‘Conversations with a Killer: The Son of Sam Tapes’ is the docu-series climbing the Netflix charts
True-crime documentaries are on the rise on Netflix. In fact, with each release, the hype grows by the minute. And most recently, Netflix subscribers have set their sights on Conversations with a Killer: The Son of Sam Tapes, a new July addition to the library.
In the week dated July 28th to August 3rd, Conversations with a Killer: The Son of Sam Tapes stormed the Netflix top ten charts. It is currently ranked fourth, just behind Untamed, The Hunting Wives, and Amy Bradley Is Missing. The three-part docu-series is additionally a top ten series in 33 countries. And this week alone, it has amassed 3.4million views.
For those uninitiated, Conversations with a Killer: The Son of Sam Tapes recounts David Berkowitz’s bloody mark on New York during the 1970s, who would eventually become the “Son of Sam” serial killer. Berkowitz used the pen name to sign letters that he would leave at every scene of his crimes. It was either meant for the police or mailed to journalists.
Berkowitz was found guilty of six murders, including two men and four women. He was convicted in 1978 and sentenced to six consecutive life sentences. The Son of Sam Tapes marks the fourth instalment of Netflix’s Conversation with a Killer series. The Netflix series features interviews with him by reporter Jack Jones in 1980, offering fresh insights into the chilling cases.
The Netflix show also includes interviews with other journalists, survivors, and detectives, recounting the horrors of ‘70s New York. Conversations with a Killer: The Son of Sam Tapes was released on Netflix on July 30th. The anthology is in the DNA of the true-crime legacy that has previously captivated viewers, as evidenced by the renewed spark.
People who have religiously watched this kind of content have inevitably fallen under the algorithm’s spell. Simultaneously, even those aware of his notoriety have shown curiosity towards Berkowitz’s killer arc, allowing the documentary’s immediate exposure in the streaming world.
The show generates discussion, conversations, and debates, making it naturally a talk of the streaming town. While it’s unsettling, it’s equally insightful in tackling sensitive topics like the impact on victims and real-life horrors, providing a deep and unique understanding of the psychology that drives these fatal motivations.