Dirty green and yellow tram light reflects off the mud and rain of darkened streets in the winter of 1943. As World War II wears on to its bloody climax, Melbourne is invaded by its allies: an army of hard-drinking American soldiers living loudly and lewdly. Albert Tucker’s painterly vision, absorbing the undercurrent of violence around him, takes a unique turn. But painter and city are confronted by a fresh horror: a serial killer, preying on women as they tread the streets at night. Based on the story of Melbourne’s notorious brown-out strangler, Portraits of Modern Evil turns one of the great visionaries of twentieth century Australian art into a protagonist in a surreal and frightening tale.