Breaking News

Bidꦫen calls for Trump to be jailed 14 days before 2024 ele😼ction 
TV

10 chilling true crime documentaries to watch this Halloween 

By
Jack Hobbs
Published Oct. 25, 2023, 6:04 p.m. ET

Spooky season is upon us.

With the weather g𝄹etting cooler, the sun going down sooner an🃏d Halloween slowly creeping up on us, it is time to once again break out the weighted blanket and a true-crime documentary.

While streaming giants such as Netflix, Hulu and Max offer a plethora of options, it’s not always easy to pick the right film to fit the vibe you are seeking that night.

From events as recent as the bombshell-ridden Murdaugh trial to revisiting Jeffrey Dahmer and Ted Bundy’s killing sprees, there are all sorts of documentaries that will make your skin crawl.

Knowing that finding the best film or television show could make — or break — your night, The Post has assembled a guide to hel💝p you choose the right doc to watch.

Find below The Post’s guide to the best murder mystery and serial killer true-crime documentaries.

‘The Keepers’ — Netflix

THE KEEPERS, poster
“The Keepers” follows the mysterious disappearance and subsequent murder of Catherine Cesnik in November 1979. ©Netflix/Courtesy Everett Collection

This series is sure to send shivꦬers down your spine and will most likely kee🌞p you up at night wanting to know what happens next.

Based on the unsolved murder of beloved nun Catherine Cesnik, “The Keepers” follows filmmakers as they attempt to solve the mysterious murder of the Baltimore native who disappeared in November 1979, only to be found dead two months later.

The official description of the show reads: “This docuseries examines the decades-old murder of Sister Catherine Cesnik and its suspected link to a priest accused of abuse.”

Cesnik was not the only person to mysteriousl🌟y turn up dead.

Based on the unsolved murder of beloved nun Cathy Cesnik, "The Keepers" follows filmmakers as they attempt to solve the mysterious murder of the Baltimore native who disappeared in November 1979 only to be found dead two months later.
Based on the unsolved murder of beloved nun Catherine Cesnik, “The Keepers” follows filmmakers as they attempt to solve the mysterious murder of the Baltimore native who disappeared in November 1979, only to be found dead two months later. ©Netflix/Courtesy E🏅verett Collection / Everett Collect๊ion

Joyce Malecki, who had disappeared before Censik, was fꦦound strangled, stabbed and submerged in a body of water at the Fort Meade US Army base.

In July 2023, the FBI announced it would exhume Malecki’s body after🅷 declaring it was following an unspecified lead possibly connecting the two cases.

“The FBI gave us no indication other than to say the purpose of the exhumation is to collect evidence,” Kurt Wolfgang, executive director of Maryland Crime Victims’ Resource Center, told WBAL-TV. “Our best speculation is that they may be looking for DNA evidence to match it up with a potential suspect they may already have.”

Despite running only one season, each of the seven epis🐎odes lasts c🌟lose to an hour.

‘Conversations With a Killer: The Ted Bundy Tapes’ — Netflix

Netflix's 4-episode special covers the origins of Utah's most infamous killer and his 4-year killing spree across 7 states.
Netflix’s four-episode special, “Conversations with a Killer: The Ted Bundy Tapes” covers the origins of Utah’s most infamous killer and his killing spree across seven states.

This limited series covering notorious serial killer Ted Bundy is an absolute must for those who are wanting toꦏ truly embrace the Halloween spirit.

Netflix’s four-episode special of Utah’s most infamous killer and his four-year killing spree across seven states.

“Present-day interviews, archival footage and audio recordings made on death row form a searing portrait of notorious serial killer Ted Bundy,” the official description reads of the 2019 docuseries.

This is𝄹 not the only Bundy-themed show on the streaming platform. The Zac Efron-led drama “E” is also available to stream on the site.

‘Conversations With a Killer: The Jeffrey Dahmer Tapes’ — Netflix

"Serial killer Jeffrey Dahmer confesses to his gruesome crimes in unguarded interviews, offering an unsettling view into a disturbed mind, the show's official description reads.
“Serial killer Jeffrey Dahmer confesses to his gruesome crimes in unguarded interviews, offering an unsettling view into a disturbed mind,” the show’s official description reads. Netflix

Serial killer Jeffrey Dahmer in this bone-chilling Netflix🏅 series, which captures the cold-blooded murderer confessing to his h💞einous crimes.

“Serial killer Jeffrey Dahmer confesses to his gruesome crimes in unguarded interviews, offering an unsettling view into a disturbed mind,” the show’s official description reads.

De❀spite being only one sea𝔍son, each of the three spine-tingling episodes runs close to one hour.

If listening to Dahmer talk about his crimes isn’t enough, the streaming giant offers two other killer docuseries: “” and “.”

 ‘Low Country: The Murdaugh Dynasty’ — Max

Max's "Low Country: The Murdaugh Dynasty" takes an in-depth look at the gruesome deaths of Maggie Murdaugh, 52, and her son Paul, 21, which occurred in June 2021.
Max’s “Low Country: The Murdaugh Dynasty” takes an in-depth look at the gruesome deaths of Maggie Murdaugh, 52, and her son Paul, 21, which occurred in June 2021. MAX

The scandal that rocked South�🐬� Carolina is now available to watch.

Max’s “” takes an in-depth look at the gruesome deaths of Maggie Murdaugh,♍ 52, and her son Paul,💦 21, which occurred in June 2021.

The highly publicized murder and subsequent trial gripped the US after several bombshells about the socialites were revealed, including the mysterious death of the family maid in 2018, which♛ Alex Murdaugh, 55,😼 claims was an accident. He was .

Max’s look into the trial boasts three hourlong episodes.

‘Paradise Lost: The Child Murders at Robin Hood Hills’ — Hulu

Spanning from actual murders to the trial of the three teenagers suspected, "Paradise Lost" includes several interviews with the defendants, their lawyers and several members of the West Memphis community that was rocked by the grizzly murders.
Spanning from the murders to the trial of the three teenagers suspected, “Paradise Lost” includes several interviews with the defendants, their lawyers and several members of the West Memphis, Arkansas, community that was rocked by the grizzly murders. Hulu

This 1996 documentary follows the horrendous murders of three young boys who were found hogtied and nakeꦇd in a ditch in Brandon, Mississippi.

Spanning from the murders to the trial of the three teenaged suspects, “” includes several interviews with the defendants, their lawyers and several members of the West Memphis, Arkansas, community.

The documentary was actually so successful that it managed to spawn two more docuseries: “” in 2000 and “” in 2012.

‘The Staircase’— Netflix/Max

The Netflix and Max special "The Staircase" follows the grizzly death of Kathleen Peterson (right) and the investigation into her husband Michael (left).
The Netflix and Max special “The Staircase” follows the grizzly death of Kathleen Peterson (right) and the investigation into her husband Michael (left). Netflix

This 2018 docuseries and the mysterious death of his wife, Kathleen Peterson, who allegedly died afte🐻r she fell down the staircase of their North Caroli🥃na home.

“Accident or Murder,” Netflix’s description of the show reads. “After the mysterious death of his wife, author Michael Peterson watches his life go under the microscope.”

All 10 episodes run close to 50 minutes each.

For those who get enthralled by the story, Max also dramatiza💖tion on the chilling homicide of Kathleen (played by Toni Collette).

‘Girl in the Picture’ — Netflix

Netflix's 2022 documentary film centers around the disappearance of Sharon Marshall, who was abducted by a federal fugitive named Franklin Delano Floyd.
Netflix’s 2022 documentary film centers around the disappearance of Sharon Marshall, who was abducted by a federal fugitive named Franklin Delano Floyd. Netflix

This documentary is anything🌸 but picture-perfect.

Based on the book “A Beautiful Child: A True Story of Hope, Horror, and an Enduring Human Spirit” and its sequel “Finding Sharon,” Netflix’s 2022 documentary film centers around the , who was abducted by federal fugitive Franklin Delano Floyd.

The nearly two-hour-long film delves into the girl’s mysterious disappearance as well as a shocking ending no one will see coming.

Netflix calls the case a “mystery that unfolds like a nightmare.”

‘The Jinx: The Life and Deaths of Robert Durst’ — Max

Each episode, which runs from a half hour to 50 minutes, takes an in-depth look at each of the late real estate heir's victims as well a detailed analysis over the forensic aspects of the case.
Each of the six episodes, which run from a half hour to 50 minutes, take an in-depth look at each of the late real estate heir’s victims as well as a detailed analysis of the forensic aspects of the case.

Max’s chilling follows the many twists and turns of the life of infamous real estate heir Robert Durst, who allegedly murdered his own wife, Kathleen McCormack, in 1982.

The series also follows the 2000 execution-style death of his confidante Susan Berman and dismemberment of Durst’s neighbor, Morris Black.

Max's chilling six-episode documentary follows the many twists and turns of infamous real estate heir Robert Durst who allegedly murdered his own wife, Kathleen McCormack in 1982.
Max’s chilling six-episode documentary follows the many twists and turns of infamous real estate heir Robert Durst who allegedly murdered his own wife, Kathleen McCormack, in 1982. HBO film still

“This six-part series sheds new light on real-estate scion Robert Durst who has been accused of three murders, but never convicted,” the series’ official description reads.

Each episode, which runs from a half hour to 50 minutes, takes an in-depth look at each of the late real estate heir‘s victims as well as a detailed analysis of the forensic aspects of the case.

‘Sins of Our Mother’  — Netflix

"Sins of Our Mother" follows the case of "Doomsday Mom" Lori Vallow who slaughtered 7-year-old Joshua “JJ” Vallow and 16-year-old Tylee Ryan.
“Sins of Our Mother” follows the case of “Doomsday Mom” Lori Vallow Daybell who slaughtered 7-year-old Joshua “JJ” Vallow and 16-year-old Tylee Ryan. Netflix

The very real story of “Doomsday Mom” Lori Vallow Daybell comes to viewers’ living rooms after the Idaho woman brutally slaughtered 7-year-old Joshua “JJ” Vallow and ♓16-year-old Tylee Ryan. She also consp𝓰ired to kill ꦯTammy Daybell, her fifth husband’s previous wife.

“When Lori Vallow’s kids vanished, the search for them unearthed a trail of suspicious deaths, a new husband who shared her doomsday views — and murder,” of the harrowing series reads.

Despite having on൩ly three episodes, each runs between 30 to 50 minutes and will definitely leave you wanting more.

‘Crime Scene: The Texas Killing Fields’ — Netflix

Netflix's gripping series tells the story of 35 women who died mysteriously along a 25-acre stretch of land between Houston and Galveston, TX between the 1970s and 1990s.
Netflix’s gripping series tells the story of 35 women who died mysteriously along a 25-acre stretch of land between Houston and Galveston, Texas, between the 1970s and 1990s. Netflix

The very real life mystery of the Tex𒈔as Killing Fields is avai🌳lable in a one-season special.

Netflix’s gripping series of 35 women who died mysteriously along a 25-acre stretch of land between Houston and Galveston, Texas, between the 1970s and 1990s.

“An overgrown field and a stretch of highway connect a series of grisly murders spanning several decades as grieving families search for answers,” the official profile for the show reads.

Each of the show’s three episodes runs about 50 minutes.

“The Texas Killing Fields” also serves as the first of two other “Crime Scene” documentaries.

“” and “” are also available on Netflix.