Thought Crimes: The Case of the Cannibal Cop

Thought Crimes: The Case of the Cannibal Cop is an intriguing and disturbing 2015 documentary directed by Erin Lee Carr. The film focuses on the real-life case of Gilberto Valle, a former New York City policeman, who was charged with conspiring to kidnap, murder, and eat women. However, despite the macabre intent, the film is not about grisly crimes, but rather the thin line between dangerous fantasies and real-life malicious intent, scrutinizing the realm of the internet, the legality of thoughts, and the capabilities of law enforcement in the digital age.

The film primarily features Gary Allen as Gilberto Valle delivering a convincing and uncomfortable performance of a man under heavy public scrutiny. Additionally, renowned adult film star and sex educator Violet Blue, as well as defense lawyer James A. Cohen portray their real-life counterparts in the riveting legal drama that ensues, adding further dimension to this disconcerting narrative.

Thought Crimes begins by examining the life and character of Gilbert Valle before the accusations. This seemingly ordinary police officer was exposed by his wife when she discovered explicit conversations and disturbing content on his visited websites. Painted in his real-life persona, Valle is portrayed not merely as a creepy fetishist, but as a believable, easily relatable human being, drawing the audience into a deeper contemplation of his fate.

As the film delves deeper into the so-called 'Cannibal Cop' case, the audience is introduced to the offending material - lurid chat room exchanges and explicit, grotesque images on websites dedicated to such dark fantasies. However, Valle had never acted on these fantasies in reality, which poses the central question: Can someone be prosecuted for their thoughts? This unravels the immensely puzzling legal battle, as the defense and prosecution argue what distinguishes a potential predator from an individual indulging in dark fantasies online.

The film bravely ventures into the lesser-explored dark corners of erotic fetishes on the internet and the people who indulge in them. As the documentary proceeds, it introduces expert comments from renowned neuroscientists, law enforcers, activists, and lawyers, including Violet Blue and James A. Cohen. The picture they collectively draw is of a society wrestling with the thorny issues of free speech, privacy, and the nature of criminal intent in the age of the internet.

From a cinematographic perspective, Thought Crimes is visually powerful yet cripplingly intimate. Director Erin Lee Carr does a phenomenal job re-creating the environment of dark internet fetishes while inducing in the audience a sense of fear, confusion, empathy, and at times, disgust. The movie effortlessly oscillates between the intensity of a thriller and the thoughtful judicial scrutiny of a drama, creating a compelling narrative that keeps viewers absorbed.

The portrayal by Gary Allen captures the dichotomy of Valle's character perfectly - a devoted father and policeman harboring such dark fantasies. Meanwhile, Violet Blue educates the audience on the psychological aspects of erotic fetishes. James A. Cohen, the defense lawyer for Valle, maintains a solid argument that the judiciary should stick to crimes committed in action and not wander into the grey area of punishing mere thoughts.

Thought Crimes: The Case of the Cannibal Cop is an unsettling yet captivating exploration, not only of a man's dark fantasies but also of what society and its legal system do when confronted with such realities in the digital age. The film raises significant questions about the blurred line dividing thought from action and privacy from safety – issues that become increasingly relevant as we as a society become more entwined with the internet. Its power lies in its persistent ambiguity, making it impossible to draw easy conclusions, and thereby prompting a complex and uncomfortable introspection.