Category Archives: Serial Killer

1980, Amazon Prime, Kanopy streaming, Nudity, Psychiatrists, Serial Killer, Sex Scenes

Dressed to Kill (1980)

From IMDB:

A mysterious blonde woman kills one of a psychiatrist’s patients, and then goes after the high-class call girl who witnessed the murder.

From Kanopy or Amazon Prime you can stream this 43 year old film starring Michael Caine and Angie Dickinson.

While watching this vintage film, I was struck by how young the actors were,  how sexually daring this film must have seemed way back then, how acting has changed, and what a good story and plot shock the film still provides.

Give this piece of film history a try.

2021, Amazon Prime, Serial Killer, Sex Scenes

Silent Hours (2021)

From IMDB:

Private detective John Duval, an ex-lieutenant commander in the Royal Navy and Naval Intelligence, finds himself the prime suspect in a police hunt for a sexual killer when three women are brutally murdered.

From Amazon Prime you can stream this 2 hour 35 minute complete film.  Another version of “Silent Hours” exists which is a series.

Follow the complicated clues interspersed with lots of sexual flash backs.   Why are serial killer stories often so intriguing?

2017, Grisly, Jo Nesbo, Netflix Streaming, Serial Killer, Sex Scenes, Violent

The Snowman (2017)

From IMDB:

Detective Harry Hole investigates the disappearance of a woman whose scarf is found wrapped around an ominous-looking snowman.

From Netflix you can stream this 2 hour film adaptation of one of Jo Nesbo’s serial killer thrillers featuring the damaged detective Harry Hole.

Jo Nesbo has written 13  novels whose main character is the Norwegian Detective Harry Hole.  Harry is a very smart alcoholic with a damaged love life and failed family structure.  Personally I am hooked on his stories.

You know what to expect from an exceptional cast of actors.

2002, Grisly, Horror, Netflix Streaming, Nudity, Serial Killer, Violent

Red Dragon (2002)

From IMDB:

A retired FBI agent with psychological gifts is assigned to help track down “The Tooth Fairy”, a mysterious serial killer. Aiding him is imprisoned forensic psychiatrist Dr. Hannibal “The Cannibal” Lecter.

From Netflix you can stream this 2 hour complete Hannibal Lecter movie.

Same old, same old, but still fun if you like that sort of horror show.  Somehow at least 7 known actors joined in the fray.

2019, Amazon Sundance, Journalist, Norwegian Detective, Serial Killer

Wisting (2019)

From IMDB:

Homicide detective William Wisting struggles with the two toughest cases of his career. His serial killer investigation crosses paths with his journalist daughter’s news story, putting her in grave danger.

From Amazon Sundance:

Set in the unique and stunning landscape of Norway, this series follows homicide detective William Wisting as he wrestles with the most challenging and shocking case of his career: a wanted American serial killer living among them.

From Amazon Sundance you can stream the first 2 seasons of this well-done detective thriller series. Season 1 has 10 episodes. Season 2 has 4 episodes. Each episode lasts about 45 minutes.

Season 1 is described in the above quote. Season 2 is a different story with the same detective and daughter journalist.

Highly recommended.

2023, Netflix Streaming, Sadism, Serial Killer, Violent

Luther: The Fallen Sun (2023)

From Netflix:

Haunted by an unsolved murder, brilliant but disgraced London police detective John Luther breaks out of prison to hunt down a
sadistic serial killer.

From Netflix  you can stream this 2 hour 10 minute complete film.

Idris Elba has made several Luther films, all of which are watchable, tense crime films. This particular story is disturbingly violent with some ugly scenes. At the end Luther and the serial killer battle to the end in a mansion in the snowy wilderness. Amidst the snow there are clear patches of ice underneath which we see the dead bodies of the killer’s victims.  You are warned.

Abduction, Abuse of Women, Amputation as revenge, Arrogant boss, Based on a Book, Bloody scenes, Could Be Hard To Watch, Detective, Disturbing Image, Drama, Father-daughter relations, Flashbacks, Forensic pathologist, Forensics, French Detectives, Grim, Jealousy, Love Story, MHz Choice, Multiple Sclerosis, Murder, Murder Investigation, Nudity, Occasional gore, Pharmaceutical Experiments, Police Culture, Prison, Psychopath, Rape, Rape Victim, Revenge, Romance, Serbian genocide of Bosnians, Serial Killer, Serial rapist, Single Father, Suicide, Suspense

Inspector La Brea (2009)

From Global Screen:

Based on the successful detective novels by Alexandra von Grothe. Mourning his wife’s death, Inspector Maurice LaBréa leaves Marseilles for Paris with his daughter Jenny. But Paris is no respite, for a ghastly copycat killer is imitating a killing spree around the Bastille that went on ten years ago.

From MHz Choice you can stream 3 episodes of this German language detective series set in Paris with English subtitles. Each episode lasts about an hour and a half.

All the crimes are ugly and brutal. Mutilated bodies are par for the course.

However, the central theme running through all the episodes is LaBrea’s loving concern for his daughter Jenny who encourages him to romance his beautiful painter neighbor who often takes care of Jenny when duty so often calls.

  • Episode 1: The Beast of the Bastille.
  • Episode 2: Murder in the Rue St. Lazare
  • Episode 3: Deadly Dreams in Montparnasse.

Somewhat old fashioned, nothing special, but plots consist of a nice contrast between the grim crimes and LaBrea’s personal life.

2015, Acceptable for teenagers, Action sequences, AIDS, Assisted Suicide, Brain Tumor, Cancer theme, Clairvoyant, Death of a child, Detective, Ethical struggles, Father-son relations, FBI, Friendship, Gay theme, Medical Theme, Mercy Killing, Murder, Must suspend disbelief, Netflix Streaming, Nudity, Occasionaly violent, Off-color moments, Psychic, Psychopathologist, Serial Killer, Suspense, Vulgar Jokes

Solace (2015)

From IMDB:

Psychic John Clancy (Sir Anthony Hopkins) works with the F.B.I. in order to hunt down a serial killer.

From Netflix you can stream this 1 hour 41 minute complete film.

FBI Agent Joe Merriwether (played by Jeffrey Dean Morgan) works with FBI Agent Katherine Cowels (played by Abbie Cornish) who has her doctorate in psychopathology.  At a complete loss in learning anything about the serial killer, Joe turns to his old friend and clairvoyant Dr. John Clancy (played by Sir Anthony Hopkins) who, owing to ugly past experiences,  is very reluctant to join the search.

Learning the motive for the killings is a priority.  If I reveal that motive here, I would consider that revelation a spoiler.

Where in all this is the actor Colin Farrell? He plays Charles Ambrose who just happens to be the serial killer. Charles shares a significant feature of Dr. Clancy’s personality.

After watching the film, you will understand why I say the film is a disguised ethical debate with no easy answer.

All the clairvoyance is just too convenient (should I say “contrived” or downright “hokey” ?).  In addition the quick decision action sequences might be hard to follow.   I give the film a B+.

 

 

2013, Abduction, Action sequences, Bloody scenes, Child abduction and murder, Could Be Hard To Watch, Detective, Disturbing Image, DO NOT MISS, Drama, Drugging as a weapon, Ethical struggles, Forensics, Grim, Ironic Ending, Mentally impaired person, Murder, Netflix Streaming, Plot Twist, Police Culture, Psychopath, Revenge, Serial Killer, Suspense, Torture, Violent, Wrongful Arrest

Prisoners (2013)

From Netflix:

After his young daughter and her friend go missing, a desperate
father clashes with the detective on the case and takes matters
into his own hands.

From Netflix you can stream this 2 hour 33 minute tense thriller.

Jake Gyllenhaal movies are usually not an easy watch and this search for missing children and a  serial killer is no exception. What attracted me was the exceptional cast:

  • Hugh Jackman is Keller Dover, father of the missing Anna Dover.
  • Terrence Howard is Franklin Birch, father of the missing Joy Birch.
  • Viola Davis is Joy’s mother Nancy.
  • Paul Dano is the suspect Alex Jones.
  • Jake Gyllenhaal is Detective Loki.

Be prepared for Keller’s desperation-driven torture of Alex which is quite ugly to watch, a plot twist, and an ironic ending.

If you can stand to watch, DO NOT MISS!

2022, Abduction, Action sequences, Bloody scenes, British Drama, Bullying, Burglars, Creepy, Detective, DO NOT MISS, Drama, Failed Father, Failing Marriage, Father-son relations, Fight Scenes, Gay theme, Grisly, Jealousy, Missing Person, Monstrous Father, Murder, Netflix Streaming, Police Investigation, Psychopath, Revenge, Serial Killer, Thriller, Torture, Violent

I Came By (2022)

From IMDB:

Follows a young graffiti artist who discovers a shocking secret that would put him and the ones closest to him in danger.

From Netflix you can stream this 1 hour 50 minute serial killer thriller.

As serial killer stories go, this one is fairly original and never proceeds quite as you might hope or expect. Earlier formulas need not apply.  Try not to get attached to any character in particular because that person might just disappear.

Hugh Bonneville of Downton Abbey fame plays the upper-class retired judge serial killer who never seems to lose his composure when threatened by exposure.  If  you want to portray a true psychopath, never show emotion, especially empathy.  Does that make it easier to act in such an acting role?

Will he ever get caught?  If you are  into serial killers, and ONLY if, then DO NOT MISS!