An inside and unapologetic look into the mind of a serial killer is the basis of the straight-to-video release Dear Mr. Gacy.

This is a realistic pic that should have had a theatrical run. If it had, we might have been discussing the possibility of William Forsythe getting award recognition for both his charismatic and disturbing performance as John Wayne Gacy.

“Story of my life. I’m Cyrano de Bergerac,” the actor says laughing. But on a serious note, Forsythe reflects on the reasons why the movie probably wasn’t able to receive a wide release.

“This movie is the real deal,” he stresses. “The amount of work and the research that went into this film, I honestly believe that whatever has happened to our society, pop-culture or whatever it is, a movie like this 10 years ago would have gotten a huge release.

“Look, I’m just happy that people are going to see it because to me it is the ultimate reminder to people and kids to watch out, that there is true evil.”

And apparently we need that reminder, too. Forsythe was approached more than once by young fans excited about the pic because, as they admitted, Gacy was their hero.

“I said, ‘Hero? Are you out of your mind?’ ” he says still stunned.  “Can you imagine 300 pounds sitting on your chest, stuffing your underwear down…raping and torturing and murdering you?’ This is not a hero.’ ”

In fact, Dear Mr. Gacy follows the very real connection that student Jason Moss (played by Jesse Moss) made with the murderer for a term paper. Moss not only got a terrifying insight into the monster Gacy was, but wasn’t able to fully shake off his encounter. Moss’s life ended in tragedy with him taking his own life.

“He got in his mind and he never left,” Forsythe points out. “Unfortunately, Jason thought he could get into the mind of Gacy and play with him, but it’s the opposite of what happened. That is the theme of our movie…be careful when you open up Pandora’s Box.”

Certainly the actor had to get into the mind of the murderer in order to play him as well. His research led him not only to a childhood friend of Gacy’s (in the special features of the DVD), but gave him access to crime scene photos that still haunt Forsythe today.

“It broke my heart,” he recalls. “I had all the photographs of the young boys and I put them into a slide show and I could never get through half of it without completely losing it emotionally. It’s just very disturbing to see these faces that all look similar. He would pick on the weak.”

Forsythe tried to wipe his mind clean of memories he amassed while playing Gacy, a role that required that he gain weight and dye his hair.

“I immediate tried to purge him by losing weight,” the actor states. “I just went back to being a blond and I started listening to the Beach Boys and I just started taking myself on a sublime journey, away from the horror of John Wayne Gacy.”

Dear Mr. Gacy is currently on store shelves. This is one flick not to be missed.