Product Details

• Format: Closed-captioned, Color, NTSC
• Rated: NR (Not Rated)
• Number of tapes: 1
• Studio: Wgbh Boston
• VHS Release Date: March 28, 2000
• Run Time: 60 minutes
• Average Customer Review: 4.4 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (8 customer reviews)
• ASIN: 6304462999
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #224,541 in Movies & TV (See Top 100 in Movies & TV)

Editorial Reviews

Amazon.com

This episode of Nova profiles the profilers, the FBI agents who track the most evasive killers, those who murder complete strangers. Members of the FBI's elite team who search for "behavioral clues" appear on camera to explain how they are able to study a crime scene and know the probable lifestyle and personality quirks of a serial killer. John Douglas, who pioneered such work at the bureau in the 1970s, talks about how he was able to overcome internal skepticism when his work contributed to solving the Atlanta child murders case in the early 1980s. The documentary takes a close look at a particular case, the murders of prostitutes in Rochester, New York. As the women's bodies were found and a pattern seemed to emerge, FBI experts were consulted. The experts came up with a profile for the murderer, and how the profile aided in the solving of the case is detailed. The killer was captured and confessed, and he fit the profile but for one detail, which turned out to have a logical explanation. This is a fascinating look at how some of law enforcement's sharpest minds do battle with society's most disturbed individuals. --Robert J. McNamara

Product Description

Follow the FBI's psychological detectives as they race against time to penetrate the mind of a serial killer, and stop him from striking again.

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

12 of 12 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars A compact but interesting look into a serial killer's psyche, August 23, 2007

By 

Kyle Tolle (Phoenix, Arizona USA) - See all my reviews
(VINE VOICE)    (REAL NAME)   

This review is from: NOVA: Mind of a Serial Killer (DVD)

Since the 1960's, the murder rate in the United States has doubled and an average of 55 people are killed every day. Some of the most difficult homicides to solve are those perpetrated on complete strangers due to a lack of easily identifiable suspects and no evident motives.

Over 1000 cases are examined annually regarding serial offenders and the FBI's Investigative Analysis division is often the group that is tasked with attempting to find these elusive killers. Describing techniques developed in the 1970's, current processes used in crime scene investigation and criminal profiling is looked at here. Some of these methods have proven successful after discovering patterns and behaviors of some killers.

While many cases can be solved using good old fashioned detective work, others are difficult due to the unpredictability of some serial killers and this is what makes them the more disturbing and frightening of all criminals. Interviews with psychiatrists and law enforcement officials offer insights into the abnormal and devious mindset of these offenders.

Although short references are made to several high profile criminal cases and famous serial killers in this program, the latter half of this documentary focuses primarily on Arthur Shawcross and his killing spree of numerous prostitutes in Rochester, New York. This is quite interesting in and of itself because there is a detailed examination of all the work that went into solving this crime.

This feature isn't all encompassing because it's hard to tackle such an intriguing and in-depth topic in only one hour of material. NOVA leans more toward the science of profiling and behavioral studies more than anything else but they do it well in my opinion. I just wish they would produce longer shows as the topics they document are usually very appealing.

12 of 12 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars A Documentary Written Like A Murder Mystery, February 6, 2001

By 

Raniel Almaria "ronny347" (Roselle, IL) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Nova: The Mind of a Serial Killer [VHS] (VHS Tape)

NOVA: MIND OF A SERIAL KILLER examines the horrifying reality of serial killers. This video, narrated by THE X-MEN's Patrick Stewart, looks at how law enforcement (FBI, etc.) deals with this type of criminal. The video examines different types of serial killers (organised, disorganised), the makings of a serial killer, case histories, and the process known as criminal profiling. Criminal profiling has been used to track down & convict serial killers like Wayne Williams & others.

The video also tracks down the investigation of murdered prostitutes in the Rochester area. The investigation led to the capture & conviction of Arthur Shawcross. Shawcross was a recently paroled sex slayer who was found responsible of at least 10 murders. Using criminal profiling along with other evidence, the FBI successfully imprisoned Shawcross to a term of life imprisonment.

NOVA: MIND OF A SERIAL KILLER is a must-have for true crime afficionados. Highly recommended.

6 of 6 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars A compelling look into the mind of criminal profiling, February 23, 2008

By 

Nicoletta Carlone "Nicoletta Carlone" (Los Angeles) - See all my reviews

This review is from: NOVA: Mind of a Serial Killer (DVD)

This documentary is a compelling look inside the process of catching a serial killer through criminal profiling, it follows an FBI team on the hunt for Arthur Shawcross, the murderer of 11 prostitutes in Upstate New York, as well as touching on some other cases, including the Son of Sam Murders and others. It is interesting to watch how these FBI investigators can pin point an individual so throughly through profiling. The only complaint that I have about this documentary is that it, being made in 1992, is a little outdated, but never the less compelling.