5 Most Tense True Crime TV Series to Keep You on the Edge of Your Seat
We tell you about multi-episode true crimes you won't want to miss.
Psychiatrists associate interest in true crime with a sense of security: many of the stories told end with the missing being found, and the criminals convicted.
The psyche perceives this as a clear signal that no matter how horrific the crimes, the villain will be punished.
1. Tiger King, 2020-2021
A true crime series bordering on black comedy about the rise and fall of an eccentric man with an equally eccentric name, Joe Exotic. Joe is a big cat enthusiast and owner of a private zoo of tigers and lions in Oklahoma.
In addition to running a zoo, Joe has many talents and ambitions: he has tried to launch a career as a singer, influencer, blogger, and even president.
Joe flatly refuses to fit into society or obey its laws. Joe is accused of the attempted murder of his archenemy, animal rights activist Carole Baskin.
2. American Crime Story, 2016-...
The two-time Golden Globe winner is a three-part encyclopedia of all-American crime.
The first is devoted to the heinous trial of O.J. Simpson, the football star who killed his wife and her lover. The second is about the murder of Gianni Versace on the threshold of his own home, committed by a serial killer. The third is about the scandal involving Bill Clinton and Monica Lewinsky and the subsequent impeachment attempt.
3. Rillington Place, 2016
A three-part true crime project from the BBC about legendary killer John Christie immerses viewers in the dark atmosphere of wartime London. In the late 1940s, Christie murdered his pregnant lodger, then so successfully framed her partner that he was hanged for the crime. After escaping punishment, the strangler killed his wife and three other women.
Each episode is filmed from the perspective of those directly involved in the events and offers different points of view: Christie's wife, Timothy Evans – the man wrongly hanged for his crimes, and the killer himself.
4. The Serpent, 2021
The plot of this creepy true crime series with a retro aesthetic is based on the crimes committed by serial killer Charles Sobhraj in Thailand in the 1970s.
Posing as gem dealer Alain, Sobhraj charmed, drugged and then robbed and killed hippie tourists. Played by Tahar Rahim, the series' protagonist exudes an irresistible magnetic charm of boundless evil.
5. The Jinx: The Life and Deaths of Robert Durst, 2015-2024
This true-crime series is one of those amazing cases where independent filmmakers' investigations have influenced the work of law enforcement.
Robert is a millionaire and heir to New York's richest tycoon. He was suspected of three murders: his wife, his longtime friend and a neighbor. He only confessed to the last one, but was acquitted on the grounds of self-defense.
After the film's release, Durst received a call from Andrew Jarecki offering an exclusive interview, although he had not previously communicated with press.