The Versace Murder (1998) User Reviews

How To Make a Bad Movie Even Worse... the DVD!

[kenbmiller · 3/10 · 27 December 2004]

I picked up the Versache Murder DVD at Big Lots for $3.50... since my wife is a fan of cheesy TV docudramas and true crime books, it seemed perfect, and it was indeed worth every penny.

The acting is on par with your average high school drama class production, the plot is almost nonsensical, and the music was... well, nonexistent.

I've seen other people comment on the cheesy synth music of this film, but the DVD I bought has no music at all! This leads to numerous bizarre scenes where Andrew is dancing around getting dressed in the morning to silence, roller-blading to silence, dancing in a club to silence... and there is no sound at all during the credits. At first, I thought the director was just being "artsy", but now I know that it was some kind of mistake, but it makes this awful movie even worse, if that's possible.

It's the kind of movie you'll watch time and again because it's JUST SO BAD!

So sad, it's absolutely gut wrenching!

[themirrorsofmymind · 2/10 · 18 October 2014]

Sad because I don't think the "creative" team behind this movie were trying(!) to make a flaming-pile-of-diamond-encrusted-elephant-dung, but... here we are!

Shane Perdue (as Andrew "Call me Andy, Love" Cunanan) delivers lines like a whiny 9 year old sparing on the playground... ("When my big brother gets here, you'll be sorry!")

OK, so he's not the only bad actor in this film, he just happens to be the worst.

His best moments are when he does not speak! For example, early on, there's a scene where spots a limo. It's passengers have exited to the restaurant that it's stopped in front of. But just before the valet can shut the door, Perdue (as Cunanan) slips into the opposite side of the vehicle and jumps out, appearing to be a member of the party.

From there, he goes inside the restaurant and terribly delivers an unbelievably bad speech, then sits down to have a chat with another, equally wooden actor (who's never identified by a name on-screen, or if he was, I must have missed it).

You wouldn't think that it would take talent to say words like "S--t" and "F--k" convincingly, but Perdue proves one needs at least some kind of gift, for he must be thee most wooden person to ever swear on film in the history of "talkies"!

The dialog is atrocious, in many places, the music unbearable almost throughout, and I can't even begin to imagine how Steven Bauer and Franco Nero got themselves into this mess!

Heavy handed as it was, the death scene of Versace is probably the only redeeming moment in the film, because it, at least, attempts to show the brutality of the ambush/execution-style murder of the man, with Versace turning to look his killer in the eye, just a split second before he is shot (for the second time) point-blank in the face and collapses on the steps where he died...

There are a few unintentionally funny moments, but not enough to make this misfire a campy, guilty pleasure. "imdb.com" lists "The Versace Murder (1998)" as the only film credit for (Richard) Shane Perdue.

A fairly decent looking guy with a nice body, modeling might have been a better way to go, for him.

Acting is, obviously, just not his thing. 

So Bad It's Brilliant!

[adam-merrick · 8 September 2011]

One of my favorite all time crap movies but best watched after a night on the town.

As a film lover I have always enjoyed a complete turkey. It helps you understand how the film process works. I get the feeling that this film had it's budget cut while in production and Mr Golan gamely thought that he could carry the screen play.

Classic scenes like the silent disco (you can hear their feet shuffling). Or "Hey, not all gays are bad". I actually think the actor Shane Perdue who plays murderer Andrew Cunanan isn't half bad. If you're homophobic he's your ultimate 'bad gay'. Sex toys anyone? A Golan brothers (Cannon Cinemas) cult classic.

Films like this can easily get forgotten so if you come across it watch it!

Wanna be Thriller gets ruined by lack of talent

[fromwalking · 1/10 · 15 April 2007]

I wanted to try this film because of Franco Nero and Menahem Golan. But damn who casted Shane Perdue? He could be good looking if he didn't look so retarded all the time! But acting wasn't one of his skills either. As of the rest of the acting crew, even Franco didn't do much about his character. To be honest I think Steven Bauer did the best of acting. He didn't deliver much beside Scarface either. Really, somebody tell me, why is this film made? It's terrible! I really hope people read all these comments before considering watching it. And you actors out there: please deliver more into your character. And you writers out there: go get inspired!

Please don't see this film. It's not worth it.

Words can't describe how truly bad this is...

[mouskouri · 1/10 · 16 September 2003]

I just finished watching this on late night television and I am in awe. I mean, I have seen a few TV movies in my day, but this one almost comes across like a bad satire of TV movies. It is bad in just about every way imaginable.

The music is pretentious, the editing bears the mark of a first year film student, and the acting is horrifyingly bad. At some points this movie heads off following Andrew Cunanan in aimless directionless scenes. It has the characters fighting in swearing fits that come off like children learning the "f-word" for the first time. And every scene, particularly those with the actor playing Andrew Cunanan are stretched out with the most appalling acting I have ever seen. I mean it. Every single line of dialogue is delivered almost painfully. The most excruciating example is the scene at the very end when the two FBI agents have this really presumptuous and pretentious theory session on murder and consumerism. It was truly "crap-tacular".

This movie is a complete waste of time, and unintentionally turns a horrifying true-life story into a sloppy farce. Worse still, I got this impression the film makers were vastly overestimating the importance of this movie in their own minds. This comes off with endless scenes with the various characters where they spout speeches thinly veiled single entendres about their motivations and society. I get the impression the film makers even wanted to make a connection between the glitz and glamour of the fashion world and how it drove Cunanan to kill - except that no viewer is going to buy that the way it is presented here.

If I were Donatelli Versace, I would sue on principle alone just to end TV movies of mediocre quality.

A Must-See!

[amagloglo · 1/10 · 21 August 2006]

I have seen some truly awful movies in my time, but The Versace Murder could actually be the one - The Best of the Worst(TM). I could really sing this movie's praises, but I wouldn't want to spoil it for you ... it's like The Matrix - nobody can tell you what it is; you have to experience it for yourself.

Below are my theories on what made The Versace Murder the gem of movie making that it is.

• 40% of the budget was spent on the one cop's sunglasses.

• Rather than being paid, the "actors" were actually required to give the director oral sex in order to be allowed to appear in the movie.

• During the shooting of one of the scenes, the script writer had to nip of to the bathroom, so the director told everyone to just yell their lines.

• While shooting another scene, the director had to nip off to the bathroom, so the scriptwriter told the camera man to just shoot the cop's crotch.

• Whenever the director and the scriptwriter were simultaneously in the bathroom, the accountant took over their duties. The producers were never on set, because they just couldn't watch.

• Prior to writing the script for The Versace Murder, the script writer once wrote a slogan for a t-shirt. (I believe it was "F*CK YOU YOU F*CKING F*CK.)

Runners up for the title of Best of the Worst:

• War Camp (There is no script, and the entire movie was shot on the first take.)

• Ancient Evil: Scream of the Mummy (Have you ever seen a chubby mummy?)

One of the s***tiest movies I've ever seen

[roverdog · 1/10 · 14 December 2003]

Here's an excellent example on how a good true-life story can be totally lost by an eager-to-make-money producer. The lead actor portraying Andrew Cunanan is possibly the worst actor I have seen in a legitimate movie production. The plot gets lost and the story has no point what so ever. I got it on VHS and now its the prank gift on birthdays. Nobody who gets it wants to keep it. It has now been handed over seven times and only one of the owners (bar me) took enough interest to watch it to the end.

Never spend the time on this movie it SUCKS!! BIIIIG TIME!!

Great kitch!

[PeterRoeder · 5/10 · 29 December 2004]

This is a great movie! I am in awe! I've read all the reviews and I expected something like that. But reviewers without humour. I just love the style of the director. I can recognize it in the great actionmovies I saw as a kid "Enter the Ninja" and "Delta Force". There's some real humanity in this sort of acting and directing. Of course, the movie should get a low grade because of this Ed Woodish quality but the viewing experience is just awesome. I was laughing really hard. I say that those who don't like this movie does not have any sense of humour. I must say I am impressed. If only all movies where like this the world would be a better place. This movie is good because it does not PRETEND. It is "itself" so to speak. I'd like to see more movies by this director. 5/10.

Terrific!

[f.gimenez · 9/10 · 15 July 2001]

I´ve realized that most people who have watched this film thought they were going to see some kind of biography of Versace and obviously they were disappointed because it isn´t.

As the title says clearly this is the story of "The Versace Murder"!. And this is what the film is about: the murder.

How the murderer manages to give the police the slip constantly, after killing his gay lovers, stealing cars, changing his look, checking in at hotels with a false name since there are posters with his photograph and description just everywhere. It´s a non-stop action film.

I really think that the character of Versace was just an excuse to sell this great drama/thriller/action film directed by Menahem Golan!.

By the way, Franco Nero´s performance as the Italian designer is just great... well Franco Nero is great in every film he appears anyway.

When I knew this film was directed by Golan I said to myself: "this can´t be bad!"... and I was right.

Menahem Golan and Franco Nero had already worked together in the great action film "Enter the ninja" some 20 years ago.

And you mustn´t forget that Golan produced some of the best action films in the 80,s, many of them starring Charles Bronson: "Death Wish 2, 3 & 4", "Murphy´s law", "Messenger of death", "Kinjite, forbidden subjects", etc.

Menahem Golan always delivers!.

"The Versace Murder" is a great film.

(9 out of 10)

It's Not as Bad as People Are Saying Here

[weasl-729-310682 · 6/10 · 21 September 2018]

I watched this movie after my interest was rekindled in this tragic story after watching the second season of "American Crime Story". This movie seems to follow the same line without the budget to depict some of the more lavish scenes from both Versace's life and Andrew Cunannan's.

It was worth a watch to me, and if you are interested in the story of this young man who became such a terribly destructive killer of talented people, it may be to you as well.

I do say, that if you want to understand maybe some underlying reasons for what Andrew Cunannan did, then you perhaps want to watch the American Crime Story version. That one does a good job of telling how Andrew was elevated to special prince status in his family by his father, who later deserted the whole family, including Andrew.

As the older sister of a brother who was elevated to this status over all the rest of the family, I can really relate. My little bro was not given the master bedroom, but he was given as many cars as he chose to wreck, was given the best education, while my younger sister and I had to fend completely for ourselves. Both of us sisters did better than him. He got a law degree on Dad's dime and managed to get himself disbarred for embezzling clients' trust funds. He called it "chump change". It was thousands of dollars, and thank goodness Dad had died of a heart attack before little bro permanently disgraced himself. Bro drank himself literally to death because he could not cope with getting a lesser job than law.

He was quite evil and manipulative to everyone in his sphere of influence. That is what comes of being elevated to prince status by a parent. So don't let it happen to your kids. My bro did not kill anyone that I know of, but he hurt, many, many folks on his way down. Don't let your kid become an Andrew Cunannan or even my brother. Treat your kids equally even when you may be inclined to favor one for your own reasons. Please.

So wooden you might get splinters!

[almark · 16 September 2003]

This horrible piece of tripe contains so many bad actors, they were tripping over one another to deliver their incredibly-poorly written dialogue.

The acting was wooden, the directing haphazard and the script, well the script, should have been burned, along with the writing team.

To have subjected the tragedy of Versace's death to such an amateurish version of Andrew Cunanan's last few weeks was a travesty. If I were an actor in this movie I would change my name...quckly! Either that or try to expunge this film from my filmography.

The premise was fine...the truth of Cunanan, a self-important model-wanna-be who uses rage, whether it's gay rage or just rage itself, to slowly take over his life, and then to finally kill four people leading up to his coup de grace, the assassination of Versace, the uber-designer who slighted him by not choosing him as a model.

I would like to see this tragic story portrayed by a writing team, director and cast who actually are professionals, maybe they would be able to pull off a good film...but this group...not a chance!

Real life event to film, truly effective

[PeterMitchell-506-564364 · 8/10 · 27 February 2013]

First rate account of that horrible tragedy involving famous fashion designer Gianni Versace. Nero is awesome in the role, giving the famous character, exactly what it needed, as we are witness to the last minutes of life before he was callously executed by model fan, Andrew Cunniman, who turned the gun on himself when surrounded by cops, outside his houseboat. The murder itself where he was shot almost point blank range, in profile, was pretty gruesome, earning this film a R rating. What next, was his fight for life, plus an APB to tracking down Cunniman, a pathetic sort of wannabe model, who Versace turned down, when choosing people for his next shoot. Reason being, this model freaked him out, we learned. We too spend a bit too much time with Andrew, but it was beneficial, where the movie played evenly with both involved parties. We too have the young FBI Agent, (Steven Bauer) who took the case, and it was great to see him in this, solid, but he should keep his collars tidier. The story really followed through like poor Cunniman's background, where his so called friends starting shunning him out, as this obsessed guy, kept telling em' he was gonna get in to one of Versace's shoots. This is a pretty dark picture of a true horrible event, which today still looms about as one of media's shock tragedies, and will for a long time on.

Did you ever make a movie when you were 8? This could be it.

[Ludlow-2 · 5 December 2003]

This is hands down the worst movie I have seen in months.

The script flows fairly well except for the fact the FBI always seems to be just one step behind, and I mean ONE step. It gets pretty corny when FBI agents are literally supposed to be 20 foot away but 'Andy' manages to run away.

The acting is just plain horrible. I don't like to poke at specific people, but Shane Perdue has not done another movie (according to the DB) and I think it will stay like that. Even Steven Bauer, who plays the FBI agent, also doesnt deliver the best performance in this flic though I generally have liked his work.

If its on TV - take a look but you'll most likely find yourself deciding who delivers their lines the worst.

Moved me to tears

[Alex-372 · 18 January 2001]

Of laughter, of course.

I don't think that there are words to describe how bad this movie is, but I'll try.

This movie is about the murder of Gianni Versaci, perpetrated by the serial killer Andrew Cunanan. Anyone not familiar with the newspapers/Geraldo/CNN coverage should know that in 1997 Cunanan killed Versace after having killed a number of his gay associates and passers by, culminating in the murder of the middle aged fashion designer and his own suicide on a yacht. The movie is the recounting of the FBI's hunt for him.

There are problems with this movie, however (understatement of the year).

Number one, the script. Written by Menachem Golam (of Delta Force, Delta Force II, etc. claim), it is wholly ignorant of police/FBI procedure, common sense, or subtlety. Much of the time, FBI agents Stephen Bauer and Renny Roker (relation of Al Roker?), talk _at_ the audience, rather than to each other or the third parties. They're relating information they're both already aware of. Or, they're telling the audience that not all the gay community is bad. The scene near the end, where all the Versace's friends sit around on the steps where he was shot among wilting flowers, was so over the top, hammily, blunt... This finds a hilarious culmination in the closing scene, where they philosophize with each other about the nature of crime and mankind, like they're in an old "Dragnet" episode.

Then, there is Shane Perdue as Andrew Cunanan, who comes across as the brat from hell, rather than a developing serial killer. His way to "emote" his alienation from society and his generally poor attitude is to say "f* you" whenever he's about to steal, kill or smash a tv set. So, after we get the picture, we're treated to his last "f* you" gesture when he kills himself rather than be arrested and says ... (guess what). Also, Shane Perdue doesn't look more than a year out of his teens, even though Cunanan was in his early thirties, which might have been partly the trigger that set him off on his killing spree. Which is surprising, considering he seems to subsist entirely on vodka and speed.

Then, there is the awful, overbearing synthesizer musak that gives the entire first half of the movie the feel of a porn flick.

But lastly, the FBI is so slow witted, they don't follow up or exploit half the leads they have. Why don't they hang a wanted poster in every motel in town, even though they _know_ he has a penchant for going to hiding in hotels, or at friend's places. Also, the briefing they gave to the collected police forces must be the most uninformative in history - which is more a reflection of script writer Globus' ignorance of police procedure and his unwillingness to do any background research. In short, this movie is no "Manhunter" or "Silence Of The Lambs".

This movie, amazingly, has something going for it, though. It is the first serial killer movie about the Versace case. Also, it is so bad, it should get _some_ kind of prize. Unintentionally, this melodramatic piece of tripe had me in stitches by the end.

If you don't pay any money for it, you might enjoy it. Wait for it on cable and view it as a high camp comedy, and you'll be alright with it. :-)

Cheap, don't bother...

[moene_82 · 17 August 2003]

I'm very sorry, but this is one weak movie... The actors are really unconvincing, the soundtrack reminds me of a porn movie and the lines the actors have to say are of the level of a soap opera... Don't bother