Product Details

• Actors: Patrick Stewart
• Directors: Larry Klein
• Format: Color, DVD, NTSC
• Language: English
• Region: Region 1 (U.S. and Canada only. Read more about DVD formats.)
  
• Aspect Ratio: 1.33:1
• Number of discs: 1
• Rating: NR (Not Rated)
• Studio: Image Entertainment
• DVD Release Date: February 20, 2001
• Run Time: 55 minutes
• Average Customer Review: 4.4 out of 5 stars See all reviews (5 customer reviews)
• ASIN: B000056NWC
• Amazon.com Sales Rank: #78,979 in Movies & TV (See Bestsellers 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
The Boston Strangler. The Son of Sam. Jeffrey Dahmer. Every time a serial killer hits, it touches a deep collective nerve of fear--in part because their grisly acts so defy comprehension. Or do they? Step behind the scenes at the FBI's Investigative Support Unit, where psychological detectives race against time to penetrate the minds and emotions of the most elusive of murderers. Using state-of-the-art science, elite investigators tear apart crime scene evidence and scrutinize victim profiles to construct an astonishingly accurate personality print of the perpetrator--and a good guess as to how and when he'll make his next move. Narrated by Patrick Stewart.

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

9 of 9 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars A Documentary Written Like A Murder Mystery, February 7, 2001

By	Raniel Almaria "ronny347" (Mt. Prospect, IL United States) - 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.

9 of 11 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars go for it, September 8, 2002

By	francoise gaspari (liège, belgique) - See all my reviews

This dvd is just extraordinary, so very interesting and extremely well done. Once again, you have John Douglas in it and that's such a treat for anyone interested in profiling.
This dvd is so interesting that you'll be upset when it's over, buy it without hesitation.

6 of 7 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars A creepy film about creepy people., September 7, 2002

By	Betti Trapp (Riyadh Saudi Arabia) - See all my reviews

My husband and I watched this together. It's not long enough to keep you enthralled, but it is intriguing to delve into the minds of some of these psychos and see what makes them tick. NOVA does a good job as a documentary, but doesn't really go into depth about the makings of a serial killer, or the profiling of a serial killer. The film would have been much better had it been better researched and lengthier, but it is still a fascinating review of some of the famous serial killers of our time.