New Horror Film 'Rough on Rats' Draws From the True Story of Chicago's Tillie Klimek
Filmmaker Alex Phillips is moving into serial killer territory with a new horror feature called 'Rough on Rats,' described by the production as a 'psychotronic noir' film. According to Bloody Disgusting, the project draws inspiration from the real-life case of Tillie Klimek, a Chicago woman historically labeled the 'Black Widow,' who reportedly accumulated a significant body count. Phillips previously directed 'Anything That Moves,' an erotic thriller that the outlet characterizes as a rust belt take on the giallo genre. The new film has announced its cast, though specific casting details were not included in the available source material. The story of Tillie Klimek is rooted in documented criminal history from Chicago, making this one of those cases where the real-world events are arguably more disturbing than any fictional treatment. No release date has been confirmed based on the available information.
Jason's TakeTrue crime cases like Tillie Klimek's don't need much embellishment. The real history is dark enough on its own. I'm always interested when filmmakers go back to documented cases rather than just making something up, because it keeps the conversation going about what actually happened to real people. I'd want to see how closely they stick to the historical record.