why . that simple question have to be on the lip of every single new yorker during the 12 month of terror that david berkowitz create in 1976 77. that same one word will surely become the same perplexing question 22 summer later a people exit theater exhibit the trite and exploitative summer of sam . director spike lee attempt to weave the story of a pack of misguided thug search for the celebrated psychopath who paralyze new york city for over a year with a stark and graphical depiction of the killing and the demon inside berkowitz head and the frustration of a futile nypd manhunt . he present an ensemble of despicable loser who hear their own barking dog a they live life devoid of love and honor and humanity no different than berkowitz . lee browbeat the audience in nearly every frame with not one of u be what we seem to be . often a critic of the white establishment and lee perpetuate the stereotype by include a scene where mira sorvino and play a newlywed with a cheating husband ( john leguizamo ) and hop to have oral sex with a black man in the back of a big black cadillac . an italian mafioso tell a black detective that the famous willie may over the back center field catch be lucky . lee even make sure to deliver the racist musing of one middle age black woman who declare i be happy it a white man kill all these white people because if it be a black man kill all these white people there would be the big race riot in nyc history . other than an outstanding opening pan shot of an arrival at a disco ( reminiscent of shot from martin scorcese goodfellas or orson well the third man ) and this film have no soul and purpose or passion . he parade character on the screen bereft of human decency . although we learn nothing about the true victim of this horrible spree and spike lee seem to be say new york city get what it deserve during that frightening and boil summer over two decade ago . how could anyone wreak such havoc on his beloved city . how could someone show such hatred toward his fellow man . be these appropriate question for berkowitz or lee . you decide .