Last Call: When a Serial Killer Stalked Queer New York

A lot of documentaries about serial killing sensationalize the crimes themselves, heightening the fear and fascination we have with the other, the psychopath. This is not a documentary about a serial killer. This is a documentary about the failure of the system to protect vulnerable people. It's focused on a particular time when homophobia was at a peak because of AIDS misunderstanding and fear (although not that much has changed, frankly). The documentary deliberates spends much of its time talking about the environment of fear and violence, because it puts these killings into perspective: there is hardly any difference between these killings and the daily anti-gay violence going on on the streets at that time. These people died because of purposely stoked fear and the culture of homophobia. These crimes weren't connected or solved for too long because the police didn't care about these people.

TL;dr: If you're looking for a documentary sensationalizing a serial killer, this is not it. If you're looking for a smart (if somewhat over-long) documentary on the failure of a system to protect vulnerable people, then this is for you.

First, don't bother to read any review that was posted July 17, 2023. Only have the show had gone out at that point. No one can review adequately a whole story after watching half of it.

This is a very compelling story of how the system failed because the crime was happening in a sub-culture that the officials in the system did not (in many, not all, cases did not want to) understand or respect. It's a story of a very different era of extreme marginalization of LGBTQUI+ people. Much has changed since the time the events in this program transpired. Much still needs to change, but the 1980s and 1990s (certainly earlier too when the events here started) were a time that needs to be understood to get the point of how this violence fit into American culture.

Also, it's a true serial killer story that spends very little (enough, very little) time exploring the killer and a lot (there can't be enough) time exploring the impact on family and friends who lost humans they loved to this terrible man.

If you want to be transported to a time and place that is very specific to understand system failure and if you want to be moved about the impact of loss from violence, centering the lives of those who experienced the loss and their feelings about the one this killer took from them, check this out. It's only four roughly one-hour episodes. Together, they effectively tell the story the film-makers set out to tell (NOT the story of the killer -- that was included, but isn't at all the focus here). It's a powerful story, told lovingly. As a person who spend the 1980s in high school and college, this era is deeply formative for me. From my perspective in 2023, it's hard to remember the culture of those days. This series takes us to that time and helps us see how the deeply held, unquestioned, fundamental attitudes of the day shaped institutional response to crimes that left holes in families that still hurt decades later.

The documentary, while well-intentioned, struggled to maintain a coherent narrative, often feeling like three disparate stories stitched together. While the episode-by-episode focus on individual victims was commendable, it resulted in a fragmented viewing experience. The final episode, unfortunately, fell short by neglecting a deeper dive into the legal proceedings and their broader implications.

While the victim-centric approach humanized the tragedy and made their stories more poignant, the excessive runtime often felt tedious. A tighter edit, perhaps around 30 minutes per episode, would have maintained the impact without sacrificing depth.

Additionally, the occasional irritability displayed by the two gay spokespersons detracted from their otherwise strong advocacy. A more measured and empathetic tone would have further strengthened their message.

Despite these shortcomings, the documentary's commitment to honoring the victims and seeking justice is undeniable. With a more focused narrative and a tighter edit, this could have been a powerful and impactful exploration of a tragic event.

The people and culture embraced in this well crafted documentary have been misunderstood, forsaken, and unfairly ostracized. I found it a compelling series that not only described mysterious and brutal murders, but ones that literally were dismissed because of the sexuality of the victims. It is worth watching with an open mind to gain understanding of social realities and the inequality and ineffectiveness of our justice system. The progression and success of the serial killer was frightening and gave rise to political protests and increased public visibility of gay and trans rights. Staying with the detailed developments and attempts to obtain justice and accountability was the strength of the work. Character studies and family interactions added depth and foundation for the headlines. As I reflect on the evolution of my own perspective and tolerance I can see how I may have affected others close to me who needed my respect and support. We need more illustrations and story telling of this caliber.

The plot of this story is incredibly interesting but the writers could not stay focused. Setting up the attitude and feel of the time is definitely important but it seems like the murder is really on the back burner and this is just a character piece for 20 different people. Once all the episodes come out I might skip through it but there's too much filler to really be excited enough to come back every week. This show is a chore to watch, and the worst part about it is that it acts like it's about to get back to the murder details but someone new enters the equation and then we have to sit through another 5 minute backstory.

Update: Finally got around to finishing this and I changed my review from 3 to 6 stars. I do not apologize for posting a poor review before finishing, good writing in 2023 realizes that the viewer can get bored and change series at any time and they need to be hooked very quickly to avoid that. If a YouTuber knows this, then a studio with literally millions of dollars can do the same.

As I watched this I was definitely more and more interested but that did not keep me from skipping 2-5 minute sections without remorse. There is absolutely too much fluff. Episodes 2 and 3 really hooked me and they were so interesting. Episode 4 could have been cut down the middle and I recommend just stopping at the halfway mark and call it a win.

Overall, great material with poor assembly.