This movie (aka The Other Side of Madness) is not to be confused with the television movie based on the Vincent Bugliosi book. This is a cheaply shot, crudely made documentary-like movie that was filmed while the Manson trial was taking place in Los Angeles. There are some weaknesses, but this is a fascinating movie for anyone who has an interest in the Manson story. First, the negatives:
First - for anyone who does not know the story of Charles Manson and his "Family", you may have no idea what is going on. You never hear the words "Manson" or "Tate". You do hear the words "Charlie" and you actually hear the voice of Charles Manson himself singing one of his own songs, "Mechanical Man". After hearing this, it is no wonder that Manson's recording career never took off.
Second - there is one long scene of a rock concert in the desert. It has absolutely nothing to do with the plot, except it puts the actors playing Tex Watson and Patricia Krenwinkle at the concert. The rock concert features some full frontal nudity, but mostly from skinny men and overweight women.
Third - there is little to no dialogue in the movie. The majority of the words you hear spoken are either off camera or look like they were dubbed in later. The whole movie is in black and white, except for one scene in color, where the actress who is playing Sharon Tate is being filmed in a "My Fair Lady"-type movie.
Fourth - the movie has no conclusion. While the movie shows the Tate murders, the movie ends with the killers entering the LaBianca home.
These are the negatives, including a cheesy "Keep your kids off drugs" warning that comes at the end of the movie (similar to "Reefer Madness"), but there is one huge positive. I have watched four movies about Manson (both "Helter Skelters" - original and remake, this movie, and Jim van Beber's sickening "The Manson Family"). This movie has probably the most frightening filming of the Tate murders of the four. The only drawback is the actress who plays Sharon Tate (Debbie Duff) can't act. She is beautiful, but looks confused instead of terrified. But the eerie black and white filming of the murders is very powerful.
Worth a look for anyone who is interested in this frightening case.