Movies

Errol Morris’ new Charles Manson documentary presents alternative theories about killings

BBG News

One commonly held ideas about Charles Manson suggests that he, being the notorious cult figure, planned to spark racial conflict through the organized murders committed by his followers during the 1960s.

In his latest documentary titled “Chaos: The Manson Murders,” available on Netflix, Errol Morris challenges the traditional narrative by proposing alternate theories about the 1969 Tate-LaBianca murders. These alternative theories encompass possible connections between Manson and government programs dealing with mind control and brainwashing.

This documentary titled “Chaos” showcases different perspectives on the events surrounding Manson, mainly through conversations with prosecutor Stephen Kay, the defense attorney O’Neill, and former associate Bobby Beausoleil. Additionally, it incorporates old interviews of Manson and his followers that were previously recorded.

The movie questions the validity (and reasons for) the “Helter Skelter” theory proposed by lead prosecutor Vincent Bugliosi during the Tate-LaBianca trial. Independent interviews with O’Neill and Beausoleil present contrasting theories regarding how and why the Manson-inspired murders transpired.

Here’s a breakdown of the alternative theories presented in “Chaos: The Manson Murders.”

Television

In a fresh documentary, the charismatic leader is heard acknowledging his involvement in numerous murders that took place in Mexico prior to the infamous Manson family slayings of 1969.

Manson possibly had links to secret government mind-control programs

Although there are certain aspects of this idea that remain unclear, O’Neill proposes a speculative link between Manson and clandestine government initiatives exploring mind manipulation and brainwashing, potentially including the CIA’s MKUltra program.

As per O’Neill, Manson’s period as a parolee in the Bay Area overlapped with the government’s investigation into how substances like LSD impacted people’s mental conditions.

In that period, Manson and his group often visited the Haight Ashbury Free Clinic for medical care and meetings with parole officer Roger Smith. It’s said that patients of this clinic were utilized as test subjects for mind control experiments during that era. Furthermore, O’Neill mentions that psychiatrist Louis Jolyon “Jolly” West, who is associated with the MKUltra project, was carrying out research on brainwashing in the Haight-Ashbury region concurrently.

While there’s no concrete evidence showing direct interaction between Manson and West, O’Neill suggests that both men were close enough in their circles during a period when Manson was amassing followers who might be characterized as “brainwashed.” This coincides with the government’s exploration of mind control techniques. Furthermore, O’Neill posits that Manson’s potential involvement in these government studies could shed light on Smith’s unexpected leniency towards Manson, even when he violated parole rules that should have led to more severe consequences.

Books

Intriguingly, the Manson Murders were a complex tapestry of elements: they involved sexuality, drug use, music, racial tension, the glamour of Hollywood, brainwashing, and off-road vehicles.

The possibility exists that the murders were falsely attributed to the Black Panthers, either due to personal motivations or as part of a larger government conspiracy.

As a movie enthusiast, I can’t help but be fascinated by the details of the 1969 murders. One intriguing aspect is that phrases, scrawled in the victims’ own blood, were discovered at the crime scenes. Phrases like “pigs,” “rise,” and “Helter Skelter” played a crucial role in the prosecution’s argument that Charles Manson was orchestrating a race war.

From what the documentary states, it seems that Manson thought the Black Panthers might take revenge on him due to his involvement in the death of one of their members. However, it’s important to clarify that the member Manson killed, Bernard “Lotsapoppa” Crowe, was not actually a part of the Black Panthers, and he was shot by Manson in July 1969, prior to the Tate-LaBianca murders which occurred in August.

Instead, it’s worth noting that O’Neill suggests secret intelligence operations by the government in those days aimed to undermine and discredit progressive political groups like the Black Panthers.

California

Read our full coverage of the Manson murders.

Manson was possibly just motivated by paranoia

In simpler terms, Charles “Beausoleil,” a past accomplice of Manson who served time for murdering Gary Hinman over a botched drug transaction, thinks that Manson’s reason for organizing the 1969 murder rampage was actually quite straightforward.

Instead of his paranoia driving Manson to encourage the extreme crimes, as suggested, Beausoleil believes that Manson may have planned the killings to maintain control over his followers.

The murder of Hinman is often pointed out as a reason behind the Tate-LaBianca killings. Some believe that Manson planned the subsequent slaughters to create an impression that all three events were intertwined.

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2025-03-07 11:31

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