this movie want to elaborate that criminal be a product of modern society . therefore and can thief and rapist and murderer ( the killer of this movie and carl panzram ( james wood ) and be all three and bad ) be hold fully accountable for their deed . an interesting notion and but very difficult to bring to the screen in an intellectually and emotionally satisfying way . and this be where killer represent a journal of murder fall very short . although the film try to put panzram behaviour into perspective and with flashback to his violent youth and dysfunctional upbringing and the viewer never get the idea that panzram be a victim rather than a culprit . sure and the system be corrupt and with one mobster occupy the whole sick bay of leavenworth prison ( where most of the movie take place ) and most prison guard be sadistic bully and and the prison director something like a megalomaniacal despot . but why on earth do new prison guard henry lesser ( robert sean leonard ) take such pity on panzram . even after have read his gruesome diary . the movie offer some explanation represent less witness panzram be beat to a pulp by the most sadistic ( and stereotypical ) guard and and be impress by panzram intelligence ( though it isn not clear why exactly less think this man be so smart ) . surely this isn not enough to sympathize with a hostile man like panzram and even though this movie tend to downplay his crime and highlight his personality . towards lesser and panzram be quite loyal and and the viewer be give the impression that for less this outweigh all of the atrocity he have read about in panzram diary . do this man less have so little friend that he take at face value everyone who seem only remotely friendly to him . perhaps it be less who be a product of modern society and judging on appearance rather than substance . i can advise monster and star charlize theron and christina ricci and a a movie which handle roughly the same theme with far more integrity and scope . btw represent killer look a though shot for tv ( not so good ) .