Common Sense Media Review
By Melissa Camacho
,
based on child development research. How do we rate?
Gruesome series connects serial killer to the occult.
Parents Need to Know
Why Age 16+?
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The Sons of Sam: A Descent into Darkness
What's the Story?
THE SONS OF SAM: A DESCENT INTO DARKNESS is a true crime documentary about late writer/journalist Maury Terry's personal investigation into the murders committed by David Berkowitz, a.k.a. Son of Sam. In 1977, after a string of killings throughout New York City, Berkowitz was arrested and eventually convicted of murdering six people and wounding seven others. Based on his own research, Terry believed that there was more than one killer and that the killers were connected to a satanic cult. With the help of archive footage and Terry's written notes (read by Paul Giamatti) and recordings, his theories about the Son of Sam murders are deconstructed. Meanwhile, law enforcement officials, journalists, Terry's family members, and others associated with the case share their thoughts about his theories -- and his fixation on the closed case.
Is It Any Good?
This sensationalized true crime series delves unconvincingly into the flimsy argument that multiple people were responsible for the 1977 New York City killing spree. It breaks down the events leading up to Berkowitz's arrest and conviction, including the language used in his letters to the public while he was at large and the remarkably different eyewitness sketches that were produced during the search for him. Terry later connects some of these details to, among other things, Scientology-infused satanic practices and people like Charles Manson.
The Sons of Sam doesn't offer any new information about the case, and it relies on graphic, violent images and detailed descriptions of bizarre rituals, animal killings, and brutal murders to make Terry's argument more compelling. Much of what's offered here feels gratuitous and tabloid-like, which only serves to make the writer's assertions, which were published in his 1987 book titled Ultimate Evil, feel even more far-fetched than they did years ago. Some may enjoy the show's lurid nature, but others will find it hard to take seriously.
Talk to Your Kids About ...
Families can talk about true crime documentary series. Are they produced to inform or to entertain? Has any true crime show ever resulted in the reopening/reinvestigation of a criminal case? Do you think that's the goal?
It's important for documentaries to share important facts about a subject, even if they're violent or sexual in nature. But when do they go from being informative to being sensationalized or exploitative? Does The Sons of Sam cross that line?
TV Details
- Premiere date : May 5, 2021
- Cast : Maury Terry , Paul Giamatti
- Network : Netflix
- Genre : Reality TV
- TV rating :
- Last updated : February 15, 2023
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