True crime is full of its own legends. Some of these stories go unnoticed while others seemingly draw every bit of attention to their hideousness. The Golden State Killer is one of the former, sitting as a footnote in California history for decades. It took one woman’s pursuit to bring it back from the shadows.
HBO’s “I’ll Be Gone In The Dark” is one of the rare examinations of both a criminal’s twisted past and an author’s winding journey to justice; neither of which comes without their own demons. In the ‘70s and ‘80s, a vicious rapist and killer had California on edge; the technology of the time along with a lack of leads made this horror under human skin almost untouchable. Meanwhile, a young woman named Michelle McNamara was faced with a neighborhood murder which set her on a path towards victims’ right and true crime investigations. As time went by, McNamara would find success reporting on the crimes of others before fate would bring her world crashing into those of The Golden State Killer and his victims.
The docuseries features in-depth interviews with victims and family members who often find themselves relegated to the side as their tormenter gets prime billing. Instead, the resulting discussions study the events themselves as well as the emotional toll it took on those left behind. More importantly, it examines how sexual assault itself was treated at the time and resulting repercussions for victims instead of assailants.
For McNamara, the results of her chase were more than any person could withstand; the author was plagued by sleepless nights and nightmares of her own. Ultimately, she would be found dead, her book incomplete. What’s left behind are episodes that explore how friends and family helped her book find readers and hit the New York Times bestseller list. In true Hollywood fashion, all of this would come about as the killer himself was finally revealed.
Acclaimed documentary filmmaker Liz Garbus heads up the list of directors for “I’ll Be Gone in The Dark.” In addition to her contributions, the series also features episodes from Elizabeth Wolff, Myles Kane, and Josh Koury. It premieres Sunday, June 28th with subsequent episodes airing each Sunday on HBO. Viewers can also find the series on HBO Now, HBO Go, and HBO Max.
