It seems unbelievable, but this year will mark the 30th anniversary of directorDavid Fincher’s nihilistic crime thrillerSe7en. The grim portrait of aserial killer using the seven deadly sins as inspiration for a showcase of pain and terroris still as effective today as when it first premiered in theaters.
TheBrad PittandMorgan Freemanstarring detective story remains an influential work in both film and television, with creators looking to recapture the shocking brilliance. In celebration ofSe7en’s milestone, we present some of the best television series that evoke the spirit of the seminal film.
10’Prodigal Son' (2019-2021)
Created by Chris Fedak & Sam Sklaver
For Malcolm (Tom Payne), living in the shadow of his father, Martin (Michael Sheen), has always been difficult;Martin is brilliant, insightful, and notorious serial killer, “the Surgeon.”Malcolm has done his best to distance himself from his shameful bloodline, even going so far as becoming a profiler for the FBI. However, when the FBI fires Malcolm over concerns regarding his mental state, the young profiler moves his services to the NYPD and his attention back to his murderous father.
Prodigal Sonrarely delves into the grotesque imagery ofSe7en’s gorier victims, but the series explores the motivations of a serial killer from a cerebral angle. Sheen seems to relish his opportunity to play an unapologetic boogie man, and the crime procedural picks up whenever he’s on-screen.Prodigal Sonoccasionally suffers from the character’s need to explain out loud their thought process, but it’s not distracting enough to enjoy the case of the week antics.
Prodigal Son
9’Dexter' (2006-2013)
Created by James Manos Jr.
Blood splatter analyst by day and blood splatterer by night, Dexter Morgan (Michael C. Hall) is Miami’s most helpful serial killer.Dexterfollows the titular killer as he picks his victims by a code his late father, Harry (James Remar),instilled in him.By only killing the murderers who the police are unable to catch, Dexter is able to satisfy his cravings while cleaning up the streets one blood slide at a time.
The sunny beaches of Miami are a far cry from the rain-soaked streets of the city inSe7en, but the victims Dexter encounters take no comfort from the environment. Initially based on the novel Darkly Dreaming Dexter by Jeff Lindsay, the series lets its unreliable narrator steer the show into pulpy fun. The first season is without question the high mark, but Hall and his cast mates are enjoyable to watch no matter how off the rails the story becomes.
8’Luther' (2010-2019)
Created by Neil Cross
Detective Chief Inspector John Luther (Idris Elba) is the best person for the job of solving murders, that is, if he can stop being his own worst enemy onLuther. As a core member of the Serious Crime Unit,Luther is obsessively focused on his job, usually at the cost of the relationships around him, both professionally and personally. When his relationship with a murder suspect, Alice (Ruth Wilson), goes in a more personal direction, Luther’s strict moral code bends in unexpected ways.
The chemistry between Luther and Alice adds a compelling new wrinkle to the conventions of the standard detective show.Elba’s star power is on full display for every minute of the series, with the actor having the innate ability to be captivating when at rest.Lutheris guilty of being melodramatic at times, but the sum of the parts is a well-constructed crime drama starring one of the more iconic detectives of the last few decades.
7’The Fall' (2013-2016)
Created by Allan Cubitt
An unsolved murder in Belfast, Ireland, leads to the arrival of Detective Superintendent Stella Gibson (Gillian Anderson) to review the investigation inThe Fall. At the same time, Paul Spector (Jamie Dornan), a seemingly benign father and husband, is stalking and murdering young professional women in a ritualistic manner. What follows is acat-and-mouse gameof unpredictable actions between the killer and the woman dedicated to catching him.
Anderson and Dornan each bring a measured and nuanced performance to the thriller, finding the subtext that drives their characters in between the lines of the script. The show is as methodically paced as Paul’s approach to his next victim, soThe Fallis best for people who can handle a very slow-burn story. To balance this, the three seasons only consist of 17 episodes total, makingThe Fall’s plot structure similar to a novel and less of episodic television.
6’The Killing' (2011-2014)
Created by Veena Sud
The murder of a young teen threatens to topple a political campaign in the AMC mystery series,The Killing.When newly paired detectives Sarah Linden (Mireille Enos) and Stephen Holder (Joel Kinnaman) are assigned to investigate the homicide of teen Rosie Larsen, the pair struggle to work together with different approaches to the job. As the detectives sift for clues,The Killingshows the impact of the loss on Rosie’s family, as well as a mayoral campaign that may factor into the death.
Anyone who loved the gloomy setting ofSe7enwill feel at home in the rainy and overcast backdrop of Seattle as the detectives peel back the layers of a possible conspiracy. As opposed to other series that close a case at the end of a season, the murder of Rosie spans the first two seasons before moving on to a new investigation.The Killingis noteworthy for itsmethodical pace, compelling mysteries, and strong performances from its two leads.
The Killing
5’Law & Order: SVU' (1999 - Current)
Created by Dick Wolf
One of the longest-running crime showson network television,Law & Order: Special Victims Unit,is areliable source of plot twists for crime lovers.The spin-off ofLaw & Orderfollows the Special Victims Unit in New York as they investigate sexually-based crimes and murders. The cast has changed over the years, but fans will always point to Detectives Elliot Stabler (Christopher Meloni) and Olivia Bensen (Mariska Hargitay) as the best of the unit to wear a badge.
There have been multiple versions ofLaw & Orderover the years, but none have had the staying power ofLaw & Order: SVU. Known for taking stories from the headlines and spinning them into sensationalistic mini-mysteries, the series has managed to stay relevant for more than two decades.The guest stars have ranged from Oscar winnersto future movie stars who lent their talents to some of the most disturbing crimes to happen in the Big Apple.
Law & Order: Special Victims Unit
4’True Detective' (2014 - Current)
Created by Nic Pizzolatto & Issa Lopez
Each season is a career-defining case in the mystery anthology seriesTrue Detective.From cold cases to conspiracies,True Detectivecenters each new entry around an unsolved murder investigation that leaves a considerable impact on those assigned to solve it. From the first season that starredWoody HarrelsonandMatthew McConaughey,True Detectivehas been able to inject star power by casting everyone fromColin FarrelltoJodie Fosterin its later outings.
For as many procedural detective shows that exist, the concept of a crime anthology series was less prevalent whenTrue Detectivemade a huge splash on HBO. Each season has its fans and detractors, butthe cinematic quality and tangled plots waiting to be unraveled make each new story appointment viewing for mystery fans.For the uninitiated, the first season starring Harrelson and McConaughey as opposite-minded detectives will be the closest to the moody investigation ofSe7en, but all are worth testing out.
True Detective
3’Criminal Minds' (2005 - Current)
Created by Jeff Davis
The Behavioral Analysis Unit of the FBI tackles the most dangerous cases in the long-running CBS hitCriminal Minds.As a team of intelligent criminal profilers,the BAU uses their expertise to narrow down the search for serial killersby understanding what motivates their behavior. Each episode will see the BAU work on a new case, urgently trying to find the perpetrator before they claim more innocent lives.
Episodes ofCriminal Mindscan delve intofairly disturbing subject matter, as is to be expected from a show about hunting serial killers, but the series relies on more cerebral scares than it does blood and gore.Criminal Minds’s procedural structure is perfect for viewers who want to pop in and outwithout needing to watch an entire season to see the resolution. With hundreds of episodes to choose from,Se7enfans will have more than enough content to keep them busy for the next few months.
Criminal Minds
2’Hannibal' (2013-2015)
Created by Bryan Fuller
Based on characters fromThomas Harris’snovels likeRed DragonandTheSilence of the Lambs,Hannibalfollows FBI profiler Will Graham (Hugh Dancy) as he comes to terms with his ability to see murders from the killer’s perspective. Concerned for Will’s well-being, FBI head Jack Crawford (Laurence Fishburne) has esteemed psychiatrist Dr. Hannibal Lecter (Mads Mikkelsen) evaluate the profiler. Secretly a cannibal serial killer,Hannibal becomes enamored with Will’s gifts and develops a relationship with him that will send them both down a dark path.
For a stylish serving of homicidal artistry,Hannibalis sure to check off the boxes for people needing more serial killer fiction in their lives. It’s astoundinghowgruesome some of the murders areon a series designed and aired for network television, with anything ranging from a human totem pole to a memorable use for a cello. Although most viewers will rightfully associateAnthony Hopkinsfor his turn as the good doctor Lecter, Mikkelsen puts his own stamp on the role that is chilling.
1’Mindhunter' (2017-2019)
Created by Joe Penhall
David Fincher brings his sensibilities to the small screen in the Netflix crime dramaMindhunter.Based on one of the definitive books on criminal profiling, Minderhunter: Inside the FBI’s Elite Serial Crime Unit by John E. Douglas and Mark Olshaker, the series chronicles the first unsteady steps into profiling being used by the FBI. The ambitious FBI agent Holden Ford (Jonathan Groff) pairs up with seasoned agent Bill Tench (Holt McCallany) to interview imprisoned killers in an effort to learn what made them into the cold-blooded predators they came to be.
While searching for something that has the look and feel of a Fincher feel,there’s no reason to go any further than Fincher himself, who directed many of theMindhunterepisodes. TheSe7endirector’s style is felt throughout the series, with muted colors and cold environments instilling a sense of unease even in moments of casual conversation. Mindhunter only received two seasons, but anyone interested in the minds of a serial killer or the methods to catch them should consider the series a must-watch.
Mindhunter
NEXT: The 20 Best Movies Like ‘Se7en’ For More Psychological Horror
