Hilary Duff is set to star in a new film about the murder of actress Sharon Tate, but Sharon’s sister Debra Tate isn’t too pleased that the movie, titled The Haunting of Sharon Tate, is happening.
Speaking to People, Debra said she views the film as “exploitative.” She doesn’t necessarily hold anything against Duff, just the film itself. “It doesn’t matter who it is acting in it—it’s just tasteless. It’s classless how everyone is rushing to release something for the 50th anniversary of this horrific event.” She continued, “It would have been nice if someone had contacted me.”
Duff shared a photo of herself dressed as Sharon on Instagram, with the caption, “Had the incredible opportunity of playing Sharon Tate the past two weeks in an independent movie. She was an amazing woman and it was a true honor.”
Sharon was 26 when she was stabbed to death in her home in Aug. 1969 by Charles Manson’s cult. She was married to director Roman Polanski and was eight and a half months pregnant at the time of her death. The actress was best known for her roles in films such as Eye of the Devil and Valley of the Dolls. Debra was 16 years old when her sister died.
According to Deadline, The Haunting of Sharon Tate gives us a look into the days before her death, from Sharon’s perspective. The film is inspired by an interview the actress did in 1968, where she detailed dreams of ghosts haunting her home and even foretold her own murder by a satanic cult.
Debra, however, believes Sharon’s dreams weren’t real. “I checked with all of her living friends. None of her friends had any knowledge of this. Tacky, tacky, tacky,” she told People. “It’s a total fabrication.”
Two additional films are set to be released about Manson: Leonardo DiCaprio is slated to star as the cult leader in Quentin Tarantino's forthcoming movie about the cult leader, and The Crown and Doctor Who's Matt Smith will play Manson in Mary Harron's film Charlie Says.
