PSA: Mindhunter on Netflix is Mindfucking (watch it now)

[Deleted member 8257]

Since finishing Mindhunter on Netflix - which at the time I thought an alright show at the time, I look at humans differently and the show is one of the craziest mindfuck subversion I've felt. Holy cripes let me unpack.

I approached the show much like Holden Ford at the time. Without giving away too much, Holden is an idealistic young FBI profiler who approaches situations and persons very clinically and without any bias or subjective emotional context. Much like him, I approached the show. The premise of the show is basically how Behavioral Science Unit is established at the FBI through countless profiling of serial killers. Holden's partner is Bill Tench, who is the opposite. He is a veteran FBI agent. He feels disgust at the serial killers and cant stand to be in the same room as these psychopaths. I am watching the show unfold and listening to all the grisly murders just like Holden is. I am....fascinated by these monsters just like him. They're enigmatic and hiding their true selves beneath the thin veneer. I too want to hear more and more, and I simply couldn't wait until Holden interviewed another crazy. I slowly realize that we're talking about humans being murdered - lives, hopes, dreams, communities shattered. For no good reason. But I still wanted more. Until the finale.

Spoiler territory

Spoiler

When Kemper gets up and tells Holden that he can kill him in a second, I felt a rush of blood. And then he hugs him, and it felt that ~I~ was giving Kemper a hug because I also felt fascinated by him and thought he was pretty chill in the interviews. I suddenly realized that these people are not just pieces of enigma - but terrible threats to humanity. I wanted to run away as well!

After the show ended, I started down the wikipedia and google rabbit hole of serial killers like Kemper and their exploits and holy crap this is absolutely unspeakable evil. Pure, unfiltered evil. All of these serial killers are. I felt like I was an absolute idiot approaching the killers with such sterile view and no moral compass. The show grabbed me by the shoulders and shook me out of my apathy by the end and I thought it was an absolute brilliant piece of filmmaking by Fincher. I am not sure if anyone felt the same way that I did, but please watch the show. It will make you ponder. And dont go down the wikipedia holes of these psychopaths. Its a truly dark place. And today I feel like its one of the best shows ever made.

 

[Kewlmyc]

Will check it out once I'm done with Black Mirror.

 

[robotzombie]

Finished it last week and it was absolutely stunning all the way through. Might be the best show on Netflix and one of the best I've seen in general. I absolutely cannot wait for it to continue.

 

[Hank Hill]

I agree.It's the best show made by Netflix.

 

[shnurgleton]

If that is what you're into may I suggest The Last Podcast on the Left

 

[Deleted member 13328]

If you'd like to continue down this rabbit hole here are some books you need to read.

Mindhunter - John Douglas and Mark Olshaker (the book the series is based on)

Hunting Humans - Elliott Leyton

Signature Killers - Robert D Keppel with William J Birnes

The Iceman Confession of a Mafia Contract Killer - Philip Carlo

Also on the Iceman killer.

 

[Admiral Woofington]

So is anything of it based on reality?

 

[The Almighty Tria]

I would sit down and have a beer with Kemper.

Spoiler

My wife gave me the worst look when I said this joke to her

 

[Shadybiz]

Yeah, my wife and I have only seen the first 2 episodes, but we're really digging it. Excellent stuff so far.

 

[GUTS]

One of David Fincher finest work IMO. The show was fascinating to watch all the way through. You guys definitely shouldn't skip this one

 

[BlackSalad]

Is this anything like MIND-QUAD, because I'd call in sick for that kind of entertainment

 

[Son Lamar]

I would sit down and have a beer with Kemper.

Spoiler

My wife gave me the worst look when I said this joke to her

Click to shrink...

Lmao likewise besides the crazy fucked up part of him he seems chill, you know until he kills you

 

[Indy in the Fridge]

So is anything of it based on reality?

Click to shrink...

Yes. The killers interviewed are real (Ed Kemper, Jerry Brudos, and Richard Speck). There are references to the Bittaker and Norris tapes as one agent is seen listening to it for desensitization. Almost each cold opening is a reference to the BTK killer. Essentially, the show is based on a nonfictional book so it all is based in reality.

 

[airjoca]

I freakin loved it and keep recommending it to everyone.

 

[Spiritual_Chaos]

There is a thread for Mindhunter.

(Last summer on my vaccation without anything to do, I read through the wikipedia-articles for all the US serial killers in history. I'd say the worst are that serial killer duo that met in prision and picked up and raped/tortured/murdered young women in their van. That was horrifying)

 

[Lynchian Anomaly]

This is definitely the next thing I'll be watching after I'm done with The Punisher.

 

[Philia]

Thank you for this thread, this is the push I needed to get on watching it.

 

[Deranged Hermit]

Only show I've immediately rewatched after finishing it.

 

[Deleted member 134]

I finished this season and it's spectacular. I'm surprised Stranger Things is taking all the Netflix Original spotlight. I had the same reaction for the ending scene, too, OP. Crazy moment.

Fantastic piece of work all around. Watch it.

 

[Lord Brady]

Yes, amazing show. And if you see someone say they didn't like it because Holden was awful, you know they actually watched the show. They're just dumb for not grasping you're not supposed to like him.

 

[Deleted member 4247]

Well dammit, guess I'll have to watch this too! Not like I had other stuff to get through...

 

[JoeBoy101]

Decided to catch the first episode Saturday... and then I was done with three episodes. Fincher's hyper-detailed style, like Mann's but more grounded, really melds well with the material. The acting jobs are top notch too, but I generally found it fascinating, but empathized with both Holden and Tench. The detached amazement and interest of all the new things being learned, but then the cold horror and disgust of how the discussions true up with reality.

"He's going to take your gun, kill you with it, and have sex with your face."

 

[Indy in the Fridge]

There is a thread for Mindhunter.

(Last summer on my vaccation without anything to do, I read through the wikipedia-articles for all the US serial killers in history. I'd say the worst are that serial killer duo that met in prision and picked up and raped/tortured/murdered young women in their van. That was horrifying)

Click to shrink...

Bittaker and Norris. Yeah, it's easily the worst crime(s) I have ever read. There's a reason why FBI agents are exposed to the Bittaker tape during training.

 

[Spiritual_Chaos]

There's a reason why FBI agents are exposed to the Bittaker tape during training.

Click to shrink...

Yeah I read that. That shit overshadowed all the other serial killers on the list. I think people teaming up is scarier. The lone nutcase is one thing. But people being able to push eachother like that is scary stuff. The same with... those three rapists/serial killers who acted together untill one turned around and killed the leader. Or that english couple that worked together.

I just don't understand how two (or more people) can in some crazy way both be able to do those kinds of things. I guess it says something about the human psyche.

 

[Deleted member 3925]

Hmm, guess I'll have to check it out. Sounds intriguing.

 

[DJwest]

Thanks for the recommendation OP.

 

[enzo_gt]

Just finished it the other day. Reminds me of True Detective S1 in a lot of ways. Fantastic, tense, impeccably acted, and suuuper engaging show following Holden through it all.

Fincher da gawd

 

[mattlikewhoa]

I'll be sure to check this out!

 

[Indy in the Fridge]

Yeah I read that. That shit overshadowed all the other serial killers on the list. I think people teaming up is scarier. The lone nutcase is one thing. But people being able to push eachother like that is scary stuff. The same with... those three rapists/serial killers who acted together untill one turned around and killed the leader. Or that english couple that worked together.

I just don't understand how two (or more people) can in some crazy way both be able to do those kinds of things. I guess it says something about the human psyche.

Click to shrink...

It has a lot to do with a sub/dom mentality. Bittaker and Norris is a clear example. Norris was very submissive and Bittaker was a stone-hearted manipulator. Those two opposing forces just enable one another. The sub feels important and obedient to someone while the dominant has someone to help do their bidding. It's really no wonder that Norris immediately pointed at Bittaker and accused Bittaker of forcing him to commit the murders. Dude folded like a paper airplane.

 

[Dalek]

It really is an A+ show.

 

[KodaRuss]

I have one episode to go and my wife and I love it so far. Fincher is great at setting a mood.

Anyway, I try not go down the rabbit hole of information on two things in my life often. One is serial killers and the other is Cults. I find it best not to go too deep into those topics even though they interest the hell out of me.

 

[carlsojo]

I tried pretty hard to get into it, got up to the part where Olivia joins the team. It didn't grab me at all, outside of the interviews with the killers.

 

[jelly]

Just finished it. Once I was an episode or two in, times flies. Excellent series.

 

[Fisty]

The pilot was unbearable, and the main guy kept switching between reminding me of Dennis Reynolds and Cary Elwes, which was distracting as hell. Might try to go further, but I doubt it

 

[Dahellisdat]

We started it and got through about the first 10 minutes and decided to switch to something else. I'm assuming it must get better? The acting in the tiny bit that I watched wasn't impressive enough to keep me interested.

 

[Owarifin]

Not reading the spoilers, but I'm 6 episodes in.
Been watching for over a month, but with my schedule and Gf's schedule, hard to get some time to watch.

We been playing Mario Kart instead...
Need a full hour...

 

[hydruxo]

I finished this season and it's spectacular. I'm surprised Stranger Things is taking all the Netflix Original spotlight. I had the same reaction for the ending scene, too, OP. Crazy moment.

Fantastic piece of work all around. Watch it.

Click to shrink...

Not sure why you're surprised by that. Mindhunter is amazing but it's not the type of show that's going to be getting hyped like crazy. Stranger Things is a pop culture phenomenon.

 

[Cyanity]

The Iceman Documentary was fascinating. His demeanor with regards to the people he's killed vs the way he talks about his family at the end seems completely contradictory.

 

[Chris McQueen]

I have yet to watch this, so many shows I'm behind.

 

[Timeaisis]

It was indeed a great show. The last sequence was insane.

Bill Trench is an awesome character.

 

[MrNewVegas]

There is a thread for Mindhunter.

(Last summer on my vaccation without anything to do, I read through the wikipedia-articles for all the US serial killers in history. I'd say the worst are that serial killer duo that met in prision and picked up and raped/tortured/murdered young women in their van. That was horrifying)

Click to shrink...

Bittaker I believe? I refuse to listen to the tape.

One thing that I hated about the show being well versed in the arena is the amount of stuff from these killers stories they worked in. Prime example being used was Specks bird.

 

[abellwillring]

I think the show itself is kind of just okay on the whole but it has some high points. The first episode is aggressively poor with strangely awful acting -- something I just never expected to see from a Fincher product. From the second episode on though it finds its footing.

The biggest issue throughout is there is absolutely zero, and I do mean zero, chemistry between Holden and his girlfriend. All of their scenes are painful to watch. Conversely, the scenes where Holden and Tench are having conversations with the serial killers are absolutely top tier stuff. It's a strange and uneven show, but worth watching.

 

[Spiritual_Chaos]

I refuse to listen to the tape.

Click to shrink...

The one FBI uses? I don't think that's been released to the public? Would wreck me completely if I listened to something like that. Couldn't here the tape from that guy in the basement shooting two kids/burgles either.

 

[Deleted member 134]

Not sure why you're surprised by that. Mindhunter is amazing but it's not the type of show that's going to be getting hyped like crazy. Stranger Things is a pop culture phenomenon.

Click to shrink...

Fincher.

 

[Pacote]

https://www.resetera.com/threads/mindhunter-netflix-no-love-for-fincher.1161/

 

[BrucCLea13k87]

I didn't find it that creepy. Does that make me fucked up? But I thought it was great!

 

[Dodongo]

I need to give it another shot.

I got halfway into the first ep and lost interest.

 

[De-mon]

I'm going to start this show right now. Love David Fincher's work

 

[TraBuch]

I know my mind was fucked at how bad the dialogue between the main dude and the lady in the bar was. I almost stopped watching there and still haven't watched the second episode a couple weeks later. It was unbelievably bad and cringey and felt like it lasted for an hour.

 

[Deleted member 8257]

I think the show itself is kind of just okay on the whole but it has some high points. The first episode is aggressively poor with strangely awful acting -- something I just never expected to see from a Fincher product. From the second episode on though it finds its footing.

The biggest issue throughout is there is absolutely zero, and I do mean zero, chemistry between Holden and his girlfriend. All of their scenes are painful to watch. Conversely, the scenes where Holden and Tench are having conversations with the serial killers are absolutely top tier stuff. It's a strange and uneven show, but worth watching.

Click to shrink...

There is supposed to be zero chemistry between Holden and his gf. Watching the guy live in the world is like watching a live experiment. It's all about him and his little world of psychos and killers. He's also disjointed with his colleagues. He's impulsive and slightly narcissist. Tench puts up with him but even he is concerned by the amount of fascination he has with the crazies.