Plot: What’s it about?
The topic of serial killers has always been of interest to the masses, so it is no surprise that A&E has done some documentary pieces on the subject. Shows on individual killers were produced, as well as some that offered an overview on the whole realm. The inner workings of the killer’s minds provide a massive amount of information, though how much is useful can be debated. The killers who manage to stay alive in prison have been studied by experts, who hope to extract some data from them, perhaps to prevent future killers and help aid in the capture of active ones, as well. Some people think that this process is useless, but the authorities have been able to use their profiles to assist in some cases, so I think it is a good program. Here we have four programs, each about fifty minutes in duration and loaded with information on the topic of serial killers. You can watch specific programs on Charles Manson, John Wayne Gacy, and Jeffrey Dahmer, as well as a general episode on the profiling done on serial killers.
As usual, these A&E documentaries are well done and very informative, much better even than you might expect. Each piece runs about fifty minutes and is well stocked, so no slow parts can be seen and that makes for a more than solid two-hundred minutes of content. This release consists of two discs also, so there is more than enough room to present these programs, without the worry of compression ratios or disc space. This is also part of A&E’s new Collector’s Choice series, which reflects the same level of content at a much lower than usual price. I think the programs are fantastic and will provide some terrific viewing time for those interested, although not everyone really wants to learn about serial killers. With two-hundred minutes of high grade content at a more than affordable price, I give this two disc release a very high recommendation. This release offers a trip down a rather dark and tragic path, but for those interested in the subject matter, this is a must see edition in all respects.
Video: How does it look?
The programs are shown in the original full frame form, though they look better than their television counterparts. I’ve seen all four when they ran on television and I have to report, these images look much sharper than in their original broadcast. These programs use clips from various sources and those elements range in quality, but on the whole, this is a more than adequate visual presentation. I saw no evidence of compression flaws here, so I am giving this transfer a more than passing final score.
Audio: How does it sound?
The programs are shown in the original full frame form, though they look better than their television counterparts. I’ve seen all four when they ran on television and I have to report, these images look much sharper than in their original broadcast. These programs use clips from various sources and those elements range in quality, but on the whole, this is a more than adequate visual presentation. I saw no evidence of compression flaws here, so I am giving this transfer a more than passing final score.
Supplements: What are the extras?
The audio here is your basic stereo track, just like the programs were shown with on television. These are documentaries, so the sound is dialogue driven and never requires much in terms of range. Your system won’t get an intense workout by any means, but this mix more than does the material justice. The music and dialogue are about all the elements present, but they sound terrific and the volume is proper & consistent as well.
