3. The Killing of America (1982)
Not designed to give you a giggle, The Killing of America is a serious examination of crime in America - particularly gun crime - and its results make for bleak, grim viewing. Depressing - yes, but a highly intelligent film which has lots to say about man's inhumanity to man. It was produced by Leonard Schrader, brother of director Paul Schrader so this adds a touch of class to the moribund goings on. The film follows the political assassinations of JFK and Robert Kennedy. It features a lot of footage of American serial killers - Ted Bundy getting angry in court, an incoherent Sirhan Sirhan, a genial Charlie Manson. There is a litany of disturbing footage of murders - newsreels that have not been seen in any other Mondo movie. The narration is very serious and unlike other Mondo movies, there is an attempt to analyse the proceedings which the makers seem to blame on gun ownership and lax gun laws. Enough to make Michael Moore wet himself in excitement. The film was made for the Japanese market, I'm sure it did smashing business.