I wasn’t exactly familiar with Born For Hell, only by title. Both, Born For Hell and serial killer Richard Speck were two things I had only heard in passing. Now, I’m polished up on both and I owe it to the nightmarish journey that is Born For Hell for sending me down the Speck rabbit hole. You will find yourself in the same predicament, Speck was a sadistic piece of shit, but like all serial killers, there is that morbid fascination/curiosity that really drives the need to know more. Luckily, the bonus features on this Severin release were outstanding and began my trip down the rabbit hole immediately and thoroughly.

Severin’s recently released blu-ray, allowed me to get introduced to not only Speck but also plenty of tid bits and bobs about the fascinating Denis Héroux film. As you know, when Severin puts out a blu-ray you are going to get a nice crisp picture and plenty of bonus features. So, after watching the film and the interviews with the cast, as well as a deep dive into the Speck murders, I feel like I know enough.

Born For Hell is an adaptation of Speck’s murders in all but name and city. The film had to undergo certain conditions in order to get made. The agreements oddly enough are to protect Speck’s reputation and has nothing to do with the reputation or rights of the victims. The powers that be had to change a few things including Specks name, the city the murders occurred in and the number of victims. So, instead of Chicago, the film takes place in Belfast.

The switch to Belfast does make for a nice unease due to the events that were going on in Belfast during the 70’s. Daily life was a wash of chaos and uncertainty due to bombings, shootings and all the other terrible bits that surrounded the IRA.

Actor, Mathieu Carriére takes on the unsettling role of Speck… I mean Cain Adamson as his name is in this picture. Adamson is a Vietnam vet with a lot of sexual repression and inadequacies. These sexual issues have directly lead to his hatred of women. Of course, he is even more affected that he can’t perform for women. It creates a vicious cycle in Adamson, where his very presence gives you an anxiety attack. The entire first act gives us the blueprint of a time bomb and fills us in on the not so secret, secret that this guy is going to explode.

Simultaneously, a house full of lovely girls are having a get together, and all having a right great time. Their characters are briefly touched on but, they are explored well enough to give the audience a soft spot for the carefree young ladies. Late in the first act, Adamson walks right into the kitchen of the girls house. It’s a chilling scene, that isn’t played up with big orchestra swells or shrill pokes and pricks, it’s played quiet and that makes the whole thing even more unsettling. He just walks right in, the girls he confronts, all play it cool, listening to him talk about his wife and daughter, and even give him a sandwich and piece of cake in order to get him out of the house.

Of course, you already know that Adamson is just scouting for what he plans to do later. You know he is coming back and there is nothing you can do.

In the films second act, Adamson lets himself in their backdoor and there begins 8 girls night of hell. The entire rest of the film is sadistic. What’s most chilling is the way Carriére composes himself, he is so quite, cordial and well-mannered. Even when, subduing the girls he is at his kindest. The juxtaposition in his actions versus his intentions are terrifying. The level of manipulation that he uses is as deadly as his switchblade. Carriére is almost too good in the role.

Director, Denis Héroux (The Uncanny) strips the film down to the bare essentials. There isn’t any flair or well-motioned cinematography and its all to serve the picture. The film feels very real, mundane and grounded, it is a perfect pairing for the world of Adamson, its cold, verging on being unhinged thanks to the backdrop of IRA’s war in Belfast at the time. The film looks as cold and rough as the streets and Adamson.

There is a stripped down, dower element to Born For Hell that permeates throughout its run-time. It’s entirely made up of moment to moment tension that is only relieved by an onslaught of nonstop terrors that befalls this household and the quiet lulls you get between murders. Added to every moment is Mathieu Carriére’s chill nature and easy demeanor throughout. Born For Hell is a home invasion horror that is a must see and also feels like a cautionary tale.

You can head over to MVD Entertainment to place your order for Born For Hell.

Born For Hell’s bonus features include:

• The Other Side of the Mirror: Interview with Actor Mathieu Carrière
• Nightmare In Chicago: Remembering the Richard Speck Crime Spree with Local Filmmakers John McNaughton and Gary Sherman
• A New Kind Of Crime: The Richard Speck Story with Once Upon A Crime Podcaster Esther Ludlow
• Bombing Here, Shooting There: Video Essay by Filmmaker Chris O’Neill
• Artist Joe Coleman On Speck
• Italian Trailer
• NAKED MASSACRE: U.S. Video Release Cut