''The Gray Man'' (previously known as ''Wysteria: The Horrible Story of Albert Fish'') is a 2007

biographical A biography, or simply bio, is a detailed description of a person's life. It involves more than just the basic facts like education, work, relationships, and death; it portrays a person's experience of these life events. Unlike a profile or ...

thriller film Thriller film, also known as suspense film or suspense thriller, is a broad film genre that evokes excitement and suspense in the audience. The suspense element found in most films' plots is particularly exploited by the filmmaker in this genre ...

based on the actual life and events of

American American(s) may refer to: * American, something of, from, or related to the United States of America, commonly known as the "United States" or "America" ** Americans, citizens and nationals of the United States of America ** American ancestry, pe ...

serial killer A serial killer is typically a person who murders three or more persons,A * * * * with the murders taking place over more than a month and including a significant period of time between them. While most authorities set a threshold of three ...

rapist Rape is a type of sexual assault usually involving sexual intercourse or other forms of sexual penetration carried out against a person without their consent. The act may be carried out by physical force, coercion, Abusive power and control, ...

and

cannibal Cannibalism is the act of consuming another individual of the same species as food. Cannibalism is a common ecological interaction in the animal kingdom and has been recorded in more than 1,500 species. Human cannibalism is well documented, bo ...

Albert Fish Hamilton Howard "Albert" Fish (May 19, 1870 – January 16, 1936) was an American serial killer, Rape, rapist, child molestation, child molester, and cannibalism, cannibal who committed at least three child murders from July 1924 to June 1 ...

. It premiered at the

Montreal World Film Festival The Montreal World Film Festival (WFF; french: le Festival des Films du Monde) was one of Canada's oldest international film festivals and the only competitive film festival in North America accredited by the FIAPF (although the Toronto Internat ...

on August 31, 2007, and was scheduled for a theatrical release sometime in 2007. It is directed by Scott Flynn and stars

Belgian Belgian may refer to: * Something of, or related to, Belgium * Belgians, people from Belgium or of Belgian descent * Languages of Belgium, languages spoken in Belgium, such as Dutch, French, and German *Ancient Belgian language, an extinct language ...

actor

Patrick Bauchau Patrick Nicolas Jean Sixte Ghislain Bauchau (born 6 December 1938) is a Belgian actor best known for his roles in the films ''A View to a Kill'', '' The Rapture'' and ''Panic Room'', as well as the TV shows '' The Pretender'' and '' House''. ...

as Albert Fish.

Plot

At St. John's Orphanage in 1877, children, including a young

, are being paddled as punishment for their sins. Albert Fish as an adult (

) then tells of a horse that some older boys at the orphanage set on fire, comparing himself to the horse. He regularly whips himself with a belt while hallucinating himself as he appeared in the orphanage. Fish kills a boy scout, Francis McDonnell, before visiting the Budd family home, where he abducts and murders ten-year-old Grace Budd (

Lexi Ainsworth Alexandra Danielle Ainsworth (born October 28, 1992) is an Emmy Award-winning American actress. She is recognized for her roles as Kristina Davis on ''General Hospital'', Amber from '' Shameless'', and Jessica Burns in the 2015 film '' A Girl L ...

) on June 3, 1928, under the pretense of taking her to his niece's birthday party. Throughout the film is a

film noir Film noir (; ) is a cinematic term used primarily to describe stylish Hollywood crime dramas, particularly those that emphasize cynical attitudes and motivations. The 1940s and 1950s are generally regarded as the "classic period" of American ' ...

-style narration by Detective William King ( Jack Conley), of the Missing Persons Bureau. King searches for Grace Budd for six years, before finally tracking down and arresting Fish. Fish is found guilty despite evidence of his insanity, and promptly sentenced to die.

Cast

Main

* Jack Conley as Det. Will King *

John Aylward John Aylward (November 7, 1946 – May 16, 2022) was an American actor. He was best known for playing the former DNC chairman Barry Goodwin on the NBC television series ''The West Wing'' and for playing Dr. Donald Anspaugh on the NBC televisio ...

as Captain Ayers *

Jillian Armenante Jillian Armenante is an American television and film actress, known for playing the role of Donna Kozlowski on the TV show ''Judging Amy''. Life and career Armenante was born in Paterson, New Jersey, and grew up in Wyckoff, New Jersey. Her fe ...

as Delia Budd * Silas Weir Mitchell as Albert Fish Jr. *

Vyto Ruginis Vyto Ruginis (born Vytautas Ruginis; April 17, 1956) is an English-American actor and producer. He is best known for playing vampire Russell Winters in the cult TV series ''Angel'' in its first episode, "City Of", as well as for his appearances ...

as Detective Maher * Mollie Milligan as Gertrude *

as Grace Budd * Shaun Senter as Pale Boy * Ben Hall as Albert Budd * Shawn Jefferson as Officer MacDonald

Reception

Variety Variety may refer to: Arts and entertainment Entertainment formats * Variety (radio) * Variety show, in theater and television Films * ''Variety'' (1925 film), a German silent film directed by Ewald Andre Dupont * ''Variety'' (1935 film), ...

''s Dennis Harvey wrote, "A chilling turn by Patrick Bauchau as Albert Fish, the seemingly harmless old gent exposed in 1934 as a serial child murderer, dominates ''The Gray Man''. Skirting graphic horror terrain for a less sensational character study/detective-procedural, helmer Scott Flynn's debut feature manages to be just moderately compelling despite the grotesque subject. Cable and DVD sales are signaled."

References

External links

* {{DEFAULTSORT:Gray Man 2007 films American biographical films Thriller films based on actual events Films set in the 1920s Films scored by Justin Burnett 2007 crime thriller films 2000s biographical films American neo-noir films American crime thriller films American serial killer films Crime films based on actual events 2000s serial killer films 2000s English-language films 2000s American films