Common Sense Media Review
By Stephanie Morgan
,
based on child development research. How do we rate?
Serial killer docuseries focuses on the manhunt.
Parents Need to Know
Why Age 15+?
Any Positive Content?
Where to Watch
Videos and Photos
The Playing Card Killer
Parent and Kid Reviews
What's the Story?
In THE PLAYING CARDS KILLER, the crimes of an infamous 2003 Spanish serial killer are explored through interviews with victims, witnesses, criminologists, reporters who covered the story, and police officers who investigated the case.
Is It Any Good?
"The victim is just a part of the scene, no one ever remembers them" captures the chilling reality explored in this true crime docuseries. The story of The Playing Card Killer unfolds like a gripping Hollywood movie, with a cast of reporters, psychologists, and police scrambling to decipher the cryptic messages left by a serial killer in the form of playing cards. The firsthand accounts from those involved are intriguing, but it's the reporters who -- while expressing the fear and concern they felt over the case -- allude to an underlying sense of excitement that permeated their experiences. The series delves into fascinating details of the crime, such the gross investigative mismanagement of the first crime scene being hosed down by city workers before it could be properly processed by the police. With its concise three-episode format, the narrative is well-covered without being drawn out, keeping viewers on the edge of their seats with many twists and turns.
Talk to Your Kids About ...
Families can talk about the interviews with the reporters who covered The Playing Card Killer. What role did the media play in the events of that time?
At the beginning of the series, a woman says, "The victim is just a part of the scene, no one ever remembers them." How does this documentary play into that notion?
Talk about the use of real crime scene photos in the documentary. Were they more upsetting than the re-enactments because they're real?
TV Details
- Premiere date : June 9, 2023
- Network : Netflix
- Genre : Reality TV
- TV rating :
- Last updated : June 14, 2023
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