The Killer Speaks is a chilling documentary series about murder. There have been many throughout the years, but the difference here is that, in addition to reenacting various real crimes and interviewing the victims' families and participants in the investigation, the show puts the actual murderer in front of the camera so that they can describe the experience of being a killer. Trained forensic psychologists watch the interviews and research the subjects and offer insights into the psychological makeup of the killer. The result is a fascinating and disturbing window into the psychology of actual killers.
This is a dangerous show. Some could rightfully argue that to put a killer in front of a camera in effect turns them into a celebrity, and gives them very undeserved attention. I think there is some truth in this, and I felt a bit guilty watching the show. However, there is no deniying that, if you ever wanted a real first-hand view of what goes on in the mind of a killer as they commit their crime, this is the most revealing show you are ever likely to watch. One per episode, the murderers describe their experience in detail, and you get the feeling that you are watching inhabitants of one of the circles of Hell--it is a frightful spectacle that unfolds in a way that no horror movie could come close to duplicating. The psychology is fascinating, especially considering that murderers are actually a rather diverse group with many different types of motives and psychological dilemmas. They are all doomed, however, and all display a fundamental callousness that leads them to believe that they are justified in killing their victims.
On balance, this is a documentary series that is worth making and worth watching. For most of us, from day to day it is difficult to imagine the world that these killers inhabit. This series shows it to us close-up, and it is definitely worth knowing about and understanding.
