Netflix’s Catching Killers (2021) Review: Harrowing

Catching Killers is a crime documentary that has 4 episodes, each around 40 minutes long.

Netflix describes the series as:

The investigators behind infamous serial killer cases reveal the harrowing, chilling details of their extraordinary efforts in this true crime series.

– Catching Killers review does not contain spoilers –

For all the true-crime junkies out there, we have another series to binge on – a series following the most harrowing cases out there of human deprivation. The first episode is about the Green River Killer, episode two is about Aileen Wuornos and the last two episodes are a two-parter about the Smiley Face Killer.

As per Netflix documentaries, there are interviews, news reports, real-life crime scene pictures from the time and re-enactments to push the narrative forward. For those who are passionate about true crime, but don’t know much about these crimes, you’re in for a ride. I have heard all of these stories, each of which is as harrowing as the next. As the people closest to the cases narrate the stories, you get videos describing those streets and alleys to give you a mental picture and make the experience all the more real.

Unlike many other true crime shows, this one’s thrilling. The narration is simple, nothing too over the top. The music accompanying the narration and the videos go well with everything and add so much tension to the overall narration. You wait with bated breath to know how each of the cases ends up and you won’t have to wait long, thanks to the short runtime. I mean, I am ok with hour-long episodes, especially for true crime docs. However, the shorter and tighter, the better.

That being said, since the series is this short, Catching Killers does not go too deep into any of the cases. Sure, we get the basic information and how the police officers catch some of the most prolific serial killers, yet, it seems a bit empty sometimes, or even rushed. I don’t personally mind, since I’ve seen these shows become horribly boring trying to dig too deep. But, it’s something.

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Catching Killers also goes a little bit into the officers who made the effort to catch these killers. They are small, heartwarming moments – a welcome change in these twisted stories. They talk about their wives and how their fellow colleague was in college – it lasts for a minute or two, but it’s nice to hear anyway.

As we go through different suspects and take three steps towards victory, we and the detectives come back to square one and start from scratch due to incorrect guesses or hunches. It’s how the trade is, so really, there’s not much that can be done other than giving your 110% to the job. However, these moments are frustrating and you feel what the detectives are feeling because they were just so close to putting an end to the reign of terror.

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But what we see the most in Catching Killers 2021, one thing that becomes apparent in any true-crime documentary, is how desperate the detectives are to catch the killers. It’s not like they are sitting around wanting people to die. But to get to a killer is never an easy feat; there are many obstacles on the path and, more often than not, the killers, too, are twisted psychopaths. However, it’s that one lucky break, one small piece of evidence, one connection that breaks a case wide open. It’s harrowing sitting and watching the police scramble to find that one link.

As the detectives cry at the solving of their long-drawn-out cases, you are forced to get emotional with them. It’s a victory for all of us and each episode is, thus, a satisfying, albeit horrifying, watch.

Summing up: Catching Killers

Catching Killers Netflix is harrowing, incessant and fast-paced. It’s short enough to be enjoyed and you get the satisfaction of going through an emotional journey with the detectives to nab the serial killers. The victims stay with you and you will find yourself a little more careful when you go out the next time. All in all, this is a satisfying and short watch, without too much over-the-top melodrama so it doesn’t get annoying.

Catching Killers is streaming on Netflix.

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