The Killing Season (2016) User Reviews

Interesting to Say the Least!

[jon-stokes21 · 8/10 · 24 October 2017]

It's seems the negative reviews have some sort of ulterior motives, anyone interest in shows involving unsolved crimes/murders would find this show interesting.

I can say despite the negative reviews the families who live in the wakes of these murders are happy to see some attention and light shined on these cases.

Over Dramatic but interesting and informative

[bushofghosts · 7/10 · 26 November 2016]

A bit over dramatic.

In terms of investigative reporting the documentarians ask non-open ended questions (but not leading questions).

Where there was information that had already been of no interest and disproved, the documentarians run with it and make it appear as a viable lead, untilllll they show why it was disproved.

I would have preferred them sticking to facts of the case and not wild speculation, a lot of "what if's" and "could it have been possible". Falls just short of conspiracy theories in that they do say when their "leads" had been already disproved.

It is interesting to have the "non experts" weigh in on the stories, fresh perspectives

Really great work, except...

[kevinoreilly-47281 · 9/10 · 22 March 2021]

While investigating the "west mesa" killer, Josh and Rachel consult amateur profiler Peter Brendt. He says (paraphrasing) "when in the past 500 years has a serial killer buried his bodies so close to home? The record was Ted Bundy at 120 miles"... have you ever heard of John Wayne Gacy (killer clown)? He buried 40 boys under the floorboards of his basement. Perhaps you may have heard of Anthony Sowell (Cleveland Strangler), who lived among dozens of corpses in his own house. Or Anthony's copycat Michael Madison. Or H. H. Holmes for god sake. I think Peter Brendt made some very good observations but this comment had me yelling at the TV. They even mention Sowell and Madison with Brendt in the last episode but give no explanation to his comment from the previous episode.

Hooked...Your New Murderporn Fix...

[meddlecore · 10/10 · 16 November 2016]

If you were knocked off the edge of your seat by The Jinx...or transfixed to the screen while binge watching Making A Murderer...you can thank Cropsey filmmaker Joshua Zeman, and his partner Rachel Mills, for their new documentary series: The Killing Season- which looks at the numerous cases of dead women (most being sex workers) and disposed bodies in and around Long Island, New York.

At least, that's where it begins...

Two episodes in and I'm already hooked.

We follow along as we watch Zeman, Mills, and their team make huge discoveries, as they uncover clue after clue...making progress in weeks, where the police seem to have failed for years (though not without someone in the dept's help, at least).

The filmmaking team have enlisted the help of a Herzogian Serial Killer Profiler, who sort of acts as the narrator, outlining the potential narrative as he sees it (and he's even German). I'm not sure I agree with everything he says, but f*ck if he doesn't keep things interesting with his far fetched and/or extremely intuitive theories (you be the judge).

Their seems to be two things going on: on one hand, an investigation into what is either one insanely clever and prolific serial killer, or, alternatively, two different serial killers, with two different MO's, working the same stomping ground (or perhaps even hunting each other, as the crazy German guy implies). Hell there may even be more than that... While on the other, it acts to query why the police seem wholly unconcerned about investigating and solving these crimes.

The filmmakers seem to imply they are about to break something huge, and of significance to more than just Long Island (a serial killing cabal, perhaps?)...

I guess we'll see how it plays out as the series progresses. But, one thing is certain, the filmmakers have really managed to fashion the narrative as to leave you on the edge of your seat, and dying to know more, as the end of each episode rolls around.

Awesome series from executive producer Alex Gibney, and filmmakers Joshua Zeman, and Rachel Mills, so far.

A must see series, for sure.

10 out of 10!!!

Amazing documentary

[sophiarodriguez-86742 · 10/10 · 10 August 2019]

Amazing documentary that totally went under the radar!! It's one of the greatests true crime documentaries I've ever seen!

Well done investigative series of unsolved murders that involves footage, interviews, that connects with theory and data.

[blanbrn · 9/10 · 3 December 2016]

I like many have always loved following and keeping up with real life unsolved murders especially that of serial killings. Of late one of the most famous is that of the "Long Island Serial Killer" and that's where this A@E series "The Killing Season" begins. The series follows two Documentarians Joshua and Rachel who investigative serial killings all around the U.S., as mentioned the series starts out on Long Island, only to branch out to Atalntic City, NJ as a group of bodies found in America's playground were similar to the ones in Long Island, NY with all being sex workers, escorts, and street walkers could it be the same killer? The series makes connection to different unsolved murders it features interviews with victims family members and police and theories are provided from private investigators and comments are giving on the web from many sources. Plus geography plays a part in the series as Josh and Rachel believe that the killer travels up and down the east coast and the interstate system is looked up at as a dumping ground of truck driving serial killers. And VICAP is spotlighted and the theory is giving that police around the country don't share information and police corruption is often the problem that many of these serial cases aren't solved. The series even branches out west to the New Mexico sand area to hunt for a killer after many bodies are found. Overall thought provoking and informative investigative series need I say more.

Completely engaging

[cherub32169-879-61941 · 10/10 · 28 January 2021]

I watched the other documentary these two produced (Cropsey) and really liked it so finding this was a gem. I don't know if they've done anything else but I will check for sure. I loved the way they didn't use actors, it was actually them doing all the legwork. Showing how they talked to all kinds (and I mean ALL kinds) of people was really incredible. Well done.

Running down speculations without testing?

[smferrari · 5/10 · 9 November 2019]

Just started watching. In regards to LISK... Why aren't fiber comparisons being run with the burlap bags? Why aren't DNA swabs being done with Asian male and supposed find relatives? Etc This show isn't busting myths, which I was looking forward to, they're basically reporting information bits and rumors to us... Where are the resolutions and solved mysteries from detective work? That's the most important aspect to any show! And to the families suffering!

SERIAL KILLERS EVERYWHERE!!!!!

[kennyquinn-92839 · 16 January 2021]

Slow start, but once you get further into it and everything starts to unfold it's amazing very well investigated from the reporter's. AND TRULY AN ASTONISHING DATA FINISH. HOW MANY SERIAL KILLERS ARE THEY RIGHT NOW ACTIVE IN THE USA. FBI RESOURCES ALL TIED UP WITH TERRORISM.

Wow

[naplesflcjt · 10/10 · 31 July 2021]

Phenomenal. One of the most riveting true crime documentary series I've ever watched. Great investigative documentary filmmaking. I simply did not want it to end. It was spectacular.

Extremely Suspenseful True Crime Documentary

[poetryandpalmtrees · 10/10 · 1 December 2022]

Extremely suspenseful true crime documentary that quickly draws you in. A very well made deep dive into the twists and turns of real life horror. A first hand look at several unsolved, intricately connected crimes through the discovery of a massive body count, that starts out with one missing girl. There's plenty of suspense and possible suspects, with very few leads and even fewer agencies interested in working the cases. Many theories abound as the series takes you through case after case with its well done narratives, intriguing dialogue, and captivating interviews. The Killing Season is smart, compelling, and terrifying all at once. If you enjoy true crime documentaries, you'll not be disappointed. A paradoxically satisfying binge that'll leave you wanting more. 10 stars.

Sensationalistic Nonsense

[samoanui · 1/10 · 31 July 2021]

I think the number of times the documentarians say "Rachel and I" amounts to more than the total unsolved murders in the US. It got to the point when I would cringe when I heard it. Perhaps they should make this series less about them and more about the unsolved murders?

It seems the documentarians would rush from one unsolved series of murders to another, throwing around wild accusations against everyone from the police departments to motorcycle gangs. At the end of eight episodes we are left with no new insights into any of the cases. Some of the interviews they did were very interesting, but the documentarians spoiled it by inserting themselves into everything constantly, and making everything overly dramatic. The scary music was hilarious.

Unprofessional, sensationalism etc

[jdbeier · 5/10 · 31 August 2022]

Just finished the first episode and I'm going to ramble off why the show sucks but is still decent enough to have as something on in the background. They're using websleuth and wikipedia to chase down leads. All you have to do is go to websleuth and click any thread at random and you'll see that the website is filled with extremely bored housewives that have read one too many sexy murder novels or borderline schizo delusional individuals that make up random nonsense with no basis in reality. Then they're literally tracking down and confronting people based on Wikipedia edits. They're also using an absolutely completely random foreigner that called into a radio program as an expert. They dropped off a prostitute at a hotel and started panicking after she was in there for more than an hour as if this was some sort of legitimate job where at an hour she just packs up and leaves. Then they play a recording of the guy that they tracked down and confronted expecting a girl to recognize the voice 6 years later when she has tons of random guys calling her every day. This is like children playing detective. I'm going to watch the entire series but only after watching the first episode it's clear to me what kind of show this is.

They are ruining it...

[themaytz · 3/10 · 12 January 2019]

By over dramatizing everything. I think the two reporters have watched too much Discovery Channel 😀

Also, focus on the original case is completely lost towards the end.

Skip this documentary

[aaronlshickell · 4/10 · 3 May 2019]

I give them kudos for bringing to light the many unsolved murders that seem to be all but forgotten by law enforcement, but their investigation instincts are novice at best and they jump on leads of no apparent connections.

Started out fine, then went in circles.

[darbyvicious · 3/10 · 31 March 2017]

What started out as a interesting documentary on unsolved murders across America turned into a SJW-police bashing propaganda message. The directors padded this series with repeated footage and pointless dead end journeys. This could have easily been a great 90min. documentary. I would like to see more work like "Cropsey" which I highly recommend.

Nothing like Making A Murderer

[cicerobuck · 3/10 · 29 November 2016]

That review is from watching the first 6 episodes out of 8.

This attracted me because of the reported similarities to the Making A Murderer series. Sadly, however interesting the topi at hand is, the approach and tone is pure sensationalism, the editing is one of reality TV character, and the humanity and emotional aspects are vastly lacking. In itself it could be OK, but as the "investgation" is heavily leaning on the grimmest possible path, you start to feel that the producers wanted to mix the last scene from "Seven" with TV reality storytelling. Oh, and it doesn't help that throughout, we learn that the investigation led by the journalists has actually mostly matched the ones led by police departments. Two episodes to go, but I can already safely say that this isn't something I'd recommend my family to watch, unlike "Making A Murderer". In the end, the results of the investigation might be interesting, but this was tastelessly done to say the least. I just wish I could follow this without feeling like I'm watching porn...

Woke Aimless Trash

[michaeljameshill-98919 · 3/10 · 11 February 2022]

This was a over-dramatic, aimless/meandering documentary apparently about the "Long Island Serial Killer" (though by the end of the Series the starting point/supposed focus of the series is completely forgotten). It mostly centers on two self-important documentary film-makers who for some reason believe they are much better at solving crimes than the Police, despite having never solved any crimes or identified any killers.

Mostly they just travel to different locations around the Country trying to determine if obviously unconnected crimes are connected (because for some reason you have to physically go there to figure that out...). Throughout the course of the series they make accusations against private citizens, Police officers, and entire Police departments based on no evidence whatsoever/the word of drug addicts, criminals, and prostitutes.

Drug addicts and prostitutes are portrayed as good hard working "down on their luck" moms/women "struggling with addition" or "working to support their habit and their family" rather than the drug addicted criminals they are, people who are actively killing themselves, funding the drug trade and would literally sell their own child for a quick fix. Police/Law Enforcement on the other hand are portrayed as corrupt, lazy, inept criminals, who have problems with "use of force" and something to hide...people perpetuating a system that purposely ignores the plight of the poor innocent and honest crack addicts/prostitutes. These two really go after the Police Officers and Police departments not willing to jeopardize open cases by giving them interviews.

The German "profiler" or whoever he was that was on a few of the episodes really is kind of the personification of this series. He says things that sound interesting but completely fall apart under any scrutiny. One example is his laughing and saying, "When in the last 500 years has a serial killer left bodies anywhere near his home?... Ted Bundy had the record....125 miles..." Umm...John Wayne Gacy, H. H. Holmes, Anthony Sowell, and Dennis Nilsen off the top of my head. I'm sure there are many more examples. The point is, this documentary is like this "profiler" proudly declaring things to be facts with out doing the slightest bit of research/without any evidence whatsoever.

In the end the narcissistic hosts conclude that because the law enforcement aren't/weren't magically aware that people with no family or friends to report them missing (largely a result of their own life choices and anti-social/criminal behavior...) are missing that the Police are worthless, the "system is broken", and private citizens like themselves have to be the ones to investigate crimes such as murder. What's next?... Mobs of random people deciding a person's guilt and what their punishment should be?

Anyway, it is one of the worst most meandering documentary series I have seen in quite sometime. It is about as dramatic as big foot/paranormal investigator tv programs..."What's that noise!... Oh yeah...It's nothing...Again...".

Media hype and allegation and finger pointing with no real aim but publicity

[faithless4734 · 3/10 · 12 May 2019]

I watched all the episodes and as I started getting further into this I started noticing that they did a lot of finger pointing and blaming and questioning of why this or that. They even went as far as to blame police or law enforcement twice of being the killers simply based on rumor. They question why it is not mandatory that all crimes are not entered into VICAP without covering or talking about the immense cost to taxpayers of paying people for huge numbers of hours that would be required to enter these crimes into the system. Nor did they discuss the extra bodies that would need to be hired o do this nor the number of additional investigators that would be required to go through all this data and look for the data that would lead to further investigation. They want these crimes solved but they do not tell you what it would take or that sometimes the criminals are just good and leave no real clues behind to be followed. Some of the information and things they did and investigated were interesting and I think could be somewhat helpful in possibly developing new leads. nothing they found would solve these crimes only POSSIBLY create new leads..

This is not Cropsey.

[piggeek · 1/10 · 7 April 2017]

This is not good. It's a bad show, a very bad show. Please don't spend your money on it. They have good material to work with, but would rather be on camera themselves than investigating. This is not a documentary. This is actors acting like documentarians. I don't mind watching liars tell a good story, but they are not very good at it. They obviously lie all the time and they have obviously asked other people to lie on camera. There is a lot of biased documentary, but this is some of the most amateurish garbage I have watched since Killer Legends.

Naive. Bumbling. Bungled. Embarrassing.

[elainehart-40301 · 2/10 · 2 July 2019]

Naive. Bumbling. Bungled. Embarrassing.

This guy needs to stop. Please don't give him anymore money.

"Rachel and I" Fall far short of potential.

[dfahlgren · 3/10 · 1 August 2023]

This had the makings of a great unsolved crime documentary. A few intriguing clues, cooperative friends and families of the victims, and phone contact potentially from the killer to the loved ones of some victims. Unfortunately the filmmakers chose to make it about themselves and their amateurish investigative techniques "Rachel and I" is said way more during this show than any names of law enforcement officials or victims loved ones. (One could get quite intoxicated taking a drink every time he says "Rachel and I" on camera). They act as driver for a prostitute as she meets her johns for an evening; they surreptitiously record a retired law enforcement officer- unsuccessfully hoping a victim's sister will recognize his voice. Their guru is a German talk show guest posing as a "profiler." All for no identifiable purpose.

Somehow they take a dramatic enough subject, and over-dramatize it to comic levels. They eventually lose focus on what they are supposedly "documenting", and go on a crusade- seemingly to smear police all over the country as incompetent. Skip "Rachel and I"; This had the same feeling as watching Geraldo Rivera dig and explode his way into Al Capone's vault.