WHY would you want to tell this story from Manson's perspective?! He is a notorious conman who will lie, distort and manipulate events for his own uses...

Yet there's soaring strings as 'Charlie' doesn't get to see his little boy because he's in prison, and shots of a misunderstood and disconsolate man, wandering the desert because he's been cast out by society...

'Rebel', my foot!

I've never understood those who seek to glorify Manson, and this movie is only another work that tries to do that, in the guise of 'understanding' him.

Don't get me wrong; I support people getting to make the movies they want to make... So if somebody wants to make a film where Manson is 'not such a bad guy after all', then at least be inventive enough to obfuscate matters; don't just have him NARRATE HIS OWN STORY and act like that's redemption secured. If you're going to be inaccurate, then you might as well go hell for leather about it, and claim he rode a magic carpet and urinated glitter... You know, be creative!

There's nothing to understand; he's a scumbag... and this movie only seeks to make a statement by taking a deservedly reviled individual, and attempting to mitigate on his behalf... It's deplorable.

The sound recording of this film is abysmal - that is the sound mix at any rate. Ryan Kiser as Charlie Manson is pretty good - he certainly looks like him, even if he is no Al Pacino as far as acting goes! It is so difficult to hear what characters are saying at times it spoils the viewing of the movie. The film tries to tell Manson's side of the story - the chaotic upbringing and his spells incarcerated but that side of things is skimmed over and merely mentioned rather than depicted. I guess permissions for music of the times was difficult to get as it seems totally missing from this movie. For the obviously low budget this had it does an okay job but really needed more work on the sound.

I know a lot about the Manson case and also know one of his former associates so I'd been looking forward to seeing this movie. If you're not familiar with the Manson case then you might be okay with this movie. If you know anything about it though, you'll be disappointed.

I suppose the biggest complaint is with how the murders were depicted. Having Sadie brandishing the gun was a bit jarring since she never touched the gun in the real murders. There were other very distorted depictions and while I realize that some artistic license has to be allowed, too much and the movie is spoiled, especially with a story as well-known as this one is.

The acting in the movie was hit or miss. I didn't find the Manson character to be very convincing and other than the actress paying Susan Atkins, it was hard to tell which girl was which.