‘Nocturne’ Review: Liev Schreiber and Stephen Graham Get Handcuffed by Clichés in Apple’s Dully Competent Serial Killer Thriller
A revived investigation into a series of murders and disappearances drives Apple’s crime thriller Nocturne, with Liev Schreiber playing a retired detective drawn back into the case. The review argues that the series is competently made but relies heavily on familiar serial-killer and haunted-detective clichés, making it tedious for viewers seeking something less predictable.
The case reignites when Michael, a boy presumed to be one of killer Jurek Walter’s victims, is found alive, emaciated and half-blind; his sister Felicia remains missing. Police chief Ellison brings in an FBI task force and Jonah, who helped convict Walter, while Jonah’s goddaughter Saga goes undercover in the psychiatric facility where Walter is held. The review singles out Zazie Beetz’s performance as the show’s most compelling element, saying Saga feels more dimensional than the other central characters.
In short
- A recovered boy revives a cold case.
- Liev Schreiber’s detective is haunted by familiar genre tropes.
- The review praises Zazie Beetz as the standout.
Explained simply
Nocturne is a crime thriller about a murder investigation that resumes after a boy presumed dead is found alive. His sister is still missing, and police suspect the case is linked to Jurek Walter, a serial killer already serving time in a psychiatric facility.
The investigation brings together police chief Ellison, an FBI task force and Jonah, a retired detective who helped convict Walter. Jonah’s goddaughter Saga goes undercover at the facility to find out what Walter may know. The story draws on familiar crime-drama themes: a long-running case, a dangerous suspect in custody and detectives confronting their past.