The Confessions of Thomas Quick

Coming straight from Sweden, the undeniable home of gritty crime drama, is this crime documentary directed by Brian Hill. The Confessions of Thomas Quick features the perplexing story of Thomas Quick, also known as Sture Bergwall, a serial killer convicted of eight murders, only to be acquitted of each of them ten years later.

Bergwall’s story is told chronologically, meaning that we must endure a broad part of the film being given over to a graphic retelling of his alleged murders, and the gruesome ways in which they were carried out. However, as the numerous confessions begin to become more and more unlikely (he made over 30 in total), the true nature of his declarations are speculated over and revealed. Turning the ultimate predator into the most desperate victim, the documentary reveals itself to be less about the evils of a serial killer and more about the psychology and desperation of loneliness.

With Hill clearly eager to utilise the power of the interview, many commenters relevant to Bergwall’s story and case feature in the film, voicing their predominantly pro-innocent views about his case; defence lawyers, journalists and numerous others comment. Altogether, along with the way in which the film is crafted, it leaves things seeming slightly unbalanced. While there have been efforts made to gain responses from those who believed, and in part guaranteed each of Bergwall’s guilty verdicts, there are very few voices that speak against his recently granted innocence. After the dramatic opening, in which we are made to furiously dislike Bergwall and truly believe he is a disturbed individual, it is difficult to accept the implication that he was really the helpless victim in the story without a little scepticism.

Aside from its imbalanced nature, however, the film is well put together, and makes good use of police footage, even if it does become slightly bland and runs a little too long. All in all, it is a truly eye-opening documentary about the human need to be appreciated and needed – at whatever cost.

Sarah Sutton

 

 

The Confessions of Thomas Quick is released in select cinemas on 15^th August 2015.

Watch the trailer for The Confessions of Thomas Quick here: