What Is The Strangler About?
The premise of The Strangler in 316 words, with nothing given away. The full story follows below.
In a city where shadows linger long after the sun has set, an unsettling presence moves through the streets, drawn to the quiet desperation of those who feel forgotten. Émile is a predator with an uncanny ability to sense a woman’s despair, and he stalks those he deems too despondent to live. His method is both elegant and terrifying, marked by a stark white scarf that becomes a silent signature in the night. The atmosphere is thick with unease, as ordinary lives are tinged with an underlying threat that feels both intimate and inescapable.
Opposite this darkness stands a determined law‑enforcer, a seasoned inspector whose reputation for unconventional tactics precedes him. The inspector refuses to rely on standard procedures, instead probing the psychological undercurrents that drive the predator’s choices. He navigates a world where intuition and empathy become as vital as forensics, turning each lead into a delicate dance between curiosity and caution. The tone is gritty yet cerebral, balancing procedural tension with an almost tactile sense of dread that seeps into every corridor of the investigation.
Helping him is a woman whose own life teeters on the brink of danger, a figure whose connection to the case is as personal as it is professional. Though she may become the next target, her involvement adds a volatile mix of vulnerability and resolve, pulling the inspector deeper into a maze of motives and hidden sorrows. Their uneasy partnership fuels a cat‑and‑mouse dynamic that heightens the film’s suspense, hinting at deeper secrets lurking beneath the surface of ordinary existence.
As the city watches, the clash between predator and pursuer builds an atmosphere charged with tension, where each glance and whispered clue could tip the balance. The story unfolds in a somber palette of bleak streets and flickering neon, inviting viewers to feel the weight of every unspoken fear while the hunt continues, poised on the edge of revelation.
What Happens in The Strangler?
The complete story of The Strangler, from the first scene to the last, in 482 words (about 2 minutes). Spoilers throughout.
Spoilers ahead
Leo Kroll is a deeply troubled lab technician with an intense obsession for dolls, which he meticulously collects. Beneath this fragile exterior lies a dark and disturbing nature, as he is also a serial killer responsible for the deaths of several nurses. Throughout the film, Kroll finds himself under police interrogation regarding these murders, but he manages to convince the authorities of his innocence and is released each time.
Kroll’s fascination with death and control extends to his personal life when he declares his intention to target Clara, a nurse caring for his ailing and possessive mother, who is hospitalized following a heart attack. Interestingly, as a chilling sign of his obsession, Kroll leaves behind a doll at the crime scene. This act hints at his psychological state, blending his fetish with his murderous impulses. Meanwhile, a subplot unfolds involving Kroll developing an infatuation with Tally, a girl working at an amusement park stall from whom he originally won the doll.
Despite passing a lie detector test and gaining suspect clearance, Kroll’s tension escalates when he visits his mother and confesses to her the killing of Clara, which triggers a second, fatal heart attack. The story intensifies when Kroll visits the amusement park again and notices Barbara, Tally’s coworker, talking to the police. His paranoia and nervousness become apparent as he tries to play a game at the park, missing ring after ring. When Barbara mimics a doll by saying “Mama,” it triggers a violent outburst in Kroll, reminiscent of his troubled relationship with his mother. Overcome with rage and desperation, he goes to Barbara’s apartment and murders her by strangulation as she steps out of the shower, a killing that disorients the police since it involves a different victim from his usual targets.
Following the death of his mother, Kroll experiences a fleeting sense of liberation, and it appears that his intense hatred for women begins to fade. He visits Tally and proposes marriage, but when she rejects him, his mental state deteriorates further. Kroll becomes convinced that the negative beliefs his mother ingrained in him about women are true. His obsession and psychosis push him toward more violent actions as the police narrow down their suspect through descriptions provided by Tally.
In a tense climax, Kroll hides in Tally’s apartment, waiting to kill her when she returns home. The police, convinced that Tally might be the next victim, plant listening devices in her room and stay close to catch him. As Tally prepares to leave town, she accidentally damages the bug in her room, and unaware of the police listening in, Kroll emerges and begins to strangle her. The police storm into the apartment and open fire, hitting Kroll and causing him to fall from the window to his death. The fate of Tally remains uncertain, leaving viewers with a haunting impression of the devastating consequences of Kroll’s disturbed mind.
The Strangler Timeline: Every Key Event in Order
10 key events in the order they happen, from “Introduction of Leo Kroll” to “Climax: police intervention”. 5 events name a place, across 4 locations.
- 1
Introduction of Leo Kroll
Leo Kroll is introduced as a mother-fixated lab technician who collects dolls. He is also revealed to be a serial killer responsible for the deaths of several nurses, which leads to police questioning him. Despite his ties to the murders, he successfully claims his innocence at this stage.
- 2
Kroll's next victim, Clara
Kroll states that his next victim will be Clara, a nurse caring for his hospitalized mother after her heart attack. He lures Clara to her death and leaves a doll at the crime scene, indicating a psychological connection to his crimes. His actions are part of his compulsive pattern.
- 3
Police questioning and release
Kroll undergoes police questioning regarding Clara's murder and passes a lie detector test, which results in his release. His apparent innocence complicates the investigation and temporarily dismisses suspicion from law enforcement.
- 4
Kroll visits his mother in hospital
Kroll visits his mother in the hospital to tell her about Clara’s murder, which causes her to have a second, fatal heart attack. This event deepens his emotional instability and ties his actions to his obsession with his mother.
Where:hospital
- 5
Kroll's encounter with Barbara at the amusement park
Kroll returns to the amusement park where he notices Barbara, a co-worker of Tally. His nervousness and missed game rings reveal his inner turmoil, and Barbara’s mimicry of a doll triggers his breakdown, reminding him of his mother.
Where:amusement park
- 6
Kroll's murder of Barbara
Kroll impulsively goes to Barbara's apartment and strangulates her as she steps out of the shower. This murder, unrelated to his earlier victims, confuses police efforts by shifting suspicion from nurses to park employees.
Where:Barbara's apartment
- 7
Kroll's perceived freedom and proposal
With his mother's death, Kroll feels a sense of freedom and begins to believe his violent tendencies may diminish. He then visits Tally and proposes marriage, but she rejects him, fueling his internal conflict.
- 8
Kroll's obsession and police investigation
After Tally rejects him, Kroll becomes convinced that he must kill her as part of his violent pattern. Police gather a description of the suspect, finally linking Kroll to multiple murders through their investigation.
- 9
Kroll's final trap at Tally's apartment
Kroll hides in Tally's apartment, waiting to kill her when she returns home. Law enforcement places a bug in her room, attempting to monitor Kroll's actions to prevent the murder and arrest him.
Where:Tally's apartment
- 10
Climax: police intervention
As Kroll begins to strangle Tally, police burst into the room and open fire, hitting him. Kroll is thrown through the window and falls to his death. It remains uncertain whether Tally survives the assault.
Where:Tally's apartment
Who Are the Main Characters in The Strangler?
2 characters, among them Leo Kroll and Tally: who each one is and the part they play in the story. Every profile links to the actor’s page.
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Leo Kroll
Played by Jacques Perrin
A socially awkward lab technician with a disturbing obsession for dolls and a violent streak. His complex relationship with his mother and his growing hatred of women culminate in murderous acts. His instability drives the narrative's suspense and tragedy.
- 🧠 Psychologically complex
- 🔪 Violent
- 🧸 Obsessive
- T
Tally
Played by Sandra Julien
A girl working at the amusement park who unwittingly becomes a target of Kroll's violence. She is portrayed as innocent and a potential victim, whose rejection sparks Kroll's final destructive act. Her interactions with Kroll highlight themes of vulnerability and innocence.
- 💃 Friendly
- 🚶♀️ Vulnerable
- 💔 Rejected
Where and When Is The Strangler Set?
The Strangler is set in Urban settings, amusement park, hospital and police station (Late 20th century, likely 1970s or 1980s). Here is why the time and place matter to the story.
When
Late 20th century, likely 1970s or 1980s
The film's events are set in a period that appears to be the late 20th century, characterized by the absence of modern digital technology. The setting reflects a time when police investigations relied on lie detectors and physical evidence, highlighting a gritty, noir atmosphere typical of that era.
Where
Urban settings, amusement park, hospital, police station
The movie takes place in urban environments that include a bustling city, an amusement park where the protagonist works, a hospital where his mother is hospitalized, and police stations involved in the investigation. These settings are typical of a city-based thriller, creating a backdrop of everyday life intertwined with dark, criminal activities.
- 🏙️ City
- 🎡 Amusement park
- 🏥 Hospital
- 🚓 Police station
What Are the Themes of The Strangler?
2 ideas the story keeps returning to, among them Obsession and Violence.
-
01
Obsession
The movie explores themes of obsession, particularly through Leo Kroll's fixation on dolls and his mother. This fixation drives his violent behavior and shapes his view of women, illustrating how deep-seated obsessions can lead to destructive actions.
-
02
Violence
Violence is central to the narrative, with Kroll's series of murders and the final confrontation highlighting the dark consequences of unresolved psychological trauma. The film presents violence as both a product of internal struggle and external circumstance.
What Kind of Film Is The Strangler?
Dark in tone, with steady pacing and a straightforward story, going by the plot summary.
- Tone
- Dark
- Pacing
- Steady
- Story
- Straightforward
- Intensity
- High
- Ending
- Bleak
A deeply unsettling and intense psychological thriller that follows a disturbed serial killer's descent into psychosis, generating constant dread and paranoia as the police attempt to stop him.
- oppressive
- unsettling
- anxious
- claustrophobic
- disturbing
- paranoid
- serial killer
- psychological obsession
- police investigation
- mother complex
Content notes: serial murder, strangulation, psychological trauma, voyeurism.
Quiz
How well do you remember The Strangler? Test yourself on the story.
Where to Watch The Strangler
Stream it on Eternal Family and Fandor, or rent or buy it from Amazon Video. US availability and prices from JustWatch.
Stream 9
Eternal Family 
Fandor Amazon Channel 
Kanopy 
Midnight Pulp Amazon Channel 
OVID 
Philo 
Screambox Amazon Channel 
Shudder 
The Roku Channel Rent or buy 1
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