The Manson Family 1997

Terry Lawson, Detroit Free Press: The Manson Family is an undeniable accomplishment, not only for Van Bebber's temerity but for his unapologetic insistence on telling this lurid tale in the lurid style he believed it deserved. Read more

Erik Lundegaard, Seattle Times: A nauseating melange. Read more

Mick LaSalle, San Francisco Chronicle: Van Bebber has delivered a stylistically vigorous and often insightful piece of work. Read more

Wesley Morris, Boston Globe: There's no real journalism here, just the sort of appalling revisionism that can turn a bloodbath into a beach party. Read more

Kevin Crust, Los Angeles Times: The less-than-persuasive result is like mediocre leftover psychedelic '60s underground cinema. Read more

Owen Gleiberman, Entertainment Weekly: The film lures you inside its murder-with-a-smile extremes. Read more

Scott Foundas, L.A. Weekly: It seems little more than the heir to Survive!, The Zodiac Killer and other unsavory 1970s horror cheapies that tried to turn a quick buck on real-life tragedy. Read more

Dana Stevens, New York Times: For all its ludicrously fake blood and over-the-top violence, The Manson Family has a strange kind of artistic integrity Read more

Roger Ebert, Chicago Sun-Times: It has an undeniable power and effect, but be sure you understand what you are getting yourself into. Read more

Time Out: Read more

Time Out: Read more

Dennis Harvey, Variety: Its own mythology aside, this flamboyant, graphic and disturbing quasi-docu reenactment of a notorious chapter in U.S. counterculture life is a fascinating if peculiar accomplishment. Read more

Michael Atkinson, Village Voice: Cut-rate but surprisingly savvy. Read more