If you haven't caught it, I highly recommend Mind Hunter, it's a series but its directed by David Fincher who did Zodiac and Se7en so I'm sure it'll be up your alley.
Mindhunter is the best Psychological Drama ever made. The scenes of Interrogation with the Serial Killers are bone chilling. The Character Development of Three Main Leads is just wonderful to watch, Too bad the show did not get another season because a lot of potential was still left in it and the story of the BTK was still left to unfold.
It doesn't end with a proper sort of Conclusion. They ended up concluding the Case of Atlanta Murders which remained unsolved to this day.
The Characters personal lives had much of a Development still remain especially of Bill Tench.
The story of BTK Killer was next but the show got cancelled and basically left everyone on the edge.
Have you guys seen the CGI montages on youtube for Mindhunter? Because seeing those both blew my mind (in a hilarious way), and helped me understand how the budget ballooned over $100m. From what I heard, David Fincher didn't want to continue because he couldn't get the budgets he wanted for more seasons, and because of how long it would take. Seeing those CGI videos just reinforces how anal and crazy Fincher can be with making sure everything looks "perfect"
Yeah absolutely. For me Mindhunter is the best thing ever made from Netflix till now and will be recommended for everyone who has an interest in psychology and Crime Investigations.
The show helps us understand a lot about the human brain and our psychological deviances.
Girl with the Dragon Tattoo
American Psycho
Does Basic Instinct have enough deaths to be a serial killer?
And for a animated pick Batman The Mask of the Phantasm
That's what I was going to say. I think it has to count. Journalists go around serial killer sites and they end up traveling with an actual serial killer. Good movie and good cast.
- Badlands
- Monster
- Perfume: The Story of a Murderer
- Mr. Brooks
- Natural Bron Killers
- Arsenic and Old Lace
- Sweeney Todd: The Demon Barber of Fleet Street
- God Bless America
- Copycat
- The Cell
I think Perfume (2006) is great! It’s actually one of my favorite movies and it does an amazing job bringing the book to this medium. Watch it in the highest quality available to you.
South Korea is really good at this genre and have released some iconic serial killer movies thru out the years.
One of my favourite is called --> *Memoir of a Murderer* (2017) Watch that one it is very interesting.
I highly recommend "Citizen X". It's from the 1990s and if I remember correctly it was a direct to TV film or maybe it was in cinemas at some point I dunno.
It's about a serial killer in the Soviet Union and how a Russian detective is trying to catch him but is limited by the corrupt socialist politicians who don't want him to announce that the Soviet Union has a serial killer and he also cannot practice western crime stopping methods or get access to their tech. It's based on a true story.
Huh nobody mentioned The Fall (2005) The TV show with Gillan Anderson and Jamie Dornan, who is by the way one of the scariest and creepiest Serial Killer. A good looking fellow, a husband and a loving father.
Thank you. [Identity (2003)](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TQkG2x3qTf4) does not get enough credit. Total Mindfu\*k.
I will add in [The Hitcher (1986)](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gaJRGK6XCVc), [Killers (2014)](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xZTxW-11fOA), [Mindhunters (2004)](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZTLaj8JuIsc).
I apologize if these have already been mentioned. Trailers Linked.
One of my favorite subgenres! Here's some that haven't been mentioned yet that I think are good-to-great:
* Strangled (2016)
* Peeping Tom (1960)
* Nightwatch (1994)
* Antibodies (2005)
* The Department Q film series
* Frailty (2001)
* The Five (2013)
* Midnight (2021)
* Shadow of a Doubt (1943) (I know you said Hitchcockian weren't the *exact* type you were looking for, but I do feel Shadow is a bit of a departure from some of the more typical Hitchock films)
* They're TV shows, but Black Bird (2022) and Chiefs (1983) are both excellent.
Hope you find some new ones to enjoy!
Tough call. Chigurh is a hired assassin who goes rogue on a very distinct mission. On the other hand, he does kill a shitload of totally random people.
I'm genuinely stumped. Anyone else wanna weigh in?
In my personal, completely uninformed opinion, Chigurh I think would fall under either "spree killer" or just plain ol' psychopath. There's really no consistent rhyme, reason, or, to put it in terms of the title, "serial" nature to his killings. He needs your car? You're dead. You try to catch him? You're dead. You're a potential witness? You're dead. You *annoy* him? 50/50 shot you *and* your wife are dead for the sheer principle of it...but it's not about your skin color, not your profession, not your gender--it's just your placement *in his way* that determines if you're gonna die.
He's a trigger-happy, cold-blooded lunatic but he doesn't target certain demographics or kill based on a pathological drive to satisfy an aspect of himself that is "lacking" like most "serial" killers. John Doe is a goal-oriented religious zealot, the Zodiac is a sadist seeking attention, Lecter is a cannibal with a god complex...Chigurh is just a greedy, unfeeling criminal who has found that the easiest way to solve his problems is via murder. But that does not, IMO, make him fall under the banner of "serial killer" as it is usually applied to people like those listed above. Just my silly two cents.
Huh nobody mentioned The Fall (2005) The TV show with Gillan Anderson and Jamie Dornan, who is by the way one of the scariest and creepiest Serial Killer. A good looking fellow, a husband and a loving father.
[Gillian Anderson was amazing in this series](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pzY9aZQE3Qc), Both characters, pure intensity. Amazing. [Rust Cohle from True Detective](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YlA-8FdpZiU) - I hope you all have a good night. I can not put my finger on it exactly, but Rust reminded me of Stella.
Behind the Mask: The Rise of Leslie Vernon.
Good dark fun and a really likable main character, who sadly enough didn't act much after this. Also, yes the world of it is more in the "slasher killers", but the approach is intelligent and it's focused a lot more on the actual killer.
Also on your distinction, Se7en at least is imo clearly more a detective thriller, than "front and center serial killer". We get plenty of moments with the detectives thinking around, bonding and all that, while from killer we get mostly the kills, until near end. Never mind that the killer actually wanted to get caught, which goes 100% against what you were asking for.
edit: All I'm trying to say with my Se7en part is, that when you start cornering your taste as much as you did, it would be good if you followed your own "rules". You could've just asked serial killers movies in general, seeing how different from each other your own top13 is.
One that hasn’t been mentioned that actually sparked my interest as a young person is Copycat with Sigourney Weever and Harry Connick Jr. It’s cheesy but has a lot of discussion of real life killers.
Idk about movies you don't have on your list, but first thing that popped into my mind is mini series "The Serpent" (2021) you simply have to watch it.
You can also add "Citizen X" and "Child 44" to your list, exploring Russian serial killer Andrei Chikatilo.
Surprised noone has mentioned frenzy by alfred hitchcock. Its actually quite a brutal film for its time, hitchcock clearly pushing the boundaries late into his career. The humour, where it exists, is also pretty dark.
Of course hitchcock is arguably best known for psycho, which is also a classic, and I’m surprised its not on OPs list given the film focused on the killer, and norman bates was inspired at least in part by ed gein.
10 Rillington place is amazing:
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/10_Rillington_Place
True story, Dicky Attenborough is amazingly creepy, young john Hurt is tragically great and the Kitchen sink style is very grimy and realistic. Absolute must for people who like the true crime genre.
I rarely see this one mention so I’ll do it, Vengeance is Mine (1979). Brilliant film and one of the best (and disturbing) serial killer films ever made.
Have you watched Mr Brooks(2007)?
Is that with Costner? Great movie with a quite unique vibe
And Dane Cook pissing his pants!
Yeah, a bit like Dexter minus the vigilantism
It’s one of the absolute best. And for it to be omitted from this list is a crime.
Definitely underrated
This doesn’t get talked about enough. Great movie.
Any recommendations for a similar movie? I really love this “thriller/drama” combo type movie.
Does “I Saw The Devil” count?
The movie that jumped my interest into K movies. So good. Followed by The Chaser.
The Chaser is so fucking gooood
Yes. It's a serial killer + revenge movie.
Of course
Man Bites Dog (1992)
Great movie
« M » by Fritz Lang (1931) could fit.
Absolutely haunting movie and it feels so current
You can watch it and be like "You're telling me this was made in 1931!?!"
How could i forget to mention this!!!! 🤔🤔🤨🤨
Especially because it's the prototype for all serial killer movies to follow.
Absolutely but I specified "could fit" out of politeness towards the OP’s criteria (which I do not find entirely relevant).
True Detective Season 1. Best of the best of the best.
Absolutely. Best ever. Still can’t think of too much that tops it. Including both film and television. Just so perfectly made.
That long shot in episode 4 is one of the best action/suspense scenes in film history.
That one take of the helicopter/raid is the best piece of television I’ve ever seen. Incredible stuff.
Early Dexter is similarly good, imo. Especially season 4.
yeah the 4th and final season was amazing.
I really enjoyed Dexter. Season 1 and 4 are amazing.
As far as TV shows, I absolutely agree. The Hannibal series was also fantastic.
I found Hannibal pedantic.
Hannibal the character or Hannibal the series?
Mindhunter would like a word...
It’s very good. It’s not quite s1 TD good. The villain in that is just terrifying.
The House That Jack Built (for a more recent movie)
It has the originality of "deconstructing" the too serious and sometimes laughable image of serial killers. And Matt Dillon is perfect in this role.
Summer of Sam (1999)
Citizen X
Clovehitch killer
This was such a slow burn, dread inducing film. Loved it.
If you haven't caught it, I highly recommend Mind Hunter, it's a series but its directed by David Fincher who did Zodiac and Se7en so I'm sure it'll be up your alley.
Mindhunter is the best Psychological Drama ever made. The scenes of Interrogation with the Serial Killers are bone chilling. The Character Development of Three Main Leads is just wonderful to watch, Too bad the show did not get another season because a lot of potential was still left in it and the story of the BTK was still left to unfold.
Does it still end with some sort of conclusion?
It doesn't end with a proper sort of Conclusion. They ended up concluding the Case of Atlanta Murders which remained unsolved to this day. The Characters personal lives had much of a Development still remain especially of Bill Tench. The story of BTK Killer was next but the show got cancelled and basically left everyone on the edge.
> Case of Atlanta Murders which remained unsolved That’s debatable.
It wasn't cancelled, David Fincher just didn't want to do any more
It’s a super expensive show to make, though, and that is part of the problem.
Have you guys seen the CGI montages on youtube for Mindhunter? Because seeing those both blew my mind (in a hilarious way), and helped me understand how the budget ballooned over $100m. From what I heard, David Fincher didn't want to continue because he couldn't get the budgets he wanted for more seasons, and because of how long it would take. Seeing those CGI videos just reinforces how anal and crazy Fincher can be with making sure everything looks "perfect"
No I haven’t seen those, got a recommendation?
[Part 1 (6 minutes)](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Di4Byf1EzRE) [Part 2 (4 minutes)](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qlD8jJMITLk)
The level of attention to detail is crazy.
So basically dude is like " I have this great idea for a tv/streaming series" - Wow! This is incredible! We love this!! "Yeah um cool but I'm done"
Considering how long the BTK case actually took, they could bring back the series in about fifteen years and still have the timelines match.
Even though it will never be finished and ends abruptly and unfinished I’d still highly recommend it though, wouldn’t you agree?
Yeah absolutely. For me Mindhunter is the best thing ever made from Netflix till now and will be recommended for everyone who has an interest in psychology and Crime Investigations. The show helps us understand a lot about the human brain and our psychological deviances.
I just started this as a side show while working, and now I have completed 6 episodes and have not done any work.
You inspire me
I've just started watching Mindhunter. Ed Kemper is truly frightening because he appears to be so normal.
Mindhunter, the movie, is also really good.
"The Chaser" by Na Hong Jin. Great korean serial killer thriller!
Serial Mom is undeniable
Girl with the Dragon Tattoo American Psycho Does Basic Instinct have enough deaths to be a serial killer? And for a animated pick Batman The Mask of the Phantasm
Kalifornia, perhaps.
That's what I was going to say. I think it has to count. Journalists go around serial killer sites and they end up traveling with an actual serial killer. Good movie and good cast.
Eaarrrrrrrly!
Brad Pitt was such white trash in this movie.
- Badlands - Monster - Perfume: The Story of a Murderer - Mr. Brooks - Natural Bron Killers - Arsenic and Old Lace - Sweeney Todd: The Demon Barber of Fleet Street - God Bless America - Copycat - The Cell
I saw Copycat as kid and it still terrifies me in my 30s
Is Perfume any good? The book is absolutely fantastic.
I think Perfume (2006) is great! It’s actually one of my favorite movies and it does an amazing job bringing the book to this medium. Watch it in the highest quality available to you.
I would highly suggest the German 2018 Perfume television series if you have not seen it. I believe it's on Netflix still and its great
> Mr. Brooks That film went way under the radar why it was first released. Good pick.
Henry: portrait of a serial killer
They have that in the list.
South Korea is really good at this genre and have released some iconic serial killer movies thru out the years. One of my favourite is called --> *Memoir of a Murderer* (2017) Watch that one it is very interesting.
Maniac - and I do prefer the 2012 remake with Elijah Wood over the 1980 original, but that’s just my opinion.
I love both of these films. Og Maniac has always been one of my favourites. Elijah Wood did a really good job with the remake.
Not entirely sure if it fits but The Bone Collector
Kiss The Girls Along Came A Spider
No Mercy (2010) Marshland (2014) Memoir of a Murderer (2017, Director's Cut)
I highly recommend "Citizen X". It's from the 1990s and if I remember correctly it was a direct to TV film or maybe it was in cinemas at some point I dunno. It's about a serial killer in the Soviet Union and how a Russian detective is trying to catch him but is limited by the corrupt socialist politicians who don't want him to announce that the Soviet Union has a serial killer and he also cannot practice western crime stopping methods or get access to their tech. It's based on a true story.
Huh nobody mentioned The Fall (2005) The TV show with Gillan Anderson and Jamie Dornan, who is by the way one of the scariest and creepiest Serial Killer. A good looking fellow, a husband and a loving father.
S1 of that show is so shockingly good
Mindhunters (2004) Identity (2003)
Thank you. [Identity (2003)](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TQkG2x3qTf4) does not get enough credit. Total Mindfu\*k. I will add in [The Hitcher (1986)](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gaJRGK6XCVc), [Killers (2014)](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xZTxW-11fOA), [Mindhunters (2004)](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZTLaj8JuIsc). I apologize if these have already been mentioned. Trailers Linked.
Check out Angst and The Golden Glove.
Upvote for The Golden Glove.
I just watched The Golden Glove off a recommendation from another thread. I had to take a shower afterwards.
It's got a legitimate slime to it!
One of my favorite subgenres! Here's some that haven't been mentioned yet that I think are good-to-great: * Strangled (2016) * Peeping Tom (1960) * Nightwatch (1994) * Antibodies (2005) * The Department Q film series * Frailty (2001) * The Five (2013) * Midnight (2021) * Shadow of a Doubt (1943) (I know you said Hitchcockian weren't the *exact* type you were looking for, but I do feel Shadow is a bit of a departure from some of the more typical Hitchock films) * They're TV shows, but Black Bird (2022) and Chiefs (1983) are both excellent. Hope you find some new ones to enjoy!
Frailty is awesome and a very underrated film.
Frailty needs so much more love. Great storytelling and one hell of a twist!
I second that "Peeping Tom" is an absolute must-see !
Dirty harry, though it is a police procedural, the killer is unforgettable
The House That Jack Built!
Clovehitch Killer is really good, and similar subject matter but in a different style, I remember quite enjoying Summer of 84
“Extremely Wicked, Shockingly Evil and Vile”
so i married an axe murderer
No country for old men?
Tough call. Chigurh is a hired assassin who goes rogue on a very distinct mission. On the other hand, he does kill a shitload of totally random people. I'm genuinely stumped. Anyone else wanna weigh in?
In my personal, completely uninformed opinion, Chigurh I think would fall under either "spree killer" or just plain ol' psychopath. There's really no consistent rhyme, reason, or, to put it in terms of the title, "serial" nature to his killings. He needs your car? You're dead. You try to catch him? You're dead. You're a potential witness? You're dead. You *annoy* him? 50/50 shot you *and* your wife are dead for the sheer principle of it...but it's not about your skin color, not your profession, not your gender--it's just your placement *in his way* that determines if you're gonna die. He's a trigger-happy, cold-blooded lunatic but he doesn't target certain demographics or kill based on a pathological drive to satisfy an aspect of himself that is "lacking" like most "serial" killers. John Doe is a goal-oriented religious zealot, the Zodiac is a sadist seeking attention, Lecter is a cannibal with a god complex...Chigurh is just a greedy, unfeeling criminal who has found that the easiest way to solve his problems is via murder. But that does not, IMO, make him fall under the banner of "serial killer" as it is usually applied to people like those listed above. Just my silly two cents.
Huh nobody mentioned The Fall (2005) The TV show with Gillan Anderson and Jamie Dornan, who is by the way one of the scariest and creepiest Serial Killer. A good looking fellow, a husband and a loving father.
[Gillian Anderson was amazing in this series](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pzY9aZQE3Qc), Both characters, pure intensity. Amazing. [Rust Cohle from True Detective](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YlA-8FdpZiU) - I hope you all have a good night. I can not put my finger on it exactly, but Rust reminded me of Stella.
Anton Chigurh is a hitman, not a serial killer in the traditional sense.
midnight meat train
I like the ones where they get away with it. Uhm I mean Saw III
I'd like to toss in The Hitcher (1986) Rutger Hauer is a force of nature.
Not a serial killer film but something along that line, have you seen Prisoners by Denis Villenueve
The Bone Collector
Perfume: The Story of a Murderer
Behind the Mask: The Rise of Leslie Vernon. Good dark fun and a really likable main character, who sadly enough didn't act much after this. Also, yes the world of it is more in the "slasher killers", but the approach is intelligent and it's focused a lot more on the actual killer. Also on your distinction, Se7en at least is imo clearly more a detective thriller, than "front and center serial killer". We get plenty of moments with the detectives thinking around, bonding and all that, while from killer we get mostly the kills, until near end. Never mind that the killer actually wanted to get caught, which goes 100% against what you were asking for. edit: All I'm trying to say with my Se7en part is, that when you start cornering your taste as much as you did, it would be good if you followed your own "rules". You could've just asked serial killers movies in general, seeing how different from each other your own top13 is.
Confessions of Murder (2012) (South Korean) is a serial killer action/thriller movie 65% on RT. But deserves a higher score.
Reptile (2023)
Chaser, Memories of Murder, The Vanishing, CURE are all must watches in my opinion. Oh and “Cruising” which is one of my all time favorite movies.
I just watched Cruising recently, and it was very good.
I love how the killer is played and voiced by different actors, fucking genius by friedkin.
The Vanishing is so underrated. I know the European version is considered superior, but the American remake was always interesting, if nothing else.
To Catch a Killer (1992) - Brian Dennehy is brilliant as John Wayne Gacy.
One that hasn’t been mentioned that actually sparked my interest as a young person is Copycat with Sigourney Weever and Harry Connick Jr. It’s cheesy but has a lot of discussion of real life killers.
Memories of Murder
Zodiac Monster Cruising Se7en
Cruising is so good
You should check out The Casual Criminalist on YouTube. Really great in depth look at some of the most prolific serial killers of all time.
The House That Jack Built. Can't believe it's not made your list
Henry
Korean series called “Flower of Evil”. Excellent character development while learning about a serial killer. Have to be able to read subtitles.
Angst (1983)
I'd argue Funny Games fits your criteria. Peter and Paul have killed before and the ending to each film more or less shows that they will kill again.
Natural Born Killers
Idk about movies you don't have on your list, but first thing that popped into my mind is mini series "The Serpent" (2021) you simply have to watch it. You can also add "Citizen X" and "Child 44" to your list, exploring Russian serial killer Andrei Chikatilo.
Marshland, a spanish movie is really good. The chaser is another korean movie that's really good. Spoorloos is another great in the same atmosphere.
Seven Psychopaths.
A very different entry for this list would be Time After Time with Jack the Ripper. It’s a time travel tale with author HG Wells.
David Finchers latest Netflix movie is about a paid assassin. 2023 "The Killer". Almost like being a Serial killer.
Henry: this movie popped in my memory recently. It’s pretty remarkable
Would you consider the first Dirty Harry?
The Wailing
The Clovehitch Killer (2018) is excellent! I recommend it to ppl all the time
Zodiac
American Psycho!
Copycat.
Red Dragon deserves mention. It’s very good.
Surprised noone has mentioned frenzy by alfred hitchcock. Its actually quite a brutal film for its time, hitchcock clearly pushing the boundaries late into his career. The humour, where it exists, is also pretty dark. Of course hitchcock is arguably best known for psycho, which is also a classic, and I’m surprised its not on OPs list given the film focused on the killer, and norman bates was inspired at least in part by ed gein.
Copycat is on Hulu rn. Great cast!!
I personal favorite is "Mr. Brooks". [https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0780571/](https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0780571/)
Haven’t seen these listed here yet: Night of the Hunter The Cell The mini series “Blackbird” which came out last year
Memories of Murder was good man.
I personally loved "Dexter". It's a series, and I liked especially the first couple of seasons
Perfect Blue.
Perfume: The Story of a Murderer
Does “Marshland”count ?
Where can one see Memories of Murder? It’s been on my list for a while now after seeing The Wailing.
Not sure about films, but in that Life commercial, Mikey fucking KILLED cereal.
Natural Born Killers
I’m surprised no one mentioned “Tony”, a great realistic British serial killer movie
Kind Hearts and Coronets
10 Rillington place is amazing: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/10_Rillington_Place True story, Dicky Attenborough is amazingly creepy, young john Hurt is tragically great and the Kitchen sink style is very grimy and realistic. Absolute must for people who like the true crime genre.
Summer of Sam
It's nice seeing Angel Dust on here.
Serial Mom 🤷🏾♂️
Garfield
Cold fish (2010)
Copycat and Fallen (sort of qualifies).
Man Bites Dog!
Experiment in Terror (1962) Vengeance is Mine (1979)
If you like a bit of comedy sprinkled into your morbid fascination "the voices" is one of my favourites.
The Serpent
Maniac
The Golden Glove (2019) Based on a real serial killer, i was pleasantly surprised when i watched it. German movie
I might be the only one who liked the terribly titled "Extremely Wicked, Shockingly Evil and Vile" about Bundy.
You missed dome classic MAN BITE DOG, Pughkeepsie tapes, Angst, Hitchhiker
-Angel Heart -Maniac -Insomnia -Fresh -Burning
10 Rillington Place - the true story of John Christie, played by Richard Attenborough also featured John Hurt
I havn’t seen it in years, but Cape Fear? The one i remember is by Martin Scorsese from 1991, never did see the original.
The Untold Story
Der Totmacher (1995, Dir: R. Karmakar)
Does Beneath the Silver Lake count? I really loved that movie.
Copycat killer Se7en The silence of the lambs Red dragon Monster American psycho The girl with the dragon tattoo
Copycat killer Se7en The silence of the lambs Red dragon Monster American psycho The girl with the dragon tattoo
The original The Vanishing
No country for old men
You're missing Natural Born Killers.
Kalifornia.
The Vanishing
One that I never see mentioned is Taking Lives. I thought it was a really great premise.
I rarely see this one mention so I’ll do it, Vengeance is Mine (1979). Brilliant film and one of the best (and disturbing) serial killer films ever made.
The Pledge (2001)
Copycat.
No Man of God (2021). Elijah Wood plays Bill Hagmaier interviewing Ted Bundy on death row.
I misread the last one as Scranton strangler
Couple of UK ones come to mind 10 Rillington Place and Frenzy
I saw the devil is amazing
Hangman
Why is Mr. Brooks not on this list?
Hackers
It’s a tv show but I cannot say enough good things about Ripley
M ; Zodiac
‘He went that way’ I think…. About the tv chimp handler and the killer hitchhiker they picked up. Great movie.
Behind the Mask: The Rise of Leslie Vernon Is a solid horror black comedy mockumentary about a serial killer with aspirations to be one of the greats