31-07-2025
The Son of Sam Tapes delves into a serial killer's sinister mindset
Do you often wonder why people act the way they do, especially those with criminal tendencies? If you don't, the docu-series 'Conversations with a Killer: The Son of Sam Tapes' on Netflix might make you start. Whether your answer is yes or no, it offers a chilling deep dive into the mind of a killer. Before we begin talking about the docu-series, let's talk about the man at the centre of it is Son of Sam?David Berkowitz, who identified himself as Son of Sam, is an American serial killer who terrorised New York City in the mid-1970s. He was convicted of killing six people and injuring seven and is currently serving a life were his targets?Young women, particularly those with fair skin and shoulder-length did he attack them?With a .44 caliber revolver. Initially, he was known as the '.44 Caliber Killer' until he introduced himself to the authorities as 'Son of Sam'.
The killings came at a time when New York City was neck-deep in a financial crisis. The young population was restless, job dissatisfaction was high, and crime was rampant. Amid the chaos, the Son of Sam killer did his bit to add to the chaos. So much so that young white women would fear going out with their hair With a KillerThe docu-series, which has three one-hour episodes, is less about what he did. Rather, it explores why he did what he did. It combines present-day interviews with previously unheard recordings of Berkowitz, the families of the victims, journalists, police officers and everyone associated with the case.'Conversations with a Killer: The Son of Sam Tapes' captures the behind-the-scenes of one of the greatest manhunts in New York City history. It shows how the media covered the desperate race, the general public's reaction to it, and the killer's conversations with journalist Jack Jones are particularly intriguing. He talks about his childhood, his parents, joining the army during the Vietnam War, dating, and how he came to be known as 'Son of Sam Tapes'. Final Thoughts?'Conversations With a Killer: The Son of Sam Tapes' is deeply psychological. There isn't a one-off event that leads Berkowitz to commit a series of murders; it is a string of life events that pushed him to the docu-series traces the journey of a boy with a happy childhood who falls into the deep end of crime after facing a series of dejections and social bottom line is (without spoilers), is it something we haven't watched before? No. Is it an interesting watch? Yes. If you love true-crime documentaries, crime TV shows, or are just curious about what goes on in a serial killer's mind, this will surely interest you.- Ends
