Dear Mr. Gacy 2010

Thriller

Drama

Crime

Horror

Runtime

103 mins

Language

English

Directed by

Jesse Moss

Made by

National Bank of Canada

Test your knowledge of Dear Mr. Gacy with our quiz!

Dear Mr. Gacy Plot Summary

Read the complete plot summary and ending explained for Dear Mr. Gacy (2010). From turning points to emotional moments, uncover what really happened and why it matters.

As part of his college thesis, Jason Moss, a criminology student, decides to write to John Wayne Gacy and try to gain his trust by posing as a vulnerable admirer. Moss sends a carefully crafted letter to the imprisoned killer, presenting himself as a troubled, sexually confused teen. The aim is not sensationalism but to dive into Gacy’s psyche in hopes of uncovering fresh material for a standout term paper.

The exchange quickly becomes a tense test of will. Gacy, initially wary, puts Moss through a grueling series of emotional trials delivered through letters and collect calls. These exchanges take a toll on Moss’s relationships with those close to him—his girlfriend and his family—while the killer manipulates the dynamic from inside the cell. Gacy attempts to pull Moss into darker behaviors, even suggesting that he should become a hustler, and Moss lies about a client stealing his wallet. In a shocking moment, Gacy claims to protect those he cares about by offering to have the man’s penis cut off, revealing how far he will go to assert control. He also pushes Moss to involve his younger brother, Alex, by asking for a letter from him and even hinting at molesting the boy, provoking fear and driving Moss to retreat from certain calls.

As the pressure mounts, Moss’s grip on reality begins to fray. Paranoia and aggression creep into his life: he lashes out at a classmate who bullies his brother, and he even contemplates hiring a prostitute to assault someone, only stopping himself at the last moment. The psychological tug-of-war grows more dangerous as Gacy learns that Moss has lied about authorities and is possibly corresponding with other inmates. The looming sense of danger complicates every choice Moss makes, blurring the line between research and risk.

When Gacy learns that Moss’s final appeal has failed and the execution is near, the killer offers to pay for a prison visit. Moss agrees, spurred by a mix of curiosity and obligation, after a warden’s call confirms the visit will be tightly supervised. A former survivor of Gacy’s crimes warns Moss against this, but he presses on. Upon arrival, Moss discovers that he will be placed in the same room with Gacy, while guards watch through cameras from outside. The moment grows increasingly intimate and menacing as Gacy feigns friendship, until a sudden shift occurs: Moss is subjected to a threat of rape and murder, and the guards misread the scene as a sexual encounter, choosing to look away briefly. The tension peaks as Moss screams for help and the guards rush in.

The encounter leaves a lasting mark. Gacy calls Moss again, threatening to reveal allegations of molestation against Alex if Moss does not comply, and Moss responds by insisting he’s merely researching the killer for school. The killer is put to death soon after, and Moss later speaks to the faculty at his college, reflecting on what happened and what it did to him. The film closes with a stark, real-life epilogue: an interview with the real Jason Moss and a photo taken of Moss and Gacy days before the execution, noting that Moss went on to write a book about their relationship before his death by suicide in June 2006.

This true-crime portrayal delves into the dangerous power of manipulation and how a single, obsessive project can erode boundaries, relationships, and even a person’s sense of self. The narrative carefully traces how Moss’s scholarly curiosity spirals into a life-altering ordeal, offering a somber meditation on fame, trauma, and the consequences of crossing lines that should never be crossed.

Dear Mr. Gacy Timeline

Follow the complete movie timeline of Dear Mr. Gacy (2010) with every major event in chronological order. Great for understanding complex plots and story progression.

Moss begins thesis by contacting Gacy

Jason Moss decides to explore John Wayne Gacy for his criminology thesis and crafts an approach that frames him as a troubled, vulnerable admirer. He writes to the imprisoned killer with the aim of gaining trust and obtaining material for his paper. This decision marks the risky starting point of a dangerous investigative journey.

early-stage of the thesis University campus / Moss's dorm

Moss sends crafted letter to Gacy

From his dorm room, Moss sends a carefully crafted letter to Gacy, presenting himself as a sexually confused teen seeking understanding. The outreach is designed to lure the killer into opening up and to yield insights for the study. The initial contact quietly begins the tense exchange.

shortly after initial decision Moss's dorm room

First exchanges test Gacy's boundaries

Gacy responds with caution and begins pushing boundaries through letters and collect-call attempts from inside his cell. The exchanges quickly become a coercive psychological exercise, with the killer steering the conversation toward control. Moss realizes he has entered a high-stakes game with a dangerous man.

early in correspondence Prison cell / letters

Relationships strained by the project

The intense exchanges begin to erode Moss's relationships with his girlfriend and family. The obsession with the case bleeds into real life, raising concerns among those close to him. The project starts to isolate him from his loved ones.

ongoing Moss's home and circle of friends

Gacy pushes Moss toward darker behavior

Gacy urges Moss toward troubling roles and manipulates the dynamic to test his boundaries. Moss lies about a client stealing his wallet to cover for the deception. The line between research and manipulation becomes dangerously blurred.

ongoing Letters and phone calls

Brutal threats and pressure to involve Alex

Gacy escalates by claiming he will protect those Moss cares about with brutal means and hints at involving Moss's younger brother, Alex. The threats push Moss toward retreating from some calls and re-evaluating the safety of the situation. The pressure intensifies the sense of danger.

midpoint Letters / prison cell

Moss's grip on reality deteriorates

Paranoia and aggression creep into Moss's life as the project dominates his thoughts. He lashes out at a classmate who bullies his brother and even contemplates hiring a prostitute to assault someone, stopping himself at the last moment. The psychological toll of the exchanges becomes increasingly evident.

mid-procedure Campus / home

Gacy uncovers Moss's deception

Gacy learns that Moss has lied to authorities and may be corresponding with other inmates, heightening the danger. The killer tightens his grip and intensifies the manipulation. The ethical boundaries Moss fears crossing become murkier as the web tightens.

late stage Letters / prison context

Supervised prison visit arranged as execution nears

With Moss's final appeal failing, an impending execution prompts Gacy to offer to pay for a tightly supervised prison visit. Moss agrees, spurred by curiosity and obligation, while a warden confirms the strict supervision. The planned encounter becomes a focal point for fear and responsibility.

near execution Prison

Former survivor warns Moss, but he presses on

A former survivor warns Moss against meeting Gacy, but his scientific curiosity and desire to complete the project push him forward. The warning adds a layer of moral complexity to the upcoming encounter. The decision weighs heavily as the date approaches.

before the visit Prison facility

The visit: manipulation escalates into threat

Moss and Gacy are placed together in the same room while guards observe from outside. Gacy pretends friendship, but the mood turns menacing as he threatens Moss with rape and murder. The guards briefly look away, misreading the moment, and Moss screams for help as they rush in.

during the visit Prison visiting room

Aftermath: Moss threatened over Alex; maintains research stance

In the aftermath, Gacy calls Moss again, threatening to reveal allegations against Alex unless Moss complies. Moss insists that his actions are for scholarly research, trying to detach the encounter from personal risk. The coercive pressure continues to ripple through his life.

after the visit Phone calls

Gacy is executed; Moss reflects

Gacy is put to death soon after, leaving Moss to confront what the experience has done to him. The film shifts toward a sober reflection on the costs of crossing ethical lines for the sake of a story. Moss's personal boundaries and sanity bear the scars of the ordeal.

shortly after execution Prison / campus

Epilogue: real interview and legacy

The film closes with an epilogue that includes an interview with the real Jason Moss and a photo of Moss with Gacy taken days before the execution. It notes that Moss later wrote a book about their relationship and that he died by suicide in June 2006. The closing moments reflect on fame, trauma, and the consequences of crossing lines.

epilogue (2006) College setting and real-life interview

Dear Mr. Gacy Characters

Explore all characters from Dear Mr. Gacy (2010). Get detailed profiles with their roles, arcs, and key relationships explained.

Jason Moss (Jesse Moss)

A criminology student who pursues a controversial thesis by corresponding with a notorious killer. His obsessive project tests ethical boundaries and strains his relationships with his girlfriend and family. As the pressure mounts, he grapples with paranoia, manipulation, and the lure of groundbreaking material at a steep personal cost.

🧠 Psychology 💔 Relationships ⚖️ Ethical Dilemma

John Wayne Gacy (William Forsythe)

An imprisoned serial killer who exerts chilling influence over Moss through letters and calls. He uses manipulation and intimidation to push Moss toward darker actions and to threaten those Moss loves. His presence embodies dangerous power dynamics and predatory control within the confinement of a cell.

🃏 Manipulation ⚖️ Power 💀 Threats

Alyssa (Emma Lahana)

Moss's girlfriend whose support comes under strain as the project consumes him. She remains wary and caring, illustrating the personal cost of moral and professional risk. Her perspective highlights the tension between intellectual pursuit and emotional safety.

💞 Relationships 😟 Fear 🗣️ Support

Alex Moss (Cole Moss)

Moss's younger brother who becomes an unintended focal point of Gacy's manipulation. The threat to Alex intensifies Moss's sense of responsibility and amplifies family tension. The dynamic adds a layer of protective loyalty to the narrative.

👶 Family ⚠️ Threats 🔒 Safety

Dear Mr. Gacy Settings

Learn where and when Dear Mr. Gacy (2010) takes place. Explore the film’s settings, era, and how they shape the narrative.

Time period

Early 1990s

The film unfolds in the early 1990s, a period when true-crime narratives and psychological studies captured public attention. Moss's correspondence with Gacy and the looming execution anchor the timeline. The epilogue references real-life events, including Moss's death in 2006.

Location

College campus, State prison

Primarily set on a college campus where a criminology thesis drives the plot. The action shifts into a state prison where the imprisoned killer exerts influence through letters and calls. Scenes unfold in a supervised visiting room and the surrounding security corridors, highlighting the control dynamics between inmate and researcher.

🏫 College campus 🔒 State prison

Dear Mr. Gacy Themes

Discover the main themes in Dear Mr. Gacy (2010). Analyze the deeper meanings, emotional layers, and social commentary behind the film.

⚖️

Ethics in Research

The film centers on the ethical boundaries of studying a serial killer; Moss's approach blurs lines between observer and participant. Gacy manipulates the dynamic, testing the researcher’s limits and endangering relationships. The theme questions the price of truth when it comes at personal and moral cost.

🃏

Power & Manipulation

Gacy wields psychological control through letters and threats. Moss becomes entangled in a dangerous game where words are weapons. The dynamic reveals how charisma and authority can corrode boundaries.

🌀

Trauma & Descent

The siege of paranoia descends on Moss as reality frays. Fear and aggression color his decisions and relationships. The film portrays how exposure to tyranny can erode a person’s sense of self and judgment.

Coming soon on iOS and Android

The Plot Explained Mobile App

From blockbusters to hidden gems — dive into movie stories anytime, anywhere. Save your favorites, discover plots faster, and never miss a twist again.

Dear Mr. Gacy Spoiler-Free Summary

Discover the spoiler-free summary of Dear Mr. Gacy (2010). Get a concise overview without any spoilers.

In a quiet university setting where academic ambition meets the darker curiosities of true‑crime, a young criminology student named Jason Moss embarks on a project that will test the limits of his discipline. Determined to craft a thesis that stands out, he chooses a subject that looms over the nation’s collective memory, seeking insight that textbooks cannot provide.

His research leads him to the incarcerated serial figure John Wayne Gacy, whose notoriety casts a long shadow over the prison walls and the media alike. The film paints their correspondence as a tense, almost theatrical exchange, where carefully worded letters become a conduit for a fragile connection. The atmosphere is thick with unease, balancing scholarly inquiry against an undercurrent of psychological manipulation, all rendered in a stark, documentary‑style realism.

As the dialogue deepens, the study’s focus shifts from purely intellectual pursuit to a personal obsession that begins to infiltrate Moss’s everyday life. Relationships with friends and family grow strained under the weight of his fixation, and the quiet campus world feels increasingly claustrophobic as his mind wrestles with the unsettling allure of the man behind the bars. The tone remains deliberately unsettling, inviting viewers to sit with the discomfort of a curiosity that borders on compulsion.

The film ultimately acts as a meditation on the perilous edge between research and obsession, exploring how the desire to understand a monstrous mind can erode a student’s sense of self. Through restrained cinematography and a brooding score, it offers a sober look at the consequences of crossing boundaries that many would prefer to leave untouched, leaving the audience to ponder the cost of seeking truth in the darkest of places.