Nova - Mind of a Serial Killer

Rating:
Summary: A creepy film about creepy people.
Review: My husband and I watched this together. It's not long enough to keep you enthralled, but it is intriguing to delve into the minds of some of these psychos and see what makes them tick. NOVA does a good job as a documentary, but doesn't really go into depth about the makings of a serial killer, or the profiling of a serial killer. The film would have been much better had it been better researched and lengthier, but it is still a fascinating review of some of the famous serial killers of our time.

Rating:
Summary: A Documentary Written Like A Murder Mystery
Review: NOVA: MIND OF A SERIAL KILLER examines the horrifying reality of serial killers. This video, narrated by THE X-MEN's Patrick Stewart, looks at how law enforcement (FBI, etc.) deals with this type of criminal. The video examines different types of serial killers (organised, disorganised), the makings of a serial killer, case histories, and the process known as criminal profiling. Criminal profiling has been used to track down & convict serial killers like Wayne Williams & others.

The video also tracks down the investigation of murdered prostitutes in the Rochester area. The investigation led to the capture & conviction of Arthur Shawcross. Shawcross was a recently paroled sex slayer who was found responsible of at least 10 murders. Using criminal profiling along with other evidence, the FBI successfully imprisoned Shawcross to a term of life imprisonment.

NOVA: MIND OF A SERIAL KILLER is a must-have for true crime afficionados. Highly recommended.

Rating:
Summary: go for it
Review: This dvd is just extraordinary, so very interesting and extremely well done. Once again, you have John Douglas in it and that's such a treat for anyone interested in profiling.
This dvd is so interesting that you'll be upset when it's over, buy it without hesitation.

Rating:
Summary: Actually Not Very Good
Review: This film discusses stranger murder. It covers a few of the most extreme cases of stranger murder in the USA in an exploitive way. In the USA there are about 22,000 homicides each year with most of them committed by guns. Over 80% of these homicides are not between strangers. Only a very small percentage of these homicides are sensational cases as discussed by this film.

Due to lack of balance this film gives a wrong idea of the problem of homicides in the USA which is for the most part not between strangers. This film creates unnecessary fear.

Rating:
Summary: One of the best documentaries on the topic
Review: This NOVA segment explores the serial murder phenomenon. Although it covers a number of issues related to serial murder, the focus is on the case of Arthur Shawcross, a serial killer who murdered several prostitutes in Rochester, New York. What's fascinating about this particular video is how it builds up to Shawcross' arrest. The documentary does a great job of capturing the sense of terror that must have existed in that community during the time of the murders.