I myself am a die-hard fan of the “Dateline” podcast, but for this Halloween, I decided to branch out and try some T.V. shows that are based on true crime. In the following list, you will find the ones I’ve seen so far this fall, as well as a few that I’m dying to watch!
- “Blackbird” – Apple TV+
Personally, I cannot talk enough about this show. I actually watched the whole thing in one night, and while it did throw off my sleep schedule, it was very worth it. “Blackbird” is the story of Jimmy Keene, a charismatic young man from Chicago who goes to prison for selling drugs. While in prison he is presented with the opportunity to be transferred to a maximum security prison in order to befriend a man named Larry Hall, a convicted serial killer, in hopes that Hall will confess to him where the bodies of his victims are. In return, Keene would be pardoned and walk free–but only if he succeeds in getting the location of the bodies. At first, Keene is hesitant to step foot into such a high-security prison, but when his father falls sick and isn’t expected to survive until after Keene is freed, he decides to take the deal so that he might be able to see his father again as a free man. After being transferred, Keene meets Hall and eventually gains his trust, and as time progresses, he begins to learn some truly disturbing things about the killer. This show will have you captivated from the moment the first episode begins until long after the season ends, and I highly recommend checking it out. There’s even a “Dateline” episode about the case, which I actually listened to before I knew about the show, and a book written by Keene himself titled, “In With the Devil”.
2. “Dahmer – Monster: The Jeffrey Dahmer Story” – Netflix
If you don’t mind gore, this is an incredibly interesting show detailing the life of Jeffrey Dahmer, a serial killer and cannibal. Starring Evan Peters of “American Horror Story”, “Monster” dives into the early life of Jeffrey Dahmer, from his childhood spent largely neglected by his divorced parents, to his teen years, when he killed his first victim at the age of 18, and up into his twenties and early thirties, where he amassed another 16 and counting victims. The show jumps around in time, from flashbacks of Dahmer’s childhood to flashbacks of the murders, up to his time in prison and his death, and gives horrifying insight into the mind of one of the U.S.’s most famous serial killers.
3. “The Crowded Room” – Apple TV+
This 2023 show focuses on Danny Sullivan–played by Tom Holland–a young man arrested for a public shooting in which there were no casualties but a couple of bystanders were injured. In the show, Danny is describing his point of view on the shooting, where he believes his friend Ariana shot at his stepfather, Marlin, while Danny accompanied her. As the show progresses, it is revealed that a number of the people Danny talks about, including Ariana, are not friends but separate personalities that Danny himself has as a result of what was then known as Multiple Personality Disorder (MPD). The story is inspired by a real person, a man named Billy Milligan, who suffered from what we now know as Dissociative Identity Disorder (DID).
4. “Making a Murderer” – Netflix
Netflix’s true crime series “Making a Murderer” focuses on a man by the name of Steven Avery, a man who is exonerated in 2003 after new evidence in the rape and assault case of Penny Beerntsen proved him innocent. However, just two years later in 2005, Avery was charged with the murder of a woman named Teresa Halbach. The series documents both cases, as well as provides insights into the life of Steven Avery, similar to the time jumps in “Dahmer–Monster: The Jeffrey Dahmer Story”. This one has been on my list for quite a while, despite being released in 2015.
5. “Murdaugh Murders: A Southern Scandal” – Netflix
Last but not least, this true crime series centers around the Murdaugh family, a powerful and wealthy Southern Carolina family that, after the murders of several individuals with close ties to the family, began to crumble, and their legacy was lost. The victims included Mallory Beach, a friend of one of the Murdaugh sons; Stephen Smith, a friend of another Murdaugh son; Gloria Satterfield, the family housekeeper; Paul Murdaugh, the youngest Murdaugh son; and Maggie Murdaugh, Alex Murdaugh’s wife. This show came out just this year, and I am dying to check it out!
While many people enjoy watching horror movies during spooky season, I’ve always preferred true crime. While I may not be a believer in ghosts or zombies, I certainly believe in sadistic killers like Jefferey Dahmer. Listening to and watching true crime stories can be very eye-opening, but can also become overwhelming when done too often, so if you decide to check out any of the shows mentioned above, be sure to intersperse it with some more lighthearted content to ensure it doesn’t affect your mental health negatively. Happy watching!