Matt Smith plays Charlie Manson in first trailer for Charlie Says

Directed by Mary Harron, the film's primary focus is the women who became entranced by Manson and his teachings, before committing horrific murders at his command

The first trailer for Charlie Says sees Matt Smith transform into cult leader Charles Manson.

Directed by American Psycho‘s Mary Harron, the film’s primary focus is the women who became entranced by Manson and his teachings, before committing horrific murders at his command.

It features Game of Thrones‘s Hannah Murray as Leslie Van Houten, Sosie Bacon as Patricia Krenwinkel, Marianne Rendón as Susan Atkins, and Suki Waterhouse as Mary Brunner.

The film is set years after the Manson murders, where the women are now imprisoned but remain under Manson’s influence, believing their crimes were part of a cosmic plan.

It’s only until grad student Karlene Faith (Merritt Weaver) arrives at the prison, in an attempt to rehabilitate them, that the women start to confront the truth of their crimes.

The film premiered at last year’s Venice Film Festival. The Independent’s Geoffrey Macnab wrote at the time: “What makes Charlie Says so original is its perspective and its willingness to depict the banality and absurdity of life with Manson rather than simply to portray him as the quintessence of evil.”

Charlie Says will be released in US cinemas on 10 May.