Whether it be Hannibal Lector, Norman Bates or even the Joker, psychopaths have long been some of the most fascinating characters in all of pop culture. As terrifying as they supposedly are, there is also a mystique to their madness, one that exists on the cusp of comprehensibility, divided only by that thin, elusive border we call sanity or morality or compassion.
One of the appeals of these madmen, however, is the fact that they can only ever be barely understood, which also makes them some of the best topics of conversation. That sentiment is the entire appeal behind Netflix's Mindhunter, the original crime-drama directed partly by David Fincher (Fight Club, Social Network, Gone Girl). Slow, methodical and utterly captivating for anyone willing to make sense of the immense amounts of heady psycho-speak, Mindhunter is a great show. Those who are fascinated with psychopaths -- and why we're so fascinated with them -- may find some interesting insights in this show, but those looking for a procedural "murder-of-the-week" type thriller in the same vein as Criminal Minds should look elsewhere.
Based largely on the works of John Douglas -- the FBI legend who created criminal profiling -- Mindhunter's 10-episode season largely follows FBI agents Holden Ford (Jonathan Groff) and Bill Tench (Holt McCallany), as they interview various "serial killers", way back before the term was even created in the 1970s. There's some character drama surrounding the main and supporting characters in their lives, but most of the series consists mostly of people talking in various locations. In a diner, a car, a police station or a maximum-security prison, Mindhunter is basically one long discussion into the nature of serial killers and the things that drive them to commit horrific crimes.
Being a mostly conversational show, it's certainly a positive that the actors in the series are great, despite not being immediately recognisable. The aforementioned two leads -- Groff and McCallany -- are veterans of television, but are also obscure enough that they feel like they exist entirely in the show's universe, which gives it an even more immersive feel.
Also worthy of praise are the serial killers being interviewed, who all exude a sense of unsettling danger in their respective ways. Most notably Edmund Kemper, brilliantly portrayed by Cameron Britton, the only real-life serial killer to be interviewed in the film. Known as the "co-ed killer", Kemper killed at least 10 victims -- including his mother and grandmother -- while also admitting to committing necrophilia and cannibalism. Reportedly described by those who knew him as amicable and intelligent, Kemper is portrayed with a disturbing joviality, even when discussing his gruesome crimes to the interviewing agents.
The series is also beautifully shot and directed, with a noticeably higher production value than most of Netflix's dreamy, obviously studio-shot series. Painted mostly in drab earth tones and sombre blacks, the series carries that forbidding Fincher signature, while also benefiting from some spunk and snappy editing from directors like Asif Kapadia, which helps to break up the dreary subject matter every once in a while.
The series isn't without its faults, however, especially as it takes time away from the murderers and discussions to explore the lives of its characters. Plot-lines like Holden's relationship with his girlfriend or Bill's dilemma with his adoptive son -- while important for the drama aspect of the show, and not uninteresting in their own right -- are ultimately tangential to the real meat of the show, and as such can feel distracting when the series takes too much time to focus on them. Thankfully, these little dips are few and far between.
At the end of the day, Mindhunter is a fascinating exploration into the most unfathomable minds among us. The show presents a straightforward, almost blunt discussion of the subject of serial killers and behavioural science, making it infinitely binge-able for those interested in the premise, but may not appeal to the wider audience looking for a relaxing or fun show to kick back and watch. It demands your attention and you'll either give it willingly or not at all.
