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The Sons of Sam: A Descent into Darkness

Original title: RH Project
  • TV Mini Series
  • 2021
  • TV-MA
  • 3h 59m
IMDb RATING
7.0/10
9.6K
YOUR RATING
The Sons of Sam: A Descent into Darkness (2021)
The hunt for the "Son of Sam" captivated the world in the late 1970s, but the story behind one of America's most notorious serial murderers is all but forgotten -- until now. While the arrest and conviction of David Berkowitz brought the nightmare to an end for many New Yorkers, for journalist and Ultimate Evil author Maury Terry, the real mystery was just beginning. Terry, convinced Berkowitz had not acted alone, would go on to spend decades attempting to prove that the web of darkness behind the murders went deeper than anyone imagined -- and his pursuit of that elusive truth would eventually cost him everything.
Play trailer1:55
2 Videos
42 Photos
DocumentaryCrimeHistory

The Son of Sam case grew into a lifelong obsession for journalist Maury Terry, who became convinced that the murders were linked to a satanic cult.The Son of Sam case grew into a lifelong obsession for journalist Maury Terry, who became convinced that the murders were linked to a satanic cult.The Son of Sam case grew into a lifelong obsession for journalist Maury Terry, who became convinced that the murders were linked to a satanic cult.

  • Stars
    • Paul Giamatti
    • Phil Amicone
    • Charlie Ott
  • See production, box office & company info
  • IMDb RATING
    7.0/10
    9.6K
    YOUR RATING
    • Stars
      • Paul Giamatti
      • Phil Amicone
      • Charlie Ott
    • 100User reviews
    • 17Critic reviews
  • See more at IMDbPro
    • Awards
      • 1 nomination

    Episodes4

    Browse episodes
    TopTop-rated1 Season2021

    Videos2

    Official Trailer
    Trailer 1:55
    Watch Official Trailer
    The Sons Of Sam: A Descent Into Darkness
    Trailer 1:53
    Watch The Sons Of Sam: A Descent Into Darkness

    Photos42

    Abraham Beame and Ed Zigo in The Sons of Sam: A Descent into Darkness (2021)
    David Berkowitz in The Sons of Sam: A Descent into Darkness (2021)
    Maury Terry in The Sons of Sam: A Descent into Darkness (2021)
    David Berkowitz in The Sons of Sam: A Descent into Darkness (2021)
    The Sons of Sam: A Descent into Darkness (2021)
    David Berkowitz in The Sons of Sam: A Descent into Darkness (2021)
    The Sons of Sam: A Descent into Darkness (2021)
    David Berkowitz in The Sons of Sam: A Descent into Darkness (2021)
    The Sons of Sam: A Descent into Darkness (2021)
    The Sons of Sam: A Descent into Darkness (2021)
    Roy Radin in The Sons of Sam: A Descent into Darkness (2021)
    The Sons of Sam: A Descent into Darkness (2021)

    Top cast

    Edit
    Paul Giamatti
    Paul Giamatti
    • Maury Terry
    Phil Amicone
    Phil Amicone
    • Self - Brother-in-Law of Maury Terry
    Charlie Ott
    Charlie Ott
    • Self - Friend of Maury Terry
    Michael Zuckerman
    Michael Zuckerman
    • Self - Fmr. Reporter, Gannett Newspapers
    Mary Murphy
    Mary Murphy
    • Self - TV Reporter
    Georgiana Byrne
    Georgiana Byrne
    • Self - Former Wife of Maury Terry
    Joseph Borrelli
    Joseph Borrelli
    • Self - Ret. Lead Detective, NYPD
    Kevin Murphy
    Kevin Murphy
    • Self - Ret. Detective, Yonkers PD
    Wayne Darwen
    Wayne Darwen
    • Self - Journalist
    Kay Amicone
    Kay Amicone
    • Self - Sister of Maury Terry
    Lawrence Klausner
    Lawrence Klausner
    • Self - Author, Son of Sam
    Dick Belsky
    Dick Belsky
    • Self - Fmr. Metro Editor, New York Post
    Carl Denaro
    Carl Denaro
    • Self - Victim
    Gary Lachman
    Gary Lachman
    • Self - Occult Historian
    Tom Bartley
    Tom Bartley
    • Self - Fmr. Editor, Gannett Newspapers
    Don Mounts
    Don Mounts
    • Self - Ret. Detective, NYPD
    Frank Anthony
    Frank Anthony
    • Self - Producer, What's Happening America
    Marlin Hopkins
    Marlin Hopkins
    • Self - Ret. Detective, NYPD
    • All cast & crew
    • Production, box office & more at IMDbPro

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    Storyline

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    Did you know

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    • Trivia
      Though "The Process" church officially ended in 1974, Robert de Grimston attempted to continue the church in a smaller number though this folded in 1979. His ex partner Mary Ann MaClean reformed the group, renaming themselves "The foundation of the millennium."

    User reviews100

    Review
    Review
    Featured review
    8/10
    obsession defined
    Greetings again from the darkness. Obsession can take many forms, and a few are on display in this latest Netflix docuseries from filmmaker Joshua Zeman. For those alive in 1977, you likely remember the reign of terror in New York City due to the ".44 Killer", later known as "Son of Sam". Fear was pervasive, and the shootings that actually started in the summer of 1976 but not connected until months later, mostly seemed random, which added to the public panic. Despite the title, Zeman's docuseries is not so much about the murders, but about one man's obsession with proving the 'Son of Sam' was really more than one person, and that the relief felt by citizens after the arrest of David Berkowitz, was misplaced.

    Maury Terry was an IBM employee with an exceedingly inquisitive mind. His interest in the Son of Sam case pushed him to slowly evolve into an investigative journalist ultimately convinced that the NYPD had closed the case too soon, and not approached his own level of in-depth research and detail. Terry's work is presented here after being delivered to Zeman in three boxes after Terry's death. Paul Giamatti reads Terry's own notes and book passages, and Zeman fills the four episodes with archival news clips, Terry's own videos, shots of newspaper clippings, and interviews (past and present) from family members, cops, journalists, and even surviving victims. There is a recounting of columnist Jimmy Breslin's time as a conduit to Berkowitz, a clip of Berkowitz's father's press conference after the arrest, and a fascinating tale of Maury Terry's first date with his ex-wife ... anyone looking for a good dating tip should ignore this segment.

    Towards the end of the first episode, we see the iconic video of David Berkowitz smiling at the camera as police take him into custody. Since a (at the time) rare .44 caliber pistol was found with him, and Berkowitz confessed to the murders during his interrogation, the NYPD was quick to go on TV and announce to a relieved citizenry that the streets of New York were again safe, and Son of Sam was behind bars.

    However, for Maury Terry, the case and the evidence just didn't add up. He was intrigued by many bits and pieces. Berkowitz stated that his actions had been guided by a 1000 year old demon through his neighbor Sam's dog. Additionally, the variances in police sketches drawn from eyewitnesses over the year simply didn't add up to being the same guy. As to Berkowitz himself, the personality of the Yonkers postal worker didn't fit cleanly into the police profile either. The more skeptical Terry became, the more doubt his research created. The final 3 episodes really focus on the case work he performed over decades ... especially his belief that the murders traced back to a satanic cult.

    The show is well crafted as it connects us visually with Terry's writings and findings (including his 1987 book "The Ultimate Evil"). We see 'The Devil's Cave' and get a nice overview of the neighborhood where Terry spent much of his time investigating. We also head to Minot, North Dakota and Stanford University to gain intel on how those two sites tie-in to the case. Additionally, there's a possible connection to the Charles Manson family. The show is elevated by real life occurrences such as the letter Berkowitz wrote to Terry, and how seemingly unrelated murders might have a connection. In fact, by the end of episode four, we can't help but take note of the chain of dead bodies beyond those of the Son of Sam victims. Could it all be coincidence, or possibly the result of Maury Terry stretching too hard to make his case?

    Crime shows are big TV ratings business these days, and this one blends the best of that with a notorious real life event. Having the retired Police Captain Borelli defend the work of the police somehow doesn't make us feel more satisfied with their findings, and by the end, we are just as skeptical of Terry's beliefs as we are of the department's proclamation that Berkowitz acted alone. Of course, the highlight of the show are the videos of Terry interviewing Berkowitz in person at Attica. This was influential for Netflix's brilliant series "Mindhunter" where Oliver Cooper played Berkowitz. We are tuned in to the body language of a guy who has been in prison for years. Even more than 40 years later, the events prove traumatic to revisit, and are only made creepier by Terry's theories. Were his theories on the right path or was he a lunatic conspiracy theorist, as many described? It's only now that we can question the accuracy of Berkowitz's first letter to Terry when he told him, "The public will never truly believe you." Whether accurate or not, there is no questioning Maury Terry's obsession with the Son of Sam case. Zeman's docuseries will tax your armchair detective skills and leave you wondering what's real.

    ***NOTE: the opening credits of each episode feature a rocking version of "Season of the Witch" performed by Joan Jett. It's certainly not the chilling version by Lana Del Rey or the psychedelic version from Donovan, but it's the perfect fit for this docuseries.

    Releasing on Netflix May 5, 2021.
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    Details

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    • Release date
      • May 5, 2021 (United States)
    • Country of origin
      • United States
    • Official site
      • Netflix Site
    • Language
      • English
    • Also known as
      • Сини Сема: Падіння в темряву
    • Production companies
      • RadicalMedia
      • Outpost Digital
      • Elastic
    • See more company credits at IMDbPro

    Technical specs

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    • Runtime
      3 hours 59 minutes
    • Color
      • Color
    • Sound mix
      • Dolby Digital
    • Aspect ratio
      • 16:9 HD

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