This is more of a documentary on the sex industry in times square. Consisted of 80 percent history and interviews relating to sex workers and 20 percent actually about the murders that occurred.
61 Reviews
Repetitive
theresadesch29 December 2021
Netflix stop it!
dayana4211 January 2022
Repetitive but a good story
Calicodreamin2 January 2022
A wild story of the torso killing and how the atmosphere of New York in the 70s contributed to his prolific reign of terror. However, much of the introspection was on the sex worker atmosphere and not on the investigations and catching of the killer.
An interesting series.
Sleepin_Dragon15 January 2022
The Torso killer, a man that terrorised sex workers in Time Square back in the 1970's, this three part series tells the story, providing details about the crimes, victims, killer and the famous place itself.
It's a very well produced documentary series, very well edited and put together, with some fascinating footage, and amazing, insightful interviews.
It could perhaps have been done in two parts, it did lag a little in the middle, but the opener and conclusion were both very watchable.
It doesn't shy away, it's very detailed, and gives you some pretty gruesome information.
Cotingham, one very disturbed man, hard to believe how long he got away with his crimes for.
Interesting, 7/10.
It's a very well produced documentary series, very well edited and put together, with some fascinating footage, and amazing, insightful interviews.
It could perhaps have been done in two parts, it did lag a little in the middle, but the opener and conclusion were both very watchable.
It doesn't shy away, it's very detailed, and gives you some pretty gruesome information.
Cotingham, one very disturbed man, hard to believe how long he got away with his crimes for.
Interesting, 7/10.
How has no one pointed out...
michaeldeguerre3 January 2022
Warning: Spoilers
That the killer is named Richie Cottingham, and Ron Howard is EP on the project?... I want to hear the story of how *that* happened.
But the show is ok as far as true crime docs go. It rambles and blames a bunch of societal issues for the failings. I would have preferred more focus on the evidence, but I say that about most crime documentaries.
But the show is ok as far as true crime docs go. It rambles and blames a bunch of societal issues for the failings. I would have preferred more focus on the evidence, but I say that about most crime documentaries.
Many unanswered questions
mattastolfi11 January 2022
Warning: Spoilers
I enjoyed the look back on the grittiness of Times Square. Other reviewers are correct that there is repetition throughout. You get the point that it was a seedy area full of sex and crime quite early on, but the point is repeated ad nauseum.
My issue is that questions from ep.1 are never resolved... How did he dismember the original bodies without blood going everywhere?
Who was the Jane Doe?
What did he do with the body parts?
How did the ex wife and son react to the news that they were once living with a serial killer?
Someone else made this point but I too found it interesting that the police had zero to do with the killer being caught and that it was only women that got him caught and convicted. This should have been explored more.
My issue is that questions from ep.1 are never resolved... How did he dismember the original bodies without blood going everywhere?
Who was the Jane Doe?
What did he do with the body parts?
How did the ex wife and son react to the news that they were once living with a serial killer?
Someone else made this point but I too found it interesting that the police had zero to do with the killer being caught and that it was only women that got him caught and convicted. This should have been explored more.
Hmm...
tbenson9722 February 2022
This documentary was more about Times Square and the sex work industry than the actual murders. I understand that it was important to include how things were back then but this should've been shorter if they had more filler info than things about the crimes. It would've been more suitable the doc was movie length instead of three separate episodes. But all in all I would recommend giving it a watch and hopefully it'll help identify the Jane Does so they can get the justice/recognition they deserve.
The children are writing reviews again.
killercola30 December 2021
"Get to the point already." As soon as I saw those words I thought, "yep, here come the impatient YouTube generation chiming in about something they know nothing about. The documentary is fascinating full of vintage video of time time long gone. If you were born before 1980 then you will surely enjoy this docuseries.
A digressive account of the Times Square murders, but holds your attention! [+58%]
arungeorge134 January 2022
Joe Berlinger goes for a crisper approach with just three episodes of 45-50m each, using slick-looking archive footage. He does commit the apparent mistake of excessively indulging in the stories of sex workers and the rise of pornography in '70s Times Square, leaving less time for the killer's equally haunting New Jersey exploits and the victims themselves. It wouldn't rank among the top true-crime material you'd see on Netflix, but it sure as hell does its job of keeping you hooked for a little over two hours.
Dragged on about the wrong thing.
netche30 December 2021
True Crime at it's best
portal179030 December 2021
One of the most interesting true crime mini serie out there. Joe Berlinger and Ron Howard made a very good documentary and it's amazing to realize how many more stories are yet to be told as The Times Square Killer . I strongly recommend.
Two documentaries in one
rene_rossini11 August 2022
This is my first time writing a review here although I've been a constant reader for about 10 years.
I won't get into the details of the docu, that's been done above.
I agree with others, this is really two documentaries. I had never heard of this serial killer, which is shocking considering the amount of crime shows I've watched the last 20-25 years, that's why I decided to watch it. They jump right into the gory details, the detectives interviewed are old school and relaxed, and there's very little dramatization.
Times Square in the 70's needed to be described because it's atmosphere at that time played a part in who was being murdered. Although I have been to NYC many, many times, for some reason I was not aware how wild it was back then. Netflix begins it's documentary inside a documentary at this point. This doesn't annoy me, like others, because it's chock full of how Times Square evolved but they get so in depth you almost forget what the original story is about.
Like other Netflix documentaries, there are times when you expect more information and are left asking, "so what else?" They skim over details like forensics and evidence which are what people are looking for in a documentary.
If this is a new crime story for you, settle in. Times Square and The Torso Killer were a perfect storm. This documentary covers other topics, as well, like how women began to fight for new laws protecting rape victims, whether they are a prostitute or not. Just when you thought you've heard it all...
I won't get into the details of the docu, that's been done above.
I agree with others, this is really two documentaries. I had never heard of this serial killer, which is shocking considering the amount of crime shows I've watched the last 20-25 years, that's why I decided to watch it. They jump right into the gory details, the detectives interviewed are old school and relaxed, and there's very little dramatization.
Times Square in the 70's needed to be described because it's atmosphere at that time played a part in who was being murdered. Although I have been to NYC many, many times, for some reason I was not aware how wild it was back then. Netflix begins it's documentary inside a documentary at this point. This doesn't annoy me, like others, because it's chock full of how Times Square evolved but they get so in depth you almost forget what the original story is about.
Like other Netflix documentaries, there are times when you expect more information and are left asking, "so what else?" They skim over details like forensics and evidence which are what people are looking for in a documentary.
If this is a new crime story for you, settle in. Times Square and The Torso Killer were a perfect storm. This documentary covers other topics, as well, like how women began to fight for new laws protecting rape victims, whether they are a prostitute or not. Just when you thought you've heard it all...
Come on Netflix!
adamg-580713 January 2022
Warning: Spoilers
I came to watch an interesting documentary on a serial killer who isn't well known today. It ended up being 2 hours about the birth of the porn industry in Time Square and 1 hour about the Time Square Killer.
I guess there wasn't enough information on the guy to fill a 3 hour series so they fluffed it with enough filler to kill any interest in finishing the series.
I guess there wasn't enough information on the guy to fill a 3 hour series so they fluffed it with enough filler to kill any interest in finishing the series.
It's good
corkidecat1 January 2022
Gave a 7 because it told a tale of a crime I've never heard of. (True crime addict since the '70s). True crime TV usually repeats the same crime stories numerous times. I enjoyed the history lesson on Times Square most.
Could've been shorter but that's okay.
TreeFiddy5320 January 2022
3 episodes, well shot. Gives you a very different perspective on Times Square vs what you might know about it now. The story about the serial killer wasn't mind-blowing, but it's surely worth watching. Well shot, good storytelling.
Well Made, but Misses the Bigger Picture
Garoux28 May 2022
This was an entertaining enough true crime miniseries, and arguably stretched out (typical of Netflix). However, I quite enjoyed the peephole into sleazy 1970s New York; which is now an expensive strip mall reminiscent of every city in America.
What bothers me about this installment, is that it heavily blames the mere existence of pornography, sex work, and sexual freedom in general as the sole reason that these crimes happened to people. Aside from one interviewee, everyone conveniently ignores the brazenly horrifying way in which sex workers and all those associated with that area were treated by both society and the law. Could the increased likelihood of them being victims have less to do with sex, and more to do with the utter lack of protection they received due to plain legal indifference and prejudice?
Any true crime follower knows these types of people are targets because the police generally do NOT care about them--especially in this time period. Then they pat themselves on the back for sweeping the area outside of Times Square in lieu of soulless corporate gentrification, as though all those sex workers and dangerous predators just vanished and didn't simply move elsewhere. Sort of like "cleaning" a room by throwing everything into the closet. The only people who lose in this situation are small business owners and sex workers.
I'd still recommend the documentary, because it was well made (albeit overlong), but I find the general opinions within ignorant of much larger issues that are still highly prevalent in this country.
What bothers me about this installment, is that it heavily blames the mere existence of pornography, sex work, and sexual freedom in general as the sole reason that these crimes happened to people. Aside from one interviewee, everyone conveniently ignores the brazenly horrifying way in which sex workers and all those associated with that area were treated by both society and the law. Could the increased likelihood of them being victims have less to do with sex, and more to do with the utter lack of protection they received due to plain legal indifference and prejudice?
Any true crime follower knows these types of people are targets because the police generally do NOT care about them--especially in this time period. Then they pat themselves on the back for sweeping the area outside of Times Square in lieu of soulless corporate gentrification, as though all those sex workers and dangerous predators just vanished and didn't simply move elsewhere. Sort of like "cleaning" a room by throwing everything into the closet. The only people who lose in this situation are small business owners and sex workers.
I'd still recommend the documentary, because it was well made (albeit overlong), but I find the general opinions within ignorant of much larger issues that are still highly prevalent in this country.
Who is the Jane Doe?
macmets-923-67701030 August 2022
Warning: Spoilers
The answer to one of the central, most interesting, mysteries this documentary sets up in the first half hour is who is the Jane Doe? Yes, the killer is asked while in jail (he wouldn't say) but that was years before he decided to talk. Wasn't he asked again when he came clean? The documentary doesn't tell us! I kept waiting for someone to ask him again. If anyone did we weren't told abouut it and if so what he replied, if anything.
Another interesting story that is glossed over is the relationship the daughter initiates with her mother's killer. That story alone is worthy of its own documenatary, if not a feature film.
Another interesting story that is glossed over is the relationship the daughter initiates with her mother's killer. That story alone is worthy of its own documenatary, if not a feature film.
Please try to ignore the negative reviews.
palshah-203533 January 2022
A purpose of a docuseries is more than just to talk about the crime and the criminal and this show absolutely does that perfectly and transports you to that world. It's truly insane what the situation was in time square earlier. And crimes are also discussed in an engaging and thriller way I finished the series in like one go. I don't know why are people not liking it tbh but give it a try trust me.
Wrong title
yesdes30 December 2021
I am very interested in true crime, but this documentary was about the sex and porn industry. I understand the murders need some background information, but it was way too focussed on sex and pornography. The title should have been accordingly and I would have known to skip it.
When debauchery was splayed for all to see.
estelle585 January 2022
Warning: Spoilers
First of all bless you Joe Berlinger. I have so much respect for you because of your enormous part in getting the WM3 out of prison. Fingers crossed, they will soon be exonerated now that the DNA evidence (which was said to be destroyed by a fire.....lies) will get the most up to date analysis, and prove they were no where near the woods where those 3 innocent boys were so savagely murdered.
As for The Times Square Killer...this so brought back to me a time when sleaze was just so out in the open. I live in the Midwest but very much remember the dirty bookstore/video shops, the strip joints, and the triple xxx theaters (along with the working gals walking around), all in plain sight.
Of course, these things still exist, they just are hidden now.
So, I guess for those who remember the in your face debauchery of those years in the 70's, this documentary might be quite interesting. Especially those who lived in and around Times Square. I think it would be interesting to see a chronological documentary of the changes to Times Square since that despicable time in it's history.
As for The Times Square Killer...this so brought back to me a time when sleaze was just so out in the open. I live in the Midwest but very much remember the dirty bookstore/video shops, the strip joints, and the triple xxx theaters (along with the working gals walking around), all in plain sight.
Of course, these things still exist, they just are hidden now.
So, I guess for those who remember the in your face debauchery of those years in the 70's, this documentary might be quite interesting. Especially those who lived in and around Times Square. I think it would be interesting to see a chronological documentary of the changes to Times Square since that despicable time in it's history.
Good, but the title is a bit misleading
n-escio1 January 2022
This wasn't bad, at all, but I wouldn't say this was mainly about the Times Square Killer. We get a lot of insight in the history of the porn industry on Times Square, a lot of interesting information, but not all that necessary for the case. A little bit of background information is crucial, but this was 50% on the actual killings and 50% about Times Square in the 70s and 80s. All and all I did really enjoy the series, it was good and I hadn't heard much on this particular killer before. Worth the watch.
Interesting in parts
bazookamouth-221-89809713 January 2022
It tended to drift away from the murders and story into the sordid history of Time Square and in episode one after maybe twenty minutes it got somewhat perverted. Graphic pictures and interviewees just droning on about Time Square sex exploits, Uninterested. When it focused on the murders and story it was a lot more interesting.
Interesting despite it's anti-porn agenda
fatacad30 December 2021
A very interesting serial killer documentary about the Times Square/torso serial killer from the late 70's. This documentary will not be for everyone, it's about 2/3 history of porn in New York and 1/3 crimes and CSI finding the killer. Personally, I have always been fascinated with the lawlessness of 70's Manhattan... and yes, it was really that horrible. 70's and 80's Manhattan is probably the closest you could come to Hell on Earth in the US. That being said, this is a documentary about a sadistic serial killer and it most definitely spends a bit too much time on the horrors of the sleazy porn industry in NY and seems to conclude that pornography is a major cause for this sick individual's behavior. Aside from its shallow porn-centric conclusions, it's an interesting documentary with a lot of raw footage from 70's Manhattan, just in case you miss it lol.
Better than scores suggest
billhess-6221727 March 2022
This production doesn't rely on the tired straw man format which makes for a focused, informative series. It's the perfect length and I would give it a ten except for occasional decay into the gender wad that no one needs.
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