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Making a Murderer became everyone’s favorite dark obsession last winter and now we’re even more eager for more on the ever-evolving saga of Steven Avery, Brendan Dassey, and the mystery surrounding Teresa Halbach’s gruesome death. Just last Friday, Making a Murderer fans learned that Brendan Dassey’s conviction had been overturned. Minnesota has 90 days to try Dassey again in a whole new trial or let him go. Naturally, anticipation for more Making a Murderer is at fever pitch, but Season Two is still a way’s off. So what can you watch to kill the time, so to speak? How about the creepy 45-minute documentary Interview With A Serial Killer?
While it’s nowhere near as artfully-made as Making A Murderer, Interview With A Serial Killer is a gripping look into the psychology of a bonafide murderer. The documentary focuses on Arthur Shawcross, the Genesee River Killer, who killed 14 victims, including two children whom he raped before they were murdered. He also liked to mutilate his victims and committed acts of cannibalism. Many of the murders took place after he was imprisoned and released for the child murders. He also tended to target prostitutes and women from lower income backgrounds.
At the top of the feature, Shawcross says that he knows about evil. The interviewer asks him if he’s evil. His response? “Somewhat.” The documentary cuts between cold facts from the case and the murderer’s chilling take on events. In one instance, he explains nonchalantly that he split a “date” open from neck to groin because he had a fit of anger. She got mad so he murdered her. Shawcross blinks repeatedly as he speaks, which only heightens the creepiness of his cold confessions.
The documentary also tries to figure out why Shawcross was driven to so much violence. In addition to the killings, Shawcross was also an arsonist and thief. The film attributes Shawcross’s behavior to neurological issues and childhood trauma (which may or may not have happened! If you believe Shawcross!) The whole thing plays out like an even creepier, bleaker version of Making A Murderer. The twist here? We know he did it. He did it all. As for Steven Avery? The pop culture jury is still out.
