1 x 90-minutes
On 2nd May 2011 in Johannesburg South Africa, Gerhard Jansen van Vuuren stabbed his girlfriend fourteen times, killing her in broad daylight, and all caught on CCTV. A violent murderer yes, but also a charismatic manipulator, who evaded prison – twice – in two different countries, assumed three different identities, and started families with two different women, before being brought to justice. And all with the help from his mother.
Original Sin: My Son the Killer weaves a chilling narrative of Gerhard Jansen van Vuuren, seen through the haunted gaze of his mother. This crime thriller pulls you into a world where familial shadows loom large over present horrors. We move between the chilling scene of Andrea Venter's murder and the twisted lineage of Gerhard's upbringing, unraveling how the hidden scars of an abusive father and a dark family history forged him into a cold-blooded killer.
The cat-and-mouse tale of a clever and resourceful murderer on the run is compelling enough. But it’s only half the story. The film delves deep into the psyche of Gerhard’s mother, interweaving the tale of Gerhard’s remarkable upbringing. Deep in this family background are the clues not just to why Gerhard became a murderer, but also the creation of such a charming and persuasive sociopath. It raises unsettling questions about the origin of human character: are terrible crimes the product of nature or nurture? Something that’s born in the individual or created by upbringing?
With unprecedented access to many of the key characters, a mass of personal archive as well as footage of the courtroom denouement, the film goes way beyond the horrific crime Gerhard committed and his escape from justice. It examines what it was that made him, and the personality that allowed him to literally get away with murder. Until now...
