Netflix’s “Mindhunter” provides a realistic depiction of an F.B.I. investigator on the hunt for a serial killer.
Credit: @MINDHUNTER_
On Oct. 13, Netflix released “Mindhunter,” a new crime drama from the mind of David Fincher. A sleeper hit, the show released to rave reviews and a very positive fan and critical response.
The show is based on the autobiography and life of Federal Bureau of Investigation special agent John E. Douglas. The story revolves around members of the FBI’s Behavioral Science Unit in the 70s, as they interview multiple real life Serial Killers and try to find out how they tick, why they kill, and how they ended up like that. In the 70s, the FBI was focused only on catching the serial killers, not how they worked. However, to quote one of the protagonists, “How can we get ahead of crazy if we don’t know how crazy thinks?” The show is historical fiction, with many of the serial killers being real-life characters, such as Ed Kempur, Jerry Brudos, and more infamous killers such as Charles Manson and David Berkowitz being discussed in the background without actually appearing. The BTK killer, Dennis Rader, also appears in a cameo role.
While the shows main character, Holden Ford, is a fictional invention, he is almost a word for word representation of John E. Douglas. Both Douglas and Ford interviewed famous serial killers and received backlash from the general law enforcement community for their methods. However, the fictional parts of the show arise in the dramatic aspects. Mindhunter is essentially a workplace drama with crime elements thrown in. The main antagonist of the show is not the killers being interviewed, but rather Ford’s boss at the FBI. The conflicts arise not from the murders, but rather from people questioning the methods of the characters in the serial killer project.
Mindhunter is a fantastic show, another from Netflix that is meant for binge-watching, with many people watching all ten episodes within a few days of each other after discovering the shows beauty. The beauty of the show arises from the fantastic and stark cinematography and writing. The show is vibrant with a 70s feel, doing what “Stranger Things” did for the 80s to the late 70s. Everything in the show is done on a master level, the writing, character development, and acting are all superb. Johnathan Groff’s portrayal of Holden Ford will go down as one of the most iconic FBI/Detective characters of the genre, along with Holt McCallny’s Bill Tench. Watching Johnathan Groff transition from the gregarious and out-there role of King George III in Hamilton to the cold, wooden, and subdued role of Holden Ford is frankly fascinating.
While the meat of the show is a workplace crime drama, the real pleasure the show offers is the interviews with the serial killers. The way the show portrays the several killers is fantastic, with Cameron Britton’s portrayal of Ed Kempur being likened to Sir Anthony Hopkin’s role as Hannibal Lector. Britton’s Kempur is frankly the shows best offering, with the viewers seeing Kempur exactly as Ford is, as Fincher expected. As Ford interviews Kempur more and more, and
he comes to like him. The viewer also does this, making it all the more shocking when the viewers remember that Kempur killed nine people and desecrated their bodies.
“Mindhunter” excels in every way a show could, it is clear to see that Netflix has another Stranger Things on their hand. Much like “Stranger Things,” “Mindhunter” was unknown until it came out. There was not much fanfare towards its launch, with only a few trailers and a billboard being put up in Atlanta and other large cities. However, also like “Stranger Things,” once fans started watching, they realized what a blast it was to watch the show.
The only problem and factor with the show is that it is very much a slow-burn, meaning that there is not much action, not much excitement, as the action and drama the viewer receives comes from the dialogue and watching the events unfold. While this makes it an excellent show for fans of Fincher’s work, it, unfortunately, is not very palpable to the general audience who love shootouts and fights in their crime drama.
The show currently has a 96% on Rotten Tomatoes, and an 8.9/10 on IMDB. IMDB’s description reads: “Mindhunter distinguishes itself in a crowded genre with ambitiously cinematic visuals and meticulous attention to character development.” This description is indeed the best the show can receive, and it is gorgeous to watch, and incredibly pleasant to think about.
“Mindhunter” is a love letter to fans of Fincher’s other works, such as “Fight Club,” “Gone Girl,” “Zodiac,” and “House of Cards,” as well as a love letter to the criminal justice fans. The show’s dialogue and themes read like a thesis on serial killers any student could find in one of their classes, which is perhaps what makes it so satisfying to watch. Luckily, “Mindhunter” has already been greenlit for a second season, and many fans are already eagerly excited to get back into the head of Ed Kempur and future subjects on the show.
