244. Web-series Reviews – 90

More web-series reviews…

Memories of a Murderer – The Nilsen Tapes – In my blog no 197, I had mentioned about DES series.  This is the documentary on the killer and his tapes that he made while in prison.

Serial killer Dennis Nilsen narrates his life and horrific crimes via a series of chilling audiotapes recorded from his jail cell.

One of the reviews from IMDB...

Here is an example of an extremely corrupted mind. A man who was not only a serial murder, but a person who was a psychopathic murdering, necrophilies, who had no empathy for any of his victims.

He murdered so many men that his floorboards in his home were filled with mummified bodies. He buried them in the backyard. He dumped them in the sewers and drains.

Listening to his tapes, you can hear a lesser, unsophisticated version of Hannibal Lector. He didn't take blame for anything he did, he blamed everyone else.

This guy was so sick and so hated by everyone, only five people showed up at his funeral. Three guards, the priest and a government official. The family wanted nothing to do with him.

My Take – An ok series. Only to listen to his voice on the tapes about his deeds.

 

Chasing Shadows – Came out in 2014 with 4 episodes.  A missing persons unit investigate serial killers who target the impressionable and vulnerable.

One of the reviews from IMDB...

I recorded Chasing Shadows without knowing anything about it other than it was a 4 part police/crime drama/ Now that I have watched it, I am really disappointed that they only made 4 episodes. In fact, it is actually two, 2 part stories although there are, as always, some sub plots running underneath throughout the whole thing.

It all centers around a Detective who specialises in multiple murder cases. To say he is socially inept, is an understatement. It is never stated but he comes across as what I would imagine is borderline autistic. Nothing like as bad as Dustin Hoffman in Rain Man but getting that way. However, this condition gives him the free reign he needs to be completely focused on solving the crimes and seeing patterns that others miss.

The series starts with him being moved from more conventional policing to a missing person's department where he meets Ruth his (very) long suffering partner. Before long, they are on their first case and she discovers just how eccentric he is but he gets results.

For the first episode, it kept reminding me of 'House' but I know a lot of reviews have used 'Sherlock' as a comparison. It isn't really either but it has a bit of both. There is definitely a slightly humorous undercurrent although the crimes are still treated with the seriousness they deserve.

What it definitely is, is something a bit different to the usual crime drama. Personally, I found it much more enjoyable that Broadchruch.

I really hope they make another series.

My Take – Worth a watch!

 

Code of a Killer – Came out in 2015.  The story of Sir Alec Jeffreys' discovery of DNA fingerprinting and its first use by DCS David Baker in catching a double murderer.

One of the reviews from IMDB...

If you are a fan of the true-life crime investigation series out in the wild (Forensic Files, Murder Comes to Town, etc.) that involve matching suspects to DNA evidence, then this is a must-see for you. The inventor of DNA testing, Alec Jeffreys, is a main character in this docu-drama about catching a rapist-killer in a small town in England in the mid-80's. Jeffreys' research at a university lab near the infamous attacks on 2 teen girls is profiled, as his work is key in exonerating a falsely-accused boy, and nailing the real killer.

Interestingly, if this were a fictional story, many viewers would be saying, 'O come on... this sort of thing could never happen that way...!', thus proving that truth is stranger than fiction (or 'life imitates art', as you please).

Three actors always worth watching (together or apart): John Simm (who plays Jeffreys), Robert Glenister (the DCC - Glenister looks like a real DCC, or a cop you would want on your side if you were wrongly accused of murder - he gets my vote) and David Threlfall as the determined DCS doggedly chasing the real perpetrator. I think Simm & Glennister effectively teamed up also in the Brit version of 'Life on Mars'. Threlfall looks completely different from his IMDb profile pic, thus showing that great Brit actors transform themselves enough to suit even a grim role, unlike popular American actors who show the same glam profile in every shot of every movie - (you know the ones I mean: pretty boys!).

My Take – Worth a watch!

Cheers till next time😀