There's no need for documentarian Arthur Dong to put words in the mouths of the convicted killers interviewed in "Licensed to Kill"; each man convicts himself with his own words.
While making the film, Dong (who produced, directed, wrote and edited it) interviewed 11 men, all of whom are currently serving time in prison for either killing gay men or for murders that were linked to anti-homosexual sentiments. Six individual interviews are included as is videotaped footage of a confession to New York detectives from a seventh man.
It's particularly astonishing to note that Dong, who was nearly beaten by "gay bashers" 20 years ago, had the courage to confront the men face-to-face (or camera-to-face, as it were) and managed to extract some very telling testimony.
What slowly emerges is a chilling look into the mind of a murderer, as all of the men share quite different stories.
Multiple-murderer Jay Johnson explains that he killed three men (including a Minnesota state senator) because of inner turmoil regarding his sexual identity — more specifically, the schism between his religious beliefs and his homosexual preferences.
Former gang member Corey Burley, who specifically targeted gay males to rob, chokes back tears as he admits he murdered a gay Vietnamese immigrant after being "egged on" by a friend.
And though the four people killed by former Army Sgt. Kenneth Jr. French outside a North Carolina restaurant weren't gay, he claims he randomly shot at the eatery while in a drunken rage spawned by President Clinton's announcement on lifting the ban on gays in the military.
Facing either life sentences or the possibility of death, most of the men now realize the consequences of their actions and sound repentant. However, Jeffrey Swinford, who killed a man who he says was making unwanted advances on a friend, remains unrepentant, referring to his victim as "just one less problem the world had to mess with."
Ultimately, what makes "Licensed to Kill" memorable is the fact that you don't have to sympathize with gay rights to appreciate its message — that killing is a senseless crime.
The film is at its best when it concentrates on interviews with the seven inmates. But it does take a couple of unfortunate cheap shots at the expense of organized religion, which detract from its otherwise objective tone.
"Licensed to Kill" is not rated but would probably receive an R for considerable profanity, shots of some gory and nude photos and vulgar references and sexual talk.