MovieChat Forums > Lady in White (1988) Discussion > Why did the killer kill? (major spoilers...

Why did the killer kill? (major spoilers)


I know that something happened to Phil to make him the nutcase he turned out to be but I'm never able to get clear on WHAT happened? Something to do with his parents? If anyone can clear this up for me that would be great because I never "get it" when I watch the movie. Thanks. :-)

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It was said in one scene, where he and Angelo were talking on the porch, that Phil lost both parents in less than a year. Phil mentioned the experience being hard with a lot of mixed emotions. Although that doesn't fully explain why he decided to kill kids. I always thought that when he saw a kid whose life seemed to be perfect and happy, it made him angry because his childhood was torn apart by death, even mad enough to want to kill them.

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"I always thought that when he saw a kid whose life seemed to be perfect and happy, it made him angry because his childhood was torn apart by death, even mad enough to want to kill them."

That was what I thought too. I wish the movie had been a bit clearer on the issue though. And I still wonder just how Phil knew Melissa, and why he was alone with her that night. Was he babysitting or something I wonder? Hmm...confusing.

Thanks. :-)

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I think Phil was a child molester/rapist and he killed the kids to protect himself. There are clues in the way Melissa asks and talks with him in the cloakroom murder scene. also notice the scene when they are shooting at the bullseye how Phils face is pressed against Franky and how he talks to him. He seems to lose himself for a moment then he snaps out of it and says good job.

I think they were trying to say the death of his parents had something to do with how he turned out but I never bought that one.

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They actually mentioned that the children were sexually molested in the movie. It's only in one scene, and it's quick, but it is mentioned.(The part where the youngest boy's older brother brings the paper into the bedroom taling about how famous he is now, and how had he been molested and killed he'd a made an even dozen and really famous) I really enjoyed the movie overall. I was actually caught offguard when I came across it today.Fun watch, I hadn't seen it since I was a little kid. (It scared the *beep* out of me back then) Now it just seemed like a great movie from start to finish.

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I also notice that cathil317. I think he was a child molester because before killing Melissa we can see how he smash the dress of the little girl.Later in the movie when he was with Franky he almost kiss him. I think Phil was a crazy guy.

I'M SMARTBUT IN A STUPID WAY

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"I think Phil was a child molester/rapist and he killed the kids to protect himself. There are clues in the way Melissa asks and talks with him in the cloakroom murder scene. also notice the scene when they are shooting at the bullseye how Phils face is pressed against Franky and how he talks to him. He seems to lose himself for a moment then he snaps out of it and says good job.

I think they were trying to say the death of his parents had something to do with how he turned out but I never bought that one."

I agree with most of this.

I think the reason he had "Mixed feelings" about his parents death, is because his father was messing with him and he had something to do with their deaths. Perhaps his mom knew and it was too much.

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Yeah, I've always wondered about this too. I figured it had something to do with his parents since they had that line in the movie about his parents dying. Maybe one of them molested him. I don't know, but I would have liked if they explained what made Phil do this.

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I recall that victims are especially likely to offend, so that's what I assumed, too. It would definitely explain the "mixed feelings."

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What people seem not to know is that peophiles usually "seduce" the children. They become their best friends. They date their mothers, coach a team, or supervise children's group to get close to them. Most molested children are never beaten. They are usually given extra stuff, clothes, video games, alcohol, special food, and anything else to seduce the kid into thinking that they are special, and no one cares more for them then the molester. This one killed when things went wrong. When their was a danger of being caught, or maybe he was just ready to move on to another one. The last estimate I heard for how many children are molested by an offender before he is caught is usually 80 children. A molester uses pleasure, gifts, love, attention, and if neccesary fear to secure what he wants. The offenders are usually white middle to upper class males. Serial killers are 99% white middle to upper class males. They have usually been abused themselves in some form. If peophiles did forcibly rape these children, they would be alot easier to find. It is the ones you are least likely to suspect.

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I haven't seen this show for years, but, I thought he killed the children to nurt the parents. He was emotionally destroyed when his parents died, and he was getting revenge on all parents for what he had gone through.

Forget love-I'd rather fall in chocolate.

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Again, it says right in the movie that the man molested his victims, then killed them.

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i wondering if the mother knew him i mean melissa's mother knew him

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Why is it necessary to explain the killer's motivations? He's a child molester and murderer. It's a sickness. There's no logical reason for child rape other than mental disease.

I may not know a lot, but I do know "a lot" is two words.

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As soon as the conversation took place about Phil's parents having died a year within each other I knew he was a serial killer. I assumed he had murdered his own parents because he's a sociopath. He might have dated Melissa's mother or was trusted by her because she was a single Mom who probably went to school with him.

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I don't think he killed his parents. I don't think he's a sociopath, either. His character has scenes which demonstrate a CLEAR CONCERN for what Franky's dad will think if he ever finds out what's going on. He is compelled to kill to cover up his secrets. A sociopath tends to me more brazen because they feel justified in their actions and beliefs.

I think the trauma of his childhood perhaps affected him negatively. The single mother thing, too, I think is just a bit of a stretch. Purely speculative, with no evidence to support the detail.

Bottom line, like one of the shop workers says, "who knows why these guys who go after kids do what they do? they're sick."

M

I may not know a lot, but I do know "a lot" is two words.

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Some people are just hardwired for that sort of thing. I have heard that one of the signs of a serial killer is doing things to small animals as children. Its a gateway kind of thing and later in life they may step up to larger "prey".

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Not to keep repeating what everyone else says, but I don't think they ever really explain Phill's motive but hint to the whole loss of the parents. I just got the impression that at a young age he lost both parents and that messed him up.
I just watched the film and noticed the scene where he is having a target practice and he helps Frankie take a shot. I noticed the way Phill seems like he's having a hard to time controlling himself. I also remember Gino saying the kids were molested. I guess that scene was suppossed to imply that Phill was a pedophile. I never caught that, but its been probably 15 years to this day that I saw the film. Also, I don't know if anyone noticed this, but the part where Phill the father and the other shop worker are on the porch talking about the Janitor who gets accused. The Father asks why the Janitor who has kids would kill. He doesn't and never does believe the Janitor was the killer. Anyway, The shop worker says there is no real reason people kill they're just sick, or something like that, using profanity. Anyway, as he says that, Phill stands up, like he's about to intervene or defend himself. Just curious if anyone noticed that scene.
Also, some of the other comments about Pedophiles and how Phill may have known Melissa. Well, in the Cloak room, when she appears, she asks were he hid her present. Then she says he gave her the dress she was wearing and says I know your favorite song. People say the Pedophiles give them gifts or things to make them feel special. Anyway, he was obviously buying her stuff to win her friendship. As to why he was a killer, I don't think they ever explain, other then when he and the father talk.
He does say though, that if it hadn't been for the mother and father he didn't know what he would have done. Then the father says it took such strength to deal with the loss he took. So I guess its supposed to imply that the lose of this parents really messed him up. So out of depression, regret, envy, jealousy, or who knows why, were the reasons to him doing what he did. Anyway, sorry to put so much down and repeat, but I thought I'd mention everything. Also, if no ones already mentioned this, what does the ghost Melissa see in the cloak room that scares her, right before her ghost is murdered, she stops, looks at Frankie, he asks who she is, then she says she's scared and wants to go home. Anyone know what she saw, because I never understood that at all.

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I never even saw that scene everyone's talking about where they explicitly say the kids were molested, but I still definitely got that pedophile vibe, especially in the archery scene. I just saw this movie again for the first time since I was ten, and needless to say I... get a lot more out of that scene now. Definitely the creepiest one, way scarier than any of the murders. Great movie, though.

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The scene where they say the kids were molested is when Frankie is in bed and Gino comes in with the paper. He angers the grandfather and father about the name calling and leaves to get food. He comes back in with the paper and says its a big story. 11 kids were molested and killed. Mostly city kids. Then mentions his friend Richie. They don't really emphasize the killer being a pedophile, but besides Gino's line, I think its supposed to be implied. I last saw the film when I was 14 or 15 and just recently I saw it on TV and had forgotten many of the scenes. I never really noticed the archery scene, until recently. Its very disturbing, like Phill was forgetting where he was and who he was with.

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And Phil had that "I'm a nice guy" attitude about him that made adults and kids trust him. Makes you look at your neighbors a bit more closely, doesn't it? *shiver*

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Overall I did rather enjoy the movie quiet a bit. Though I feel that there could have been some scenes either cut out or added on to. And there some things that I really didn't fully understand. Why Phil killed was the major one. I would have liked to know why even if it was a stupid reason at least there was one then.

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And Phil had that "I'm a nice guy" attitude about him that made adults and kids trust him. Makes you look at your neighbors a bit more closely, doesn't it? *shiver*


Yeah he did and it does. 

"I'm the ultimate badass,you do NOT wanna f-ck wit me!"Hudson,Aliens😬

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