From Hannibal Lector to Dexter, serial killers are often the most memorable characters in the crime and detective shows we love.
If you’re looking for tangled mysteries and thrilling chases, look no further than these serial killer series now streaming on Topic.
Dark Woods
GERMANY • CRIME
SYNOPSIS Inspired by a real-life case that went unsolved for almost 30 years, this haunting German series follows a high-ranking police officer’s decades-long search for his sister – who went missing shortly after four bodies were found in the woods – and a smart young detective who ends up becoming instrumental in the investigation.
WHY YOU SHOULD WATCH With its eerie cinematography and stylish 1980s flashbacks, Dark Woods is the perfect watch for a spooky night in.
Those Who Kill
DENMARK • CRIME
SYNOPSIS When a decayed body is found in the woods, criminal investigator Katrine calls up Copenhagen professor and forensic psychologist Magnus. His response? “Where are the others?”
WHY YOU SHOULD WATCH A heart-pounding criminal drama, Those Who Kill is an addictive chase from beginning to end.
Pagan Peak
GERMANY • CRIME
SYNOPSIS When a gruesomely staged body is found at the German-Austrian border, two detectives investigate. As the ritual-like murders continue, they enter the killer’s sinister world.
WHY YOU SHOULD WATCH Set in the snowy Alpine wilderness, Pagan Peak is sure to send chills up your spine. Season 3 premieres this fall, so catch up on the first two seasons now!
The Killing
DENMARK • CRIME
WHAT Follow the unprecedented Detective Sarah Lund as she takes on a series of complex murder cases, each with political implications, and watch as obsession consumes her. Each season follows a different murder case, with each episode covering 24 gripping hours of investigation.
WHY YOU SHOULD WATCH This gripping BAFTA-winning series features multiple serial killers whose crimes will keep you on the edge of your seat.
Deceit
UNITED KINGDOM • DRAMA
SYNOPSIS Based on the 1992 true story of a controversial undercover operation carried out by the police in southwest London. An undercover officer courts a suspect in the hunt for a serial killer in this female-led police procedural.
WHY YOU SHOULD WATCH The mystery is still alive in this real-life case: base on a real entrapment case from 1992, the officer’s identity has never been revealed.
The Box
UNITED STATES • CRIME
SYNOPSIS Could a reopened cold-case unveil one of America’s most notorious criminals? Detective Chris Loudon discovers a long-forgotten box of evidence that sparks his investigation to expose the truth behind one of America’s worst serial killers.
WHY YOU SHOULD WATCH You can’t have a list of serial killer shows without a good true crime, and this is a great true crime.
Aileen: Life and Death of a Serial Killer
UNITED STATES • DOCUMENTARY
SYNOPSIS While she awaits her death sentence, notorious female serial killer Aileen Wuornos explores her tortured childhood and her subsequent years on the road as a hitch-hiking sex worker which culminated in the murders that inspired the film Monster.
WHY YOU SHOULD WATCH A chilling look into the motivation of a real-life serial killer.
The Returned
FRANCE • DRAMA
SYNOPSIS In a small French mountain town where everyone knows each other, some dead inexplicably return as if their death never happened. Meanwhile, a series of murders begins, bringing back memories of a past serial killer…
WHY YOU SHOULD WATCH This ‘sad, spooky, sexy’ suspenseful drama about life and loss was a critical hit, winning an International Emmy Award and landing on the New York Times’ list of the Best International TV Shows of the Decade.
Plus, Stephen King is a fan, and that man knows a thing or two about serial killers.
Want even more serial killer content? See the full list of shows here.
