The Devil's Cinema

The Devil's Cinema: The Untold Story Behind Mark Twitchell's Kill Room is a non-fiction book by the journalist and author Steve Lillebuen.[1][2][3] The book is written as a narrative and features real characters and real events.[4][5][6]

The Devil's Cinema
AuthorSteve Lillebuen
CountryCanada
LanguageEnglish
GenreTrue crime
PublisherMcClelland & Stewart
Publication date
March 2012
Media typePrint (hardcover and eBook)
Pages352
ISBN978-0771050336

The book is set in Edmonton, Alberta, Canada, and follows several detectives working on a missing persons case and the intersecting lives of Johnny Altinger and Mark Twitchell, an aspiring filmmaker[7] who is under investigation for luring strangers to his "kill room,"[8] which police believe is designed to replicate elements and methods used by fictional serial killer Dexter Morgan.[9]

In May 2013, the book won Best Non-Fiction at the Arthur Ellis Awards.[10]

Background

Twitchell's arrest and trial attracted substantial media attention since his crimes were inspired by Dexter, the television series. ABC's 20/20,[11] Dateline NBC,[12] CBC's The Fifth Estate,[13] and many newspapers around the world covered the story, from England's The Guardian[8] to Australia's The Age.[14]

Steve Lillebuen had been an Edmonton Journal crime reporter when Twitchell was arrested, leading to a three-year project on writing and researching the book.[1] He also spent a year corresponding with Twitchell after he called the author from prison to volunteer for an interview.[15][16]

Notable people
  • Mark Twitchell: a young businessman and filmmaker who aspires to be the next George Lucas.
  • Johnny Altinger: a pipeline worker who loves computers and motorcycles.
  • Gilles Tetreault: a new arrival to the city of Edmonton.
  • Mark Anstey: the primary investigator in charge of solving the Altinger disappearance.
  • Bill Clark: a detective tasked with interrogating major suspects.

Film adaptation

A film adaptation of the book was acquired by David Permut with Sam Hobkinson (Misha and the Wolves) set to direct.[17]

See also
  • The One Who Got Away, a personal account from the original intended target of convicted murderer Mark Twitchell, was written by Gilles Tetreault and published in October 2015.

References
  1. Cummins, Julianna (26 March 2012). "Correspondence with killer informs book on Twitchell case". Edmonton Journal. Retrieved 31 March 2012.
  2. "Book out on Twitchell murder case". iNews 880. 27 March 2012. Retrieved 31 March 2012.
  3. MacKenzie, Alan (31 March 2012). "When a twisted life imitates twisted art". Winnipeg Free Press. Retrieved 1 April 2012.
  4. "A Script For Murder". Maclean's. 26 March 2012. Retrieved 31 March 2012.
  5. Boer, Peter (31 March 2012). "Murderer's mindset a mystery to crime author". St. Albert Gazette. Retrieved 31 March 2012.
  6. "Tale of bizarre killer has come to bookstore shelves across country". Canada.com. 28 March 2012. Retrieved 31 March 2012.
  7. Gelinas, Ben (2011-04-16). "A star only in his own warped mind". The Edmonton Journal. Retrieved 8 January 2012.
  8. "Trial of murder that mimics movie". The Guardian. 19 March 2011. Retrieved 8 January 2012.
  9. Bennett, Dean (2 November 2008). "Edmonton filmmaker heads to court in script-written murder case". The Globe and Mail. Retrieved 8 January 2012.
  10. Forani, Jonathan (31 May 2013). "Book about 'Dexter killer' among winners of Arthur Ellis Awards". National Post. Retrieved 2 June 2013.
  11. McLean, Tanara (19 March 2011). "Canada-wide blackout of 20/20 program on Twitchell case". The Edmonton Sun. Retrieved 8 January 2012.
  12. Morrison, Keith (30 September 2011). "Deadly House of Cards". Dateline NBC. Archived from the original on 17 September 2011. Retrieved 8 January 2012.
  13. "Murder, He Wrote". the fifth estate. Retrieved 8 January 2012.
  14. "Accused murderer acted out film plot". The Age. 19 March 2011. Retrieved 8 January 2012.
  15. "The Devil's Cinema: True Account of Mark Twitchell". Alberta Primetime. 27 March 2012. Retrieved 31 March 2012.
  16. Puzic, Sonja (31 March 2012). "Book offers new insight into Edmonton filmmaker killer". CTV.ca. Retrieved 1 April 2012.
  17. Wiseman, Andreas (12 April 2022). "'Face/Off' & 'Hacksaw Ridge' Producer David Permut Lines Up True Crime Movie About "Dexter Killer" Mark Twitchell; Sam Hobkinson To Write & Direct". Deadline. Retrieved 23 August 2022.
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