Gacy (film)
A direct-to-video film based on John Wayne Gacy's crimes.
Gacy (also released as *The Crawl Space*) is a 2003 American direct-to-video film that blends crime, horror, biography, and thriller elements. It was directed by Clive Saunders, who co-wrote the script with David Birke. The story is based on the real-life crimes of John Wayne Gacy, a serial killer from the Chicago area who raped, tortured, and killed at least 33 men and boys in the 1970s. Mark Holton plays Gacy in his first leading film role.
The plot begins in 1953, with a young John Wayne Gacy being berated by his father, who tells him he will "never be brave enough" and kicks him. Jumping to 1976, the adult Gacy’s family lunch is interrupted by a neighbor complaining about a smell from the crawl space. Gacy angrily says he will handle it. Another interruption comes from Steve, an employee who hasn’t been paid in two weeks. Gacy promises payment and orders him off the property. He later asks a friend for advice, who suggests using lime to mask the odor.
One night, Gacy abducts a man, drives him home, talks about his problems, and then lets him go. At work, he yells at employees for smoking and later asks a new worker if he likes wrestling. They wrestle in the backyard, and Gacy pins him down. Steve, watching with another man, calls Gacy a faggot, which enrages him. The next day, Steve and two others attack Gacy outside a shop, take money from his wallet, and Steve quits. Late that night, Gacy’s wife Kara hears a car. Gacy brings Steve out, handcuffed, and shoves him into the garage. Kara finds clothes scattered there and runs to the crawl space, where Gacy bursts out, claiming he was laying lime.
Gacy throws a Fourth of July costume party, offers a job to Tom Kovak, and is honored in a speech as a community asset. He hires an exterminator for the maggots and cockroaches in the crawl space. When police question him about Steve’s disappearance, Gacy says Steve mentioned going to Costa Rica or Puerto Rico. Another day, Gacy hits an employee with a hammer, cleans him up, pays him to stay quiet, and lets him go. Kara finds handcuffs and gay magazines in the garage; Gacy blames his workers, saying, "you know how I feel about homos." Soon after, Kara takes their two daughters and leaves Gacy alone with his mother. Tom, having trouble at home, rents Gacy’s spare room.
Later, Gacy picks up a male prostitute, chloroforms him, and chains him in the garage. The ne
- Release year
- 2003
- Director
- Clive Saunders
- Co-writer
- David Birke
- Genre
- Crime horror biopic thriller
- Lead actor
- Mark Holton
- Subject
- John Wayne Gacy
- Rotten Tomatoes rating
- 17% approval (based on six reviews)
Lore & Background
The film depicts Gacy's life from 1953, when he argues with his father, through his crimes in the 1970s. It shows him abducting, assaulting, and murdering victims, including an employee named Steve, and hiding bodies in his crawl space. The plot includes his wife Kara discovering evidence, his hiring of an exterminator for maggots, and his eventual arrest after a victim escapes.
Reader's Guide
Gacy received a 17% approval rating on Rotten Tomatoes, based on six reviews. Critics were divided: some found it unenlightening and unconvincing, suffering from dime-store psychology and lacking suspense, gore, or thrills. Others praised it for dark, disturbing insight into Gacy and called it ruthlessly fascinating. The film is notable as Mark Holton's first lead role and for its direct-to-video release.
Did You Know?
- The film is also known as The Crawl Space.
- Mark Holton played John Wayne Gacy in his first lead role.
- The film includes a scene where Gacy lays concrete in the crawl space to cover the stench.
- Gacy's last words in the film are 'Kiss my ass!'
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