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Serial murderer Myra Hindley was featured in one of my first tomes espousing serial killers over the centuries.

From 1963 to 1965, Hindley and her boyfriend, Ian Brady, abducted, raped, and murdered three children and two teens in killings known as the Moors Murders. We are used to seeing crimes like this on CSI or Criminal Minds, and becoming news with the capture of men like Michael Devlin in Missouri, but for this decade, it was unheard of. Gruesome. Satanic. Evil.

See No Evil: The Moors Murders, tells the tale of these two gruesome killers through the eyes of family members.

Brady was the mastermind, a sociopath who introduced Myra to the wonders of murder. He soon tires of her, however, and wants a new person to play with. He chooses Myra’s brother-in-law, Dave, who cannot find a job to save his life. Dave and Moby, Myra’s sister, are in danger of eviction. They have a newborn, Angela, and Moby is tired of struggling. He and Ian plan to rob a bank, though Dave isn’t certain the other man is serious.

Instead, Ian tells Dave they are going to rob a man after luring him to a secluded area for gay sex (taboo then). But to Dave’s horror, Ian kills the man in the living room of his home as Myra watches. Myra’s grandmother is upstairs asleep. The couple enjoy the kill and force Dave to help them clean up.

Dave comes clean to the police, but it destroys his marriage and very nearly ruins his life.

The film is told through the eyes of Hindley’s sister and brother-in-law. The two become entwined with the murderous couple just after the birth of Moby’s first child. In a cruel guilt by association twist they suffer the wrath of the people who have tried and convicted the couple.

Instead of borrowing CSI special effects shock, producers show absolutely nothing. No nasty remains. No horrific photographs. No audio recordings of the killings. Nothing. That very bland take on these crimes makes them even more grisly. You’re imagination takes hold as you see the reactions of detectives and family members when they see or hear the evidence. It is amazingly powerful, and should be used more often instead of blood, guts and gore.

And even though I knew the ending from my readings about Hindley and Brady, I was still biting my nails, afraid that Hindley’s brother-in-law would be convicted instead. After all, he had information about the killings. Cops were focused on him – especially with his unemployed status and rough and ready lifestyle. Ian said both he and Dave did them, and Myra pleaded ignorance, backed up by Ian. The film is so riveting, it’s easy to forget the outcome and instead get caught up in the emotions.

The film also highlighted the dogged determination of the detective who would not stop looking for answers in the cases of the missing children. If he had not bucked the system, fought to continue investing and not used his intelligence instead of brawn to find the real killers, Hindley and Brady may very well have gotten away with murder.

See No Evil does not delve into the motivations of these killers, who appeared to feed off of each other like those featured in Truman Capote’s In Cold Blood. The fact is, you can find many tomes that talk about Brady and Hindley, and their motivations. Brady also published a book

Maxine Peak won a best female performer award at the Royal Television society North West Awards for her portrayal of Myra Hindley – and with good reason. She creeped me out with those dead eyes and cold, sharp smiles. She made an incredible transition from cold-blooded killer to a broken woman seeking forgiveness in a later scene at the women’s prison.  And with the blonde wig, she looks eerily similar to the real Myra Hindley, who died six years ago at 60 years old.

According to Wikipedia, documents written by and about Myra Hindley were released by Britain’s Home Office this month. Those documents revealed that Hindley and Brady exchanged letters at the beginning of their imprisonment. Then, Hindley claimed to have once again gone back to her Catholic roots. She used a friendship with a gay lover and prison guard to try to escape, but was caught. Later on, Hindley asked officials to allow Brady to visit her in prison. Brady remains in custody at a mental hospital and says he does not want to be released. Hannible Lector in the flesh, folks.

The two-part film came out two years ago, marking the 40th anniversary of the conviction of Brady and Hindley. It was just released from MPI Home Video. There are no extras, but the movie is so powerful, you don’t need them.

If you want to know more about these crazed pre-Manson killers, visit:

Unmasked, the former nun who was Myra Hindley’s gay lover

Crime Library

Myra Hindley Obit from BBC News

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