Tag Archives: serial killer

Black Bird

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The idea of going into a prison and working has never worried me. I am in the middle of reading The Devil You Know by Dr. Gwen Adshead, an English psychologist. She goes into prisons and does therapy with convicts. The idea is that everybody has a story and that every story deserves to be heard.
Maybe this series isn’t quite the same thing. Young Jimmy Keene, a star footballer, is arrested and rather than the sentence of five years with parole after four he is expecting, he is charged with more and sentenced to 10 years without parole. He is eventually approached by the FBI and propositioned to enter a maximum security prison and coerce a confession from a suspected serial killer. The reward for taking the job, his freedom and a clean record. After his father, portrayed by Ray Liotta, has a major stroke, Jimmy realizes his father wont be around for 10 more years. He accepts the deal and is transfered to the maximum security prison where Larry Hall is being held. The series bounces back and forth between the time of the killings and the time in prison, following police detective Brian Miller, portrayed by Greg Kinnear, as he tries to find proof that Larry killed some 21+ young girls.
While the prison atmosphere is gritty with corrupt guards and clear gang alliances, the focus remains primarily on the relationship that builds between lonely Larry and charming Jimmy. It becomes clear that there is mental instability in Larry, who convinces himself that the murders are all just dreams he is having. He begins to trust Jimmy amd eventually opens up more and more to him.
As the date for his appeal approaches for which it is certain that Larry will be released it becomes imperative that Jimmy get the confession from him.
The series is based on a true story.

The Good Nurse

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It only got subpar ratings, but it needs to be given credit for the exceptional acting.
So maybe it isn’t a film involving loud bangs and blood and guts. In fact, for a hospital drama, there is no blood, or guts. But there is a gratuitous amount of death.
These are the ones who confuse me. These types of serial killers. Medical professionals. Often, grossly labeled Angels of Death. Motivation still opposes the purpose of the profession. To heal.
I am not fully familiar with medical serial killers. This was my first deep dive. After watching a documentary episode on Charles Cullen a nurse who had worked at numerous different hispitals. He injected insulin and digoxin into IV bags. Not while they were hooked up to patients. Before they had even left the med room. Indescriminant and complete random chance as to who was given one of the contaminated IV bags.
Where is the motive? Where is the twisted, carnal satisfaction typical serial killers need? What was even the point?
He had no point. He had no motive. It was simply that no one stopped him.

Memories of Murder

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Based on a play this film depicts two detectives hunting down a serial killer in Hwaseong, Korea in the 80s. Directed by Bong Joon-Ho, director of films like The Host, Snowpiercer, and award winning Parasite. Also starring Song Kang-Ho, who has worked in  a number of Bong’s films, as well as many other amazing films.
In the farmland of Hwaseong women are turning up raped and murdered. The real killer, Lee Chun-Jae killed 15 women and was reported to have over 45 victims over the span of nearly a decade.
This film isn’t gritty in the way special effects and edgy music can bring. Rather, it is slow burn. In the 80s when resources for detective work was limited and children ran wild through crime scenes, the hope of catching the killer seems almost hopeless.
But there is an energy amd atmosphere about the film that keeps you there with the detectives. You see them working tirelessly, at one point one of them getting IV fluids courtesy of his wife. And you see the toll it begins to take on their sanity as well as their moral compass.
Bong Joon-Ho won an Oscar for best director for good reason. He is a master at his craft. This isn’t going to be a Dahmer type serial killer movie. It is more of a ride with the detectives who are trying to catch the killer.