The fascination behind true crime can come from multiple avenues.
Some stories focus more on the killer and the psychology behind their crimes. Other stories are police procedurals delving into the minutia of a detective’s investigation. The upcoming HBO docu-series I’ll Be Gone in the Dark, based on the book of the same name by Michelle McNamara, takes a compelling and unique approach to the true-crime genre, by being equally as much about the investigator as the killer. The series delves into McNamara’s investigation into the Golden State Killer, who committed 13 murders, over 50 rapes, and hundreds of burglaries in California from 1974 to 1986.
I’ll Be Gone in the Dark offers the viewer a unique vantage point into McNamara’s investigation, as she is a character in the story. This makes the series personal and easier to emotionally invest in her investigation. The series is never sensationalistic; it empathetically focuses on the victims’ experiences and analytically addresses the social and political climate that allowed the Golden State Killer to continue his crime spree. The series is raw, allowing viewers to digest the scope of the killer’s crimes and how the victims and their families responded.
In this interview, Liz Garbus, the director and producer of the series, and Patton Oswalt, executive producer and husband of the late Michelle McNamara, discuss their creative decisions for the docu-series and memorable experiences following the case. They also discuss major developments in the case after the completion of the documentary, and the HBO official podcast that will expand upon the themes and stories in the series.
I’ll Be Gone in the Dark will premier this Sunday, June 28th at 10:00pm EST on HBO!
