Just because one has never heard of 'the Vampire of Brooklyn,' 'the Night Stalker,' 'the Son of Sam,' and 'the Clown Killer' does not necessarily mean unfamiliarity with the names Albert Fish, Richard Ramirez, David Berkowitz, and John Wayne Gacy. The latter were notorious homicidal maniacs; the former were their respective monikers. (Ah, yes, the Son of Sam, who was famously quoted as saying, "I didn't want to hurt them. I only wanted to kill them.")
Often referred to as 'lone nuts,' it's interesting to note that a 'lone' serial killer does not make a loner. Gacy, for example, was quite sociable and well-liked by his neighbors. A suburbanite, family man, and active Democrat, who would have pegged him for a multiple murderer?
All very interesting to criminologists and those into true crime stories, and this ten-part docuseries certainly does not, or at least should not, disappoint said interested parties.
Jack Levin, Steven Egger, Frederick Reamer, and Kirk Gill are the four interjecting talking heads who provide their psychologizing analyses of serial killers and whose input is often quite insightful.
Jack Levin is a particular favorite of mine within the field of criminology. Having read a book of his, I was already familiar with him prior to watching this. In his heyday, Levin was widely known in the media as a pundit on the subject. Having spent over a quarter of a century professionally absorbed in this morbid field of study, this highly credentialed and seasoned expert was often called upon to testify in court and was known to correspond with serial killers in an attempt to understand how their minds work.
Although serial killing is neither a modern nor entirely an American phenomenon, the curiously underrated AMERICA'S SERIAL KILLERS: PORTRAITS IN EVIL focuses on several fiendish slayers who made headlines in the US at some point during the 20th century.
Granted, its presentation may not appeal to everyone. It's best viewed, I think, as an introduction to the study of serial killing, as it's not at all in-depth as far as biographical info is concerned. We learn very little of the backgrounds and childhoods of this rogues' gallery of nefarious ghouls. The docuseries is more interested in trying to understand the psychology of these criminals than it is with documenting their life histories and the details of their cases.
Aside from the above-mentioned quartet of quellers, 'the Boston Strangler,' 'the Hillside Stranglers,' 'the DC Snipers,' 'the Zodiac Killer,' and 'the Unabomber' are also profiled. As well as Ed Gein, who as far as I am aware was never given any nickname. (Hmm. The Unconventional Upholsterer?) Ditto, killer-cannibal Jeffrey Dahmer who, incidentally, died prematurely while serving time in prison and thus was never granted a last meal request.
One of the more analytical ponderings the interviewees attempt to solve is the answer to the question of what is to blame for the creation of a serial killer. Are we dealing with bad seeds or environmentally created sadistic psychopaths? Is it a question of nature, nurture, or a combination of the two? Does post-agrarian urbanization play a part, as Mr. Reamer muses? Whatever the case, there is very little entertaining of possible causes outside the realm of mainstream science. Although other researchers have put forth theories that are fringe-y (the programmed patsy theory) or outright metaphysical (the idea that some of these bloodthirsty felons were victims themselves, of parasitic entities/unclean spirits), one will find no such out-of-the-box commentary, here.
Amid one's study of serial killers, one comes across many interesting bits of info. How many people, for example, are aware that one of Richard Ramirez's favorite albums was AC/DC's "Highway to Hell" (which contains the song, "Night Prowler"), or that brainy Ted Kaczynski may have been a mind-controlled test subject who perhaps because of this very factor ended up going postal?
Each of the ten parts within this gritty yet intellectually fascinating docuseries runs for about three-quarters-of-an-hour. There's nothing flashy about its presentation, as it seems more geared towards educating the viewer than entertaining him by means of gory images and subliminal messages centered around popcorn.
How can a human being commit such gruesome acts and after being caught often show little or no remorse? What makes a slaughterous deviant? Yes, criminology and the study of serial killers is not the most pleasant of pastimes but such conscience-less lowlifes do exist and therefore by examining this phenomenon one gains, in my opinion, a wider and deeper perspective of this mysterious thing we call reality.
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