A true crime documentary series on Netflix has left viewers deeply disturbed, with many describing it as 'horrifying' and saying it made their 'blood boil'. The series, titled Night Stalker: The Hunt for a Serial Killer, originally aired in 2021 and focuses on the crimes of Richard Ramirez, an American serial killer who terrorised Los Angeles in the 1980s.
The four-part mini-series follows detectives Gil Carrillo and Frank Salerno as they investigate a string of seemingly unconnected murders and sexual assaults. Between April 1984 and August 1985, Ramirez killed at least 15 people during break-ins, earning the nickname 'The Night Stalker' due to his nocturnal attacks. He was convicted in 1989 of 13 counts of murder, five attempted murders, eleven sexual assaults and fourteen burglaries, and died while awaiting execution in 2013.
Viewers have praised the series for its focus on the victims and their families, rather than glorifying the killer. One Reddit user wrote: 'The Night Stalker one about Richard Ramirez. That guy is so creepy. And his absolute callousness made my blood boil.' Another said: 'I had such a visceral reaction when I watched the documentary. I almost had to turn it off. What he put his victims through is so sickening.'
Director Tiller Russell explained that the series was driven by character, saying: 'Some of the most moving and compelling were those [stories] of the victims.' The series has been described as 'utterly riveting', 'a must watch', and 'one of the best true crime documentaries ever made'. Netflix has become a go-to platform for true crime, and this documentary is seen as a powerful addition to its library.
