The opinions expressed in this review are those of the reviewers. They do not purport to reflect the opinions or views of nospoilerreview.com, its owners, or its staff. This post may contain affiliate links. Read the full disclosure here.
Let’s talk about I’ll Be Gone in the Dark, a six-part documentary series on HBO Max that explores writer Michelle McNamara’s investigation into the dark world of the violent predator she dubbed “The Golden State Killer.”
Note: Our reviews will contain just the basics – no spoilers. We hope they will help you find something new to watch, read, and listen to as well as tv shows, movies, books and podcasts to avoid altogether!
I’ll Be Gone in the Dark on HBO Max
Rating: TV-MA
Genre: True Crime, Documentary
Type: Limited Series
Released: 2020
Summary:
A six-part documentary series based on the book of the same name, I’ll Be Gone in the Dark explores writer Michelle McNamara’s investigation into the dark world of the violent predator she dubbed “The Golden State Killer,” the man who terrorized California in the 1970s and 80s and is responsible for 50 home-invasion rapes and 13 murders.
Directed by Academy Award nominee and Emmy-winning director Liz Garbus (HBO’s Who Killed Garrett Phillips, Nothing Left Unsaid: Gloria Vanderbilt & Anderson Cooper) and produced by Elizabeth Wolff, Kate Barry, Myles Kane, and Josh Koury, the series is a detective story told in McNamara’s own words, through exclusive original recordings and excerpts from her book read by actor Amy Ryan. Drawing on extensive archival footage and police files as well as exclusive new interviews with detectives, survivors, and family members of the killer, the series weaves together a picture of a complex and flawed investigation that challenged police for decades.
The series is also a journey into the soul of McNamara, whose True Crime Diaries blog and years of relentless determination for justice for the victims helped keep the case alive and in the public eye, and who tragically died of an accidental overdose while writing her book. A meditation on obsession and loss, I’ll Be Gone in the Dark chronicles the unrelenting path of a mysterious killer and the fierce determination of one woman to bring the case to light.
Heather’s Review:
This is one of the best documentaries I’ve seen in years. It was so well done and kept my attention for every single episode. They were releasing weekly episodes then, and I would watch as soon as a new one was released. I couldn’t wait to see what happened next.
One of the misconceptions about this documentary is that it’s all about The Golden State Killer. This is more a story of the impact of the search for the Golden State Killer on Michelle McNamara’s life and the true crime community.
I love that it was more about Michelle than the man who evaded law enforcement for most of his life. Why not give the publicity to the decent people who spent their own time to help catch this monster?
Don’t forget to listen to the I’ll Be Gone in the Dark podcast as you watch this documentary.
I give I’ll Be Gone in the Dark on HBO Max 5 out of 5 stars.
79% Google users liked this
7.4/10 IMDb
96% Rotten Tomatoes
Have you seen I’ll Be Gone in the Dark yet? Let me know what you think about it in the comments below. Don’t forget to visit often to find out what book you should read next, which tv show or movie you should watch next, and what podcast you should listen to next. We will also be sharing new releases, canceled shows, and more! Thank you for visiting no spoiler reviews!
- Beef - April 17, 2023
- Workin’ Moms - March 25, 2023
- Poker Face - March 24, 2023
