(The Hollywood Times) 6/21/26 – Billy London’s severed head was discovered in an alley off Santa Monica Boulevard, a crime that remains one of the most chilling and notorious unsolved murders in West Hollywood history. Decades later, filmmaker Rachel Mason set out to uncover the truth behind the case in her powerful documentary, My Brother’s Killer.
In the current issue of The Gay & Lesbian Review, I speak with Mason about the film and her deeply personal journey investigating Billy London’s murder.
I am the only known survivor of this killer’s violence. I escaped his attack and lived to tell the story. Set in 1991, at the height of the AIDS crisis, My Brother’s Killer follows Mason’s search for answers while exploring a backdrop of LGBTQ+ activism, resilience, and resistance against rising homophobia. The film not only examines a devastating crime but also preserves an important chapter of queer Los Angeles history.
The documentary has been making an impressive festival run. It premiered at SXSW in Austin, Texas, and has since screened at Inside Out Toronto, Lighthouse International Film Festival, and Milwaukee Film Festival. Most recently, My Brother’s Killer received the Special Jury Prize for Best Documentary at Outshine Film Festival in Florida. Additional festival screenings are expected to be announced in the coming months.
