Episode Guide
Devil in the City of Angels Anyone Could Be Next Lock. Your. Doors. Manhunt Night Stalker: The Hunt for a Serial Killer is a really great documentary series. It’s a riveting, utterly engrossing account of a serial killer who went on to be charged with 13 counts of murder, 11 counts of sexual assault, 5 counts of attempted murder, and 14 counts of burglary. Trust me, this one is not for the faint hearted. The four episodes waste absolutely no time getting right to the heart of the case, following the boots-on-the-ground officers in charge of tracking down the notorious night stalker, Richard Ramirez. The two focal points here come from Frank Salerno and Gil Carrillo. Alongside these two though are a host of other supporting players who lend their voice, ranging from news reporters through to survivors of Ramirez’s killing spree. For those unaware of this story, buckle up and prepare for one of the most shocking true crime docs Netflix have put up. I know that sounds like hyperbole, especially given the sheer number on the platform, but it really is a crazy story. The first episode covers a handful of the murders before intensifying in the subsequent chapters, eventually wrapping everything up with the killer caught and survivors weighing in on their thoughts and feelings surrounding what happened. In true Netflix fashion, the stylistic techniques used throughout the documentary are beautifully done. Neon purple writing reinforces the 80’s setting while the split-screen edits and subtle colour changes help to keep things visually stimulating throughout. The archival shots of the crime scenes are narrated graphically by both Carrillo and Salerno who do a really impressive job painting a portrait of a very grim and disturbing case. In fact, perhaps one of the most disturbing parts of this case came after Ramirez was caught. If you’re unfamiliar with the case, I won’t spoil any of that here but suffice to say Night Stalker is a must-watch documentary series and one of the best Netflix have put out in quite some time.
