Netflix‘s addition to the true crime documentary genre has left audiences both captivated and deeply unsettled.
Since its release, viewers have been taking to social media to share their visceral reactions.
Social media has been flooded with responses from viewers who have binge-watched the three-part series in single sittings.
One particularly telling reaction captured the documentary’s impact: “Out of all the true crime series on Netflix, this just may be one of the most chillingly intimate documentaries yet.”
The overwhelming sentiment among viewers has been a mixture of fascination and horror.
Another fan described their viewing experience: “I’m just going to hide in my room and watch it all!”
Critics have offered a more nuanced view of the documentary’s merits and shortcomings.
Rotten Tomatoes reviewers noted that “It is an impactful and insightful watch that will leave most viewers engaged.”
However, some critics have raised questions about the documentary’s approach, particularly regarding why it relies heavily on decade-old tape recordings rather than more contemporary interviews.
One comprehensive review for the Daily Beast described it as ‘a pretty comprehensive breakdown of a reign of terror,’ noting how difficult it is ‘to grasp just how fear-struck and panicked New York was at the time of Berkowitz’s” crimes.
The documentary hasn’t been without controversy, with some reviews on platforms like IMDb being particularly critical, with one describing the series as ‘irresponsible in both conception and presentation.’
The documentary revisits the terrifying period between 1976 and 1977 when David Berkowitz, who became known as the ‘Son of Sam,’ terrorized New York City.
The series gains its unsettling power from previously unheard audio recordings featuring Berkowitz himself, now 72 and serving a life sentence in upstate New York.
What makes the documentary particularly disturbing is its exploration of Berkowitz’s psychological makeup.
The killer’s troubled relationship with his adoption becomes a central theme, with Berkowitz explaining in chilling detail how learning about his origins affected him: “I thought there was a man out there that hated me and was possibly going to try to kill me for causing the death of his wife.”
Director Joe Berlinger’s approach focuses on understanding the psychological factors that led to Berkowitz’s crimes.
As Berlinger explains to Time Magazine, when Berkowitz realized he was “the product of an affair, he began targeting young lovers having illicit s** in their cars, producing unwanted children, so that there wouldn’t be another child born with this level of alienation and resentment.”
The documentary effectively captures the atmosphere of fear that pervaded New York during Berkowitz’s killing spree.
As Time reported during that terrifying summer of 1977: “He has haunted lovers’ lanes, attacked couples coming from strobe-lighted discotheques, even opened fire at a pair of girls on a house porch.”
One of the documentary’s most powerful elements is its inclusion of survivors and family members of victims.
Wendy Savino, now 88 and confirmed as Berkowitz’s first victim, appears in the series carrying a sketch of Berkowitz that she’s kept in her handbag for 47 years – a haunting testament to the lasting impact of his crimes.
Director Joe Berlinger believes the Son of Sam case has particular relevance to today’s media landscape: “I actually think this case is a foundational case in our current and ever-growing obsession with crime.
“The way Berkowitz interacted with the media, the way the media willingly cooperated, everyone in New York couldn’t wait for the next headline.”
The documentary also highlights how different policing was in the 1970s compared to today.
As Berlinger notes, the lack of computerized data-sharing between police departments allowed serial killers to evade capture for longer periods, making the ’70s and early ’80s ‘the golden age of serial killers.’
In a 2024 phone interview conducted for the documentary, Berkowitz expresses deep remorse for his crimes, describing being trapped in a ‘dark space’ where ‘my life spun out of control, and I just couldn’t get on that right path.’
When asked what advice he’d give to his younger self, Berkowitz’s response is haunting: “‘Dave, run for your life. Get help.’ I could have gone to my dad. I could have gone to my sister. But I kept everything to myself.”
Whether viewers find themselves horrified, fascinated, or somewhere in between, it’s clear that Conversations with a Killer: The Son of Sam Tapes is having a significant impact on audiences.
The documentary’s combination of rare audio recordings, survivor testimonies, and expert analysis creates a deeply unsettling portrait of one of America’s most notorious serial killers.
Watch the trailer for Conversations with a Killer: The Son of Sam Tapes here…
Conversations with a Killer: The Son of Sam Tapes is available to stream via Netflix.
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