Mastermind

Dr. Burgess is an absolute trailblazer in her profession. This documentary did a great job giving her well deserved recognition for her work and her impact. It was hard to watch the prolific discrimination against victims not so long ago but the discomfort is testament of the progress made through Dr Burgess' work. There's still much work to do, but here could not have been possible without her dedication to helping those who were subjected to violence. Loved that the documentary also called out the widespread sexism she had to deal with throughout her career only to have her dedication and talent to prevail. This still happens too much. The road for women is still too hard, but the road she helped paved cannot be underestimated.

*Mastermind: To Think Like a Killer* is a gripping psychological thriller that delves deep into the mind of a master manipulator. The film skillfully explores themes of control, obsession, and deception, keeping the audience on edge with every twist and turn. The performances are intense, with standout portrayals that make the complex characters feel real and dangerous. While the pacing can sometimes feel slow, the intricate plotting and sharp dialogue make up for it. With its dark atmosphere and clever twists, it's a tense, cerebral experience for fans of mind games and suspense. Highly recommended.

"Mastermind: To Think Like a Killer" is a 2024 American documentary series directed and produced by Abby Fuller. It explores the career of Ann Burgess, focusing on her work at the FBI developing means of tracking serial killers and other violent criminals based on her novel research into their behaviors. Ann dives deeper into the minds of serial killers, while balancing her life as a mother of four.

The series follows Burgess and her investigations at the FBI into serial killers and their victims.

If you like a tv series based on a true story and a crime documentary, then this is a tv series for you. It is interesting and fascinating.

This of course is the former and it is a breath of fresh air - having had just finished a 'troubled teen' documentary that Max produced, which was so disappointing, then to come over to this "campire films" production who gave us greats such as " Jiro dreams of sushi" and "a glitch in the matrix" - I am just so appreciative of the professionalism and expertise BOTH by the filmmakers AND the subjects - which is becoming more and more rare these days. For one thing, it features the amazing Dr Ann Burgess, a true pioneer in the study and research and quantifying of criminal behavior - who is, imo, a national treasure and subject matter I could watch for hours.

(Speaking as an aficionado of the true crime genre) I found this documentary to be endearing, educational, and riveting. Dr. Burgess contributed so much to modern Forensic Psychology and her name is rarely spoken in the field.

It also made me re-think my love for the show, "Mindhunter", due to its complete bastardizing of Dr. Burgess' actual lived experience. This woman had 5 children and a husband who became a pilot to ensure that his wife could pursue her high demand career and still be around her small children. That was such an endearing story and the show made her the opposite. (The documentary never discusses the series, however it's pretty obvious that the fictional character is based on her).

10/10 must watch!