I Am a Killer

As the true crime craze continues unabated, more complex and nuanced content is beginning to emerge. While TV shows and podcasts in the arena have typically taken a "whodunnit" approach, I Am a Killer points their lens at the circumstances that led to, and ramifications of, the crime. Depending on the episode, this can bring up a number of interesting questions ranging from how equitable the U.S. justice system really is to the morality of the death penalty for the mentally ill. With the notable lack of a narrator, and all dialogue coming from direct-to-camera interviews, the show lacks the sensationalism that plagues many of its counterparts. Instead of gripping mysteries, viewers are given well-rounded stories that include everyone affected by the crime – often not only the perpetrator and victim's family, but also the professionals that worked on the case. Make no mistake, though, the crimes are brutal and the details horrific. Viewers will walk away from the show with an improved understanding of how the American justice and penal systems work and, depressingly, how they often fail.