David Fincher’s crime thriller masterpiece Mindhunter reinvented the police procedural genre. While even the best detective TV shows of all time can sometimes rely on big action scenes to capture their audience’s attention, Mindhunter played a smarter game. While the first few minutes hooked us quickly, this was through its character development as well as an unexpectedly graphic scene.
When a new crime show introduces a character we expect to be a great TV detective, we usually see them excelling at their job. However, Mindhunter‘s shocking first episode shows a hostage situation going wrong. Rather than being impressed by Mindhunter‘s main characters, the audience must now learn along with them, as the show documents the birth of criminal psychology, rather than its expert use.
Mindhunter Is A Different Kind Of Smart
Most great crime thriller series present their detectives as experts in their field, with an uncanny knowledge of criminal behavior, forensics, or pattern spotting. This is a tried-and-tested formula that has given us crime masterpiece TV shows like Sherlock, CSI, and Bones. However, Mindhunter is a different kind of smart, throwing viewers into a show that is more terrifying for its realism.
Mindhunter is based on a true story covered in John Douglas and Mark Olshaker’s book of the same name. The show is set in the 1970s, a time period characterized by several infamous serial killers, and it follows a small team of detectives who analyze crime scenes and interview the serial killers responsible in an attempt to predict who may one day become dangerous.
Rather than show the crimes being committed, Mindhunter tells much of its story through interviews and murder scene photos. This is a genius strategy, putting viewers in the shoes of the main characters, Holden and Bill, only giving us the information that they have. This also allows the actors’ performances to stand out, instead of relying on graphic gore and brutal murders.
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Mindhunter’s Rotten Tomatoes ratings |
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|---|---|---|
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Season |
Rotten Tomatoes Critics’ Rating |
Rotten Tomatoes Audience Rating |
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1 |
96% |
95% |
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2 |
99% |
95% |
Unfortunately, it was Mindhunter‘s commitment to realism that led to the show being cut short after two excellent seasons that earned the show a 97% positive critics’ rating on Rotten Tomatoes. David Fincher explained that Mindhunter‘s cancellation was due to its high budget, and rather than compromise on his vision, the show ended early. This marks one of Netflix’s most frustrating cancellations.
Only David Fincher Could’ve Pulled Off Mindhunter
Mindhunter is instantly recognizable for its dark cinematic style. Virtually every shot is composed perfectly, using the character’s physical positioning to convey emotions and avoiding the need for clunky exposition. The show carries a constant sense of menace, building to one of its best scenes during season 2’s disturbing final minute, which features disconcerting music and sound effects.
Three of the best crime movies in the past 30 years came from David Fincher, and they all have something in common, as they show the villain winning in the end. Se7en, Zodiac, and Gone Girl all feature terrifying antagonists and a similar tone to Mindhunter, which also features many villains winning. Fincher’s signature style made him the only director who could have made Mindhunter.
Rather than bombard viewers with shock value and constant action, David Fincher’s best movies tend to tell intelligent stories that are more disturbing than graphically violent, and Mindhunter fits perfectly into this niche. Mindhunter‘s exploration of criminal psychology and painstaking investigations fit perfectly with the way in which Fincher works, and he took on several creative roles during the show’s development.
There are few detective shows like Mindhunter, and if Fincher had been allowed to continue making the show in the way he intended, this may have paved the way for more. Rather than make the series more appealing to a mass audience, Fincher understandably chose to end his crime masterpiece on a high note, while viewers still hope for a Mindhunter season 3.
- Release Date
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2017 – 2019
- Network
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Netflix
- Showrunner
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Joe Penhall
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Holt McCallany
Bill Tench
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Munro M. Bonnell
CMF Doctor
