Becoming Evil: Serial Killers
True crime. Americans have become fascinated with the media genre in which actual crimes of real people are explored in depth. A genre which exploded at the beginning of the 21st century. A genre that focuses on murder. The more hideous and bizarre, the better with the biggest sub category of true crime being the story of the serial killer.
- 2019-2019
- 1 season
- Documentary, Suspense
True crime. Americans have become fascinated with the media genre in which actual crimes of real people are explored in depth. A genre which exploded at the beginning of the 21st century. A genre that focuses on murder. The more hideous and bizarre, the better with the biggest sub category of true crime being the story of the serial killer.
Season 1 Episode Guide
7 Episodes 2019
Episode 1
Mind of the Serial Killer
Fri, May 17, 2019 57 mins
The prototypical careful, white, male, genius serial killer of young, affluent, attractive women for sexual gratification is a myth. These represent a small minority of serial killers and their genius is predominantly dumb luck. A substantial percentage of serial killers are black, Hispanic, homosexual or women a few of whom are biographed. Their prey is almost always easy victims who are isolated or on the margins of society. Their reasons for killing are diverse but are generally thought to relate to the need for power or control.
Episode 2
Victims and the Media
Fri, May 17, 2019 55 mins
Steven Egger estimates that 75% of serial killers are what he terms 'less dead'. In other words, people such as sex workers, runaways and the homeless who are on the margins of society. The next largest group are vulnerable victims such as nursing home residents. Within these groups serial killer often choose victims according to a particular profile, such as prostitutes. However, a few choose victims at random. But it takes the news media, particularly television news, to make the killers famous. And the media favors certain types of killers and victims.
Episode 3
America's Most Notorious Serial Killers: The First Wave
Fri, May 17, 2019 56 mins
"The First Wave' examines American serial killers prior to World War Two. It treats six of the more prolific, loathsome killers as examples reviewing their lives, actions and killings from birth to death. The experts attribute the killers ability to find prey and evade authorities to the urbanization of America although the examples tend to counter this theory which also doesn't take into account the murderous outlaw of the frontier.
Episode 4
The Second Wave: America's Most Notorious Serial Killers
Fri, May 17, 2019 57 mins
Serial killers seem to emerge in America en masse in the idyllic era of the 1950s. Coupled with television their sadism terrorized the communities where they operated because, despite the publicity, their killings continued until they were caught. The narrative makes it sound like the killers were competing to surpass their predecessors in sadistic acts but this is a literary device. Still, many victims suffered horrendous cruelty before death and revolting desecration of their bodies after death which is described in detail.
Episode 5
Lady Serial Killers
Fri, May 17, 2019 53 mins
We look at female serial killers that targeted victims across the US including Jolly Jane Toppan, black widow Betty Lou Beets, and death nurse Genene Jones who murdered over 60 infants and children.
Episode 6
International Serial Killers
Fri, May 17, 2019 53 mins
We examine the crimes of prolific international serial killers including Jack the Ripper, Pedro Lopez, the monster of the Andes, who killed over 110 people and Peter Sutcliffe, the Yorkshire Ripper.
Episode 7
21st Century Serial Killers
Fri, May 17, 2019 54 mins
The crimes of American spree killer Andrew Cunanan whose victims included Gianni Versace, the Beltway snipers who terrorised the Washington DC area, and the Milwaukee Cannibal Jeffrey Dahmer.