“I know everyone thinks we’re these scary creatures who committed these horrible crimes, but we did what we had to do,” says one of the so-called “Manson Girls” in a new trailer for “Charlie Says.” Mary Harron’s drama centers on three women who killed for Charles Manson: Leslie Van Houten (Hannah Murray, “Game of Thrones”), Patricia Krenwinkel (Sosie Bacon, “13 Reasons Why”), and Susan Atkins (Marianne Rendón, “Imposters”).
The pic sees a grad student, Karlene (Merritt Wever, “Godless”), being enlisted to rehabilitate the trio, who are confined to an isolated cellblock in a California prison. In her own words, Karlene’s goal is to “remind them of who they were before they ever met Charles Manson.” But they were taught by Charlie (Matt Smith, “The Crown”), their cult leader, that their lives started with him. They weren’t allowed to talk about their pasts, either.
Still, before the crimes they were coerced into committing, the trio claim “everything was about love.” Charlie espoused the importance of having no secrets and no shame. His indoctrination also ensured that they were willing to die for him, and taught them that “death and love are the same thing so there’s nothing to be afraid of.”
It’s not long before Karlene stops seeing the women as “scary creatures” and more like victims.
Harron most recently directed every episode of “Alias Grace,” a Netflix/CBC miniseries based on Margaret Atwood’s novel of the same name. Her other credits include “American Psycho” and “The Moth Diaries.”
Written by Guinevere Turner (“Go Fish”), “Charlie Says” premiered at the 2018 Venice Film Festival and hits theaters May 10.
