Catch Me a Killer

As a South African it always surprises me how much violent crime exists in South Africa and barely makes the news because in order to live and function in a hostile environment you don't want to be reminded just how bad it really is. I was surprised to learn of how many serial killers existed in South Africa without hearing about it in the news. The reality is violent crime in South Africa is some of the worst statistically speaking in the world. Also SA has the highest rape count in the world. This series is brilliantly done,the cinimatography the writing and the acting was impressive! 10/10 for me!

11 episodes, 11 cases, 11 serial killers, exactly zero are memorable. We get endless scenes of profiler Micki Pistorius lighting cigarette after cigarette, closeups of her face looking blank (but she's thinking DEEP and TORTURED thoughts, we're meant to believe), and then when she talks, it's not exactly the stuff of genius. This show needed a lot more of the science of profiling.

And please explain how her alleged skills actually CAUGHT anyone? Then, after a killer is caught, she's supposed to swoop in and save the day by coaxing a confession out of him - with basically "tell me about your childhood." That's apparently all it takes for a killer to suddenly confess? PUH-LEEZE.

In the 90's, South Africa, which has the 2nd highest murder rate in the world. Many, many woman are found murdered, raped, tortured and mutilated in sugar cane fields. Besides other horrific crimes involving children and citizens just hanging at the pub.

Along comes real life profiler, Mickey Pistoris. The underfunded and under staffed police stations, look to her as men in the 90's would look at a woman who has ideas. Not welcome...at first.

This is an extremely well acted 11 episode show.

It is disheartening to see these crimes, most of which are serial or mass murders.

The scenery and film stock totally is the 90's.

I had no idea what this was when I started the show. Despite part of this being hard to watch - it's very well done. This is the true story of horrific crimes, but I give the series credit for showing the crimes in a respectful way. There is not much gratuitous violence - most of what we see of the crimes comes from the profiler and her reactions to them. We also see what happens to a person when they are exposed to so much violence. Nobody can see terrible things every day without consequences.

The landscape of South Africa looks incredible, and it's a stark contrast to the crimes committed. The acting is great - Charlotte Hope is amazing. The direction is good. It's a bit slow, but appropriate for its subject matter. You can tell it's based in the 90s - they caught that vibe perfectly.

Give it a watch - it's a bit sad, but a very good series.

A lot of firsts in this series, and the message comes across very strongly. Profilers were few and far between in the nineties even in the US let alone in South Africa. Micki Pistorius is a pioneer in the field, so much so that she gets the attention of Robert Ressler, who defined the term, serial killer.

The series takes the viewer on a journey of the first South African profile as she goes about solving cases of many serial killers. All are real cases. I never knew there were so many serial killers operating in South Africa.

It's well made and a little concerning but well worth watching. I recommend it.