Serial killers on screen: from Nilsen to The Night Stalker

As the success of The Serpent and The Pembrokeshire Murders shows, many of us remain oddly fascinated by serial killers. But for all its popularity, the serial killer format can be tricky to get right – with many coming across as distasteful, clichéd or overly sensationalised. Here are eight recent shows – both dramas and documentaries – that strike the right balance: 

Des,  ITV Player 

ITV’s gripping portrayal of the cold and calculating Dennis Nilsen (known in the red top press as the Muswell Hill Murderer) flips the format on its head by starting with the last thing you’d expect: a confession. But as David Tennant’s ‘Des’ recounts his killing spree with impeccable politeness, detectives suspect they may instead be dealing with a deranged fantasist. Daniel Mays plays the police officer determined to prove otherwise, identify Nilsen’s numerous victims, and bring the madman to justice. 

The Assassination of Gianni Versace, Netflix 

As the second instalment of American Crime Story (the first being the superb retelling of the OJ Simpson murders), this high-budget drama does exactly what it says on the tin: recounting the steps that led to the murder of the Italian fashion icon by eccentric fantasist Andrew Cunanan.