Gosnell: The Trial of America's Biggest Serial Killer
A fact-based Philadelphia courtroom drama follows detectives and prosecutors uncovering horrifying crimes inside an abortion clinic while confronting institutional silence and political polarization.
Ember's analysis
- Pacing
- Brisk
- Intensity
- Extreme
- Complexity
- Easy to follow
- Violence
- Graphic
- grim
- accusatory
- disturbing
- true crime viewing
- legal drama marathon
What critics said
Critics broadly viewed the film as sensationalistic and sanctimonious, arguing that its conservative political framing oversimplifies the case and makes misleading comparisons.
What sets it apart
May contain story progression spoilers
The 2013 trial, witness testimony, photographs, and ten-day jury deliberation form the dramatic progression.
The clinic's conditions and the raid's revelations emphasize how Gosnell operated for decades before intervention.
The film frames the case through conservative anti-abortion politics and presents its argument about media and institutional indifference.
Bagged fetal remains, stored body parts, clinic photographs, and the filthy facility function as recurring evidentiary images.
Films like Gosnell: The Trial of America's Biggest Serial Killer, and why
The Life of David Gale
true-crime courtroom drama centered on a controversial criminal prosecution and polarized social context
Spotlight
procedural investigation and courtroom testimony confronting institutional failures and morally charged violence
Just Mercy
fact-based legal drama using a criminal case to examine race, justice, and public controversy
Movie Details
- Director
- Nick Searcy
- Release Date
- 2018-10-12
- Runtime
- 93 min
- Rating
- 5.7 / 10 (55)
Cast
- Dean Cain
- Nick Searcy
- Earl Billings
- Janine Turner
- Grace Montie
- Kent Jones
- Michael Beach
- Sarah Jane Morris
- Cyrina Fiallo
- JR Hatchett
Common questions
- What is Gosnell: The Trial of America's Biggest Serial Killer about?
- A fact-based Philadelphia courtroom drama follows detectives and prosecutors uncovering horrifying crimes inside an abortion clinic while confronting institutional silence and political polarization.
- What is Gosnell: The Trial of America's Biggest Serial Killer like to watch?
- Ember's analysis rates the pacing of Gosnell: The Trial of America's Biggest Serial Killer as brisk, its intensity as extreme and its storytelling as easy to follow.
- Is Gosnell: The Trial of America's Biggest Serial Killer violent?
- Yes. Ember rates the violence in Gosnell: The Trial of America's Biggest Serial Killer as graphic.
- What did critics think of Gosnell: The Trial of America's Biggest Serial Killer?
- Critics broadly viewed the film as sensationalistic and sanctimonious, arguing that its conservative political framing oversimplifies the case and makes misleading comparisons.
- Which films are like Gosnell: The Trial of America's Biggest Serial Killer?
- Films with a similar feel include The Life of David Gale, Spotlight, and Just Mercy.
- How long is Gosnell: The Trial of America's Biggest Serial Killer?
- Gosnell: The Trial of America's Biggest Serial Killer runs 93 minutes.
