The Apple TV show is a criminal waste of talent.
Slate • • entertainment
Key Points:
- Nocturne, a new Apple TV serial-killer thriller based on Lars Kepler's novel The Sandman, relies heavily on genre clichés such as a manipulative serial killer, a haunted ex-cop, and eerie symbols, offering little originality.
- Despite strong acting talent including Stephen Graham, Liev Schreiber, and Rory Culkin, the series suffers from a weak script and unconvincing character development, particularly in the portrayal of the serial killer's influence over others.
- The show’s rural Pennsylvania setting, intended to evoke the atmosphere of Mare of Easttown, fails to deliver a rich sense of place or community, missing an opportunity to deepen the narrative with local color and texture.
- Plot devices such as an undercover agent posing as a mental patient and improbable security breaches strain credibility, and the series does not compensate with compelling dialogue or character dynamics.
- Overall, Nocturne falls short of revitalizing the serial-killer genre, lacking the imagination and depth seen in comparable detective dramas and thrillers.
