IMDb 7 1982 HD

The Executioner’s Song

The Executioner’s Song

1982
Crime Drama
135 min NR USA
5.7 / 10
7 IMDB

In this fact-based made-for TV film, Gary Gilmore, an Indiana man who just finished serving a lengthy stay in prison, tries to start anew by moving to Utah.…

Personnel // Cast & Crew

Director Lawrence Schiller
Starring
Tommy Lee Jones / Christine Lahti / Rosanna Arquette / Eli Wallach / Steven Keats / Jordan Clarke / Richard Venture / Jenny Wright

How Viewers Describe This Film

Common themes and sentiments

disturbing intense grim factual compelling unsettling raw thought-provoking stark powerful controversial tragic

Reviews

P
Penelope Davies
May 22, 2026
4.0 / 5
4.0

This fact-based drama offers a stark and compelling look at the life and crimes of Gary Gilmore. The film's power lies in its unvarnished depiction of events, from Gilmore's troubled beginnings to his violent acts and his controversial…

S
Silas Croft
May 22, 2026
3.0 / 5
3.0

As a made-for-TV film, 'The Executioner's Song' approaches the grim tale of Gary Gilmore with a commendable, if somewhat restrained, focus on factual accuracy. Tommy Lee Jones provides a solid performance as the convicted killer, conveying a sense…

B
Beatrice Holloway
May 22, 2026
4.5 / 5
4.5

'The Executioner's Song' is a potent and deeply unsettling examination of a notorious true crime case. The film excels in its unflinching portrayal of Gary Gilmore's descent into murder and his subsequent demand for capital punishment, a narrative…

A
Arthur Pendelton
May 22, 2026
3.5 / 5
3.5

This 1982 production grapples with the sensationalised true story of Gary Gilmore, a man whose life spiralled into violence and a death wish. The film's strength lies in its commitment to fact-based storytelling, presenting the events without undue…

E
Eleanor Vance
May 22, 2026
4.0 / 5
4.0

A chillingly effective made-for-TV drama, 'The Executioner's Song' plunges viewers into the dark heart of a true crime story with an unnerving directness. Tommy Lee Jones delivers a performance of raw intensity as Gary Gilmore, a man seemingly…

FAQs

The relationship between Gary Gilmore and Nicole Baker is presented as a catalyst for the film's central conflict. Described as an 'ill-advised romance' with a 'troubled' Nicole, a teenage single mother, its rapid deterioration is directly linked to Gary's subsequent 'murderous rampage'. Their dynamic is crucial to understanding the events that unfold.