

IN THEATERS EARLY 2006

True ain't the half of it. It's been a heavily conversed subject here.
No ones happy she's on the streets. They gave her restrictions but now she's free of them so she can even contact the families if she wants, such as my understand. It's awful.
I shant be seeing this movie.

Yeah, I just read where she is 100% a free woman now. That is beyond horrific, especially when evidence surfaced that she was more than a willing participant.

This is a sickening attempt to cash in on shock. These people were scum and the idea of a movie of it is vile.

There are lots of movies about the events of serial killers, and their lifes. To really get the knowledge out there it's becoming a trend now to release a movie as soon as possible to the public.

The perfect example of this is the BTK killer, his movie was aired on public tv about 2 months ago, after his trial.

I think these kinds of movies 'awaken' people a bit and slap them back, showing the earth isn't one big hug of sunshine. This will show the darker side of humanity.

If you read up on the happily married couple (at the time of the spree) it's brutal, and yes... she was more then willing to 'please' her husband. I think that was basically said at their first victim (her own 15 year old sister!). Right there that says to me, she cared more about pleasing him then her family means to her, and she made that choice. She made that choice completely on her own... because Paul wanted a virgin and she wasn't one at the time.

Not to mention the video tapes that surfaced after the deal showing her and Paul.

No offense Kratos, but those of us who live in Ontario are quite disgusted by the crimes (which we've been reminded of for the last 14 years) and the movie, which is a cash grab after Homolka has been released from prison and the victim's families are still coming to terms with the fact that this woman is free.

I know many, many people who will not see this movie, and I am one of them.

I'm quite disgusted by her crimes as well. The things those two did are not to be taken lightly.

The cash grab is well... natural with lots of crimes... people are greedy.

What I'm looking for in this movie, is to learn a bit more. I've read quite a deal online about this case and they are quite screwed up compared to 'normal' people. What really can make them click and do the things they have done?

From what I've gathered she is even more 'evil' then Paul (her husband), I believe she used him for her terrors.

Also, she was just freed of her resrictions the other day, this movie has been in production for quite some time. They just didn't whip this all up in 3 days.

No, I think they started writing it when talks of her upcoming release started.

Really, there's no lack of information on those two. And everything from the failure to catch him while he was still just a rapist (while they had his DNA on hand), to their capture, to the half-assed job of searching the house, the deal she made with the Crown, pictures of her in prison posing in cocktail dresses and articles of her earning a psychology degree.... and then of course her release, where they attempted to impose restrictions on her to somewhat make up for one of the biggest blunders ever.

You're not going to learn more from a movie starring two really terrible actors. I really hope people will reconsider not seeing this movie.

Re-creating the spree not just for the officals and cops... but now for the public. I can put money on the profilers on this case acting out and thinking as best they could of the unsub (in this case two unsub's) A visual aid is powerful. (Just explaining)

Yes... killers do bring in the money... Night Stalker (Richard Ramirez), Dahmer, Ed Gein, BTK, Texas Chain Saw Massacre, Helter Skelter (Manson), To catch a killer (Gacy), The Boston Strangler (Albert DeSalvo) and more... all movies.

Real crimes, real victims all made into movies...

Some of those killers even went farther then the pair of love...

'Karla' movie shocks in CTV exclusive screening

You do not see the rapes, and much of the violence is implied, but the memories of the brutal killings are still vividly re-hashed in 'Karla' the movie -- based on the lives of school-girl killers Paul Bernardo and Karla Homolka.

The film holds close to the actual events of the murders as the script is based on the former couple's court documents and graphic home videos of the victims shown at Bernardo's trial.

Homolka is depicted as a victim of Bernardo but she does get blamed for her roles in the rapes and murders – including the death of her sister, Tammy.

"I did kill somebody… I killed my little sister. How can anyone ever be forgiven for that? I think about what I did every day. I really do," Homolka's character says in the film.

Homolka's character is deeply dedicated to Bernardo, a man who dominates her with abuse and threats.

"I will show your parents the video of you killing Tammy," Bernardo's character threatens during one scene.

The names of the murdered girls Leslie Mahaffy, 14, and Kristen French, 15, have been changed in the movie but the resemblance of the actors is haunting.

Tim Danson, lawyer for the victim's families, successfully argued for scenes of nudity to be removed but the movie is still very graphic. Ontario Premier Dalton McGuinty has called for people to boycott the film.

Film Screening

CTV Toronto's Paul Bliss set up Canada's first preview screening of the movie for a small general audience -- no reporters, no film critics.

"I sat them down in a room and showed them the film," Bliss said. "They were shocked. They sat in silence as they watched the film."

The over-18 crowd seemed disturbed by the film with some turning their faces away at times.

"Shocking, absolutely. I didn't expect to see the re-creations in that kind of detail," viewer Margaret Pak said.

The acting and production was on par with any Hollywood movie but that may not be enough to get people into the theatre.

"It's a fresh wound. Everyone was so scared back then and it's been in our psyche, in our minds for so long," Laura Wagner said after the film. "I don't think people want to re-live it again."

One viewer, Ani Nersessian, thought the film depicted Homolka more as a victim than a murderer.

"She was shown as a victim and everything that happened was just because she made many stupid mistakes," Nersessian said. "But I think she was much more involved than they showed her to be."

The movie runs for one hour and 40 minutes, leaving some viewers wishing they could get the time back.

"It was profoundly disturbing," Marilyn Demone said regretfully. "I wish I hadn't seen it out of respect to the parents, the families…it's not worth it."

The movie has already been sold to 12 distributors in Europe and there is word that a Canadian deal could come anytime. A limited theatre release will probably be held in Toronto and Montreal. It will be available in some format by early 2006.
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If they were just going to whine about it, why did they go and see it?

I'm going to still see it, if I can get my hands on it.

I can't wait for this movie.

This type of movie is always debatable. 'Should it be released?', 'Is it disrespectful?', 'What about the families?'.etc
All valid questions.
But, as already mentioned, They're are many movies that cover 'real life' tradgedies - serial killings, terrorism, war etc.

People say 'what about the families'... Apply that to 'Schindlers List'. A holocaust. Many families watch an event recreated that stole members of their families and that movie won Oscars.

Films like these are almost like documents of the event, providing the public with insite into the event/tradgedy/happenings but also depicting the horrific-side of human nature. Whether the film is biased in some respects or not, it draws attention to this and will cause many to look into this and see the truth, sympathising with the families and condemning the perpertrators.

And That, my friends, is the power of media and great cinema.

No, this is about an American filmmaker who heard of this tragedy and saw a movie deal, and hide behind the 'informing the public' excuse.

There is absolutely nothing insightful to this movie, there is nothing you will learn that you wouldn't be able to find by doing a small amount of research. This is about making money off the suffering of the parents of Kristen French and Leslie Mahaffy.

You can't compare this to Shindler's List. First of all, Steven Spielberg had a personal involvement in this movie, and the story revolved around an event that happened 50 years ago that some people are forgetting, and that some people still deny to this day.

Besides, if this movie really does portray Homolka as the 'victim', all the more reason not too see it. She was as much of a victim as he was.

I read a book about this. I think that there is a special place in HELL for Karla & Paul!!

I hadn't heard that she was released. And if she is, what sick puppy allowed that??!!!

All the cr@p they did for sexual kicks is just sick, sick, sick. Using her own sister shows that she has no compassion nor humanity. Regardless of what her husband wanted she should have said, "Over my dead body!!!" Siblings/family should be there to protect one another!! NOT HARM THEM!!!

Trust me I feel for Ontario, Canada & the rest of the CIVILIZED world!!! We are truely pathetic people if she is indeed free.

40nrockinon

She's more then released now. Under the agreement with the Crown she is completely free, she can talk to and wander to any place she wants to.

If you read into their crimes and the timeline of the trial, I don't think you can blame the Crown for making the agreement as that guy with held the video tapes that could have brought them both down. They needed someone to give something or the trial would have just flopped.



Some of the discussions I've had on this case I've heard from a couple people that this would be more of a love story then a horrible act against man because she loved Paul that much that she would do anything for him. Just throwing that idea out there for you guys to ponder on...



I'll disagree with you, Disinterested, visual effects played out can give the story more of a boost in it's knowing of what horrible crimes this was. Sure, he might be making money out of this, but really... how many other movies in history have come out at 'good' times. Do you sell an x-mas movie in May or do you wait till the market is hot and sell it in December? Same idea.... marketing.

Well, judging by the reaction of Canadians towards this movie, I'd say this is definitely not a 'good' time to release it.

Cripes, even Law and Order made an episode based on this, and decided not to air it because it was inappropriate at the time.

It's all about money, and he isn't getting a penny out of my pocket.

hey ... my name is Carla !!!

why couldn't she be named Sue ???

I grew up in Toronto, the "Scarborough Rapist" (Paul Bernardo) had a huge impact on the psyche of most of the teenage girls and women living in Toronto and the surrounding area. Girls were being brutally raped steps from their homes, on their neighbors front lawns, in local parks. They were attacked from behind and no one was able to provide a composite sketch to the police. This went on for years.

The Toronto Transit Commission took these crimes seriously enough that they changed their policy to allow female passengers to "request a stop". This allowed them to get off the bus between stops and closer to their homes.

Finally the police were able to release a partial sketch as provided by one of Bernardo's victims. In hindsight it was eeriely similar to Bernardo.

The rapes stopped.

The dismembered body of a young girl was found in the lake. Lesley Mahaffy.

Kristen French was snatched off the street, leaving one shoe behind as a testament that she was ever even there. I remember hoping that she would be the one who made it home ok. Her body was dumped rolled up in a carpet on a side road.

I was at work when I heard on the radio that they had captured the Scarborough Rapist. I called my older brother in shock. This was big. Later more information started coming out. Bernardo was being charged in the murder of Kristen French and Leslie Mahaffy. Then Karla Homolka was charged.

The Crown Attorney made the infamous "deal with the devil". Karla ratted on her husband and she got a light sentence.

Once Bernardo's trial was over and the publication band was lifted, we got the full shock of the horrors that these girls went through. It was documented on video tape.

Paul Bernardo is considered a "dangerous offender" and can be kept in jail indefinitely. Karla Homolka is now an absolutely free woman.

After the trial, the families of Kristen French and Leslie Mahaffy did their best to protect their daughters memories. They still do. Do you really blame them? Wouldn't you do the same for your daughters?

I read everything that I could about Bernardo and Homolka. They were like the car wreck that you couldn't help but look at as you drove past. There was talk to ban the book "American Psycho" that Bernardo used as his "bible". I bought it and only got about halfway through before I threw it in the garbage. Am I going to see the movie? Not a chance.

Remember it was Nietze who wrote "When you are looking at the abyss, the abyss is looking at you too"

Karla movie gives the competition a run

TORONTO -- Karla, the controversial Hollywood movie about real-life killers Karla Homolka and Paul Bernardo, earned a total of close to $172,000 on Canadian screens last weekend, with 32% of those debut dollars coming from audiences in Quebec, industry sources report.

The movie placed fourth in Toronto per screen and 12th overall out of 35 films in release.

Karla made nearly $10,000 per screen in Toronto - behind Match Point, Underworld: Evolution and The Matador but ahead of King Kong and Brokeback Mountain.

Starring That '70s Show's Laura Prepon as Homolka, the low-budget movie opened in limited release across Canada to generally negative reviews and disapproving editorials.

Nationwide, Karla pulled in $171,574, with $54,117 of that in Quebec.

The real-life Homolka, who was released from prison last year after serving out a plea-bargain sentence, was most recently seen in Montreal.

No distributor has yet agreed to take Karla for the United States but the producer, Quantum Pictures, expects it will be released there by March.

At least 12 other countries, including Britain, Germany and Australia, have agreed to show the film, with releases in those markets expected this spring.
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Guess it's good enough to watch, according to the Canadians stats. They'd better show it in the US!

sorry ... i relized the phot is from the actress in the movie..not the actual Karla.

THey should not only never show it, they should never make another movie based on any killer ever! this only serves to sensationalize and implant them into history, what most horrible offenders are after. if we allow them to slip into obscurity, the crimes of murder and rape will become less sensational for the offender, and get the message across that, sorry, even if you rape/kill thirty women you will not get your name in a movie title. Just my opinion of course, I could be wrong.

Also shows you get life in prison and/or the death penalty. Unless, like in this case... the DA screws up badly and makes a deal with the person in question.

in some cases, the sensationalism is worth the death sentence.

That's what gets the ratings and cash flow best. Many don't like to admit it but as a society we are drawn to horror, unspeakable things and the darker side of life. Just watch the news and check ratings.

Some people had to see it... it was 4th in Canada out of movies, as that story shows.

and that is what makes me weep for the state of the canadian mind.

I had actually forgotten about this movie for a while till a little blue bird reminded me...

*****SPOILERS!*****


I would have to say the movie was well written & filmed. The capturing of moments in points of time were just really streaking to the emotions.

One of the best shot scenes, in my opinion, was the Ross girl being screamed at and telling her to say things. Really was... there.

Another good part to use the emotion was when they were seperated while Paul was at home drunk off his arse, crying and moaning and Karla was at the club enjoying the hell out of her new found freedom.

This film is a stepping stone in the right direction of showing more it seems as it broke through protests and threats.

It was a powerful film at points so it's worth your time to watch and I think you should take the time and watch it.

It's getting a 7/10 from me. They cut a lot away from the crimes and basically showed no trial at all.

Just to let people know it's on DVD now in the US! I got it today.

hey did you guy's know there was a psychic involved in finding paul bernardo.For real I'm not kidding

No there was not.

His wife turned him in in exchange for leniency "the deal with the devil"