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Memories of a Murderer: The Nilsen Tapes

  • 2021
  • TV-MA
  • 1h 24m
IMDb RATING
6.3/10
4.7K
YOUR RATING
Memories of a Murderer: The Nilsen Tapes (2021)
Watch Trailer [OV]
Play trailer1:56
1 Video
14 Photos
BiographyCrimeDocumentaryMystery

Serial killer Dennis Nilsen narrates his life and horrific crimes via a series of chilling audiotapes recorded from his jail cell.Serial killer Dennis Nilsen narrates his life and horrific crimes via a series of chilling audiotapes recorded from his jail cell.Serial killer Dennis Nilsen narrates his life and horrific crimes via a series of chilling audiotapes recorded from his jail cell.

  • Director
    • Michael Harte
  • Stars
    • Douglas Bence
    • Bob Brenton
    • Mike Cattran
  • See production info at IMDbPro
  • IMDb RATING
    6.3/10
    4.7K
    YOUR RATING
    • Director
      • Michael Harte
    • Stars
      • Douglas Bence
      • Bob Brenton
      • Mike Cattran
    • 30User reviews
    • 10Critic reviews
  • See production info at IMDbPro
    • Awards
      • 1 nomination total

    Videos1

    Trailer [OV]
    Trailer 1:56
    Trailer [OV]

    Photos14

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    Top cast10

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    Douglas Bence
    • Self - Journalist, Daily Mirror
    Bob Brenton
    • Self - Detective Sergeant
    Mike Cattran
    Mike Cattran
    • Self - Dyno-Rod Engineer
    • (archive footage)
    Russ Coffey
    • Self - Journalist
    Bill Hamilton
    • Self - BBC Correspondent
    Karen Hunt
    • Self - Police Constable
    Martyn Hunter-Craig
    • Martyn
    Ivan Lawrence
    • Self - Defence Counsel
    • (as Ivan Lawrence QC)
    Steve McCusker
    • Self - Detective Inspector
    Elizabeth Scott
    • Self - Nilsen's Mother
    • (archive footage)
    • Director
      • Michael Harte
    • All cast & crew
    • Production, box office & more at IMDbPro

    User reviews30

    6.34.6K
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    Featured reviews

    6arungeorge13

    Not as engrossing as I'd have liked, but still worth a watch! [+57%]

    Netflix has been doing a pretty solid job at serial-killer documentaries and this one falls under the 'fairly okay' category. The core story of Dennis Nilsen's crimes is interesting with some unpredictable layers, however, the recalling style lacks a finite flow. The deeper you get into Nilsen's life journey, the less engrossing it gets. What intrigues is the manner in which he's caught, the articulate person that he is on the tapes, and also some of the survivors' accounts. The homosexual angle is given somewhat less footing here but it's also carefully and respectfully put across. I would have also loved to see more interviews with people who worked alongside Nilsen to get a better insight of how he was publicly perceived. It may also have shed additional light on how he was able to keep his cover for such a long time. At 1h 24m, this one's relatively short and crisp. What astonishes me is that we still don't know the identities of half of his victims.
    7yelizzz

    The perspective of a Necrophiliac

    A well made documentary from Netflix. The pleasant narrative of the documentary and hearing the stories from different people absolutely makes it more interesting and memorable. Worth your time!
    7alanlindsay-93076

    Seen it

    I'd like to start this review by apologizing to the writer and director of this documentary. When Netflix first came onto the scene this would have been a jaw dropping, white knuckling thrill ride. Sadly. We've seen it. We've seen it all. I give a 7/10 because it not the writer or directors fault. It's a well put together 1 hour and 30 minute murderer bio. But it's clear Netflix has a template for these now. Again, it's not a bad film just played out. You wouldn't run across the street screaming if Alice Cooper was walking towards you in the sidewalk. But 25 years ago you might of.
    7Sleepin_Dragon

    An interesting documentary.

    A very revealing, well made and interesting documentary about one of Britain's worst ever killers, Nilsen. It's so unusual, it's crazy to think that much of what's being said is from the voice of the man himself, it's chilling.

    It's well made, and well put together, fortunately it's a little less heavily produced than some of the documentaries on Netflix, it flows pretty well.

    I was keen to learn more about him, particularly after the David Tennant series, and this does the job, it's very interesting.

    A good watch, 7/10.
    7alcof89

    Good watch, but wow...

    It's a tough watch at times due to the nature, but it's really well done. Good watch and done in a unique way from all perspectives...

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    Storyline

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    Did you know

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    • Trivia
      According to BBC News: 23 October, 2019 Dennis Nilsen died a painful death at the age of 72 & spent his final hours lying in his own filth as he suffered a ruptured abdominal aortic aneurysm. His medical cause of death was given as a pulmonary embolism and retroperitoneal haemorrhage, linked to the ruptured aneurysm. A report from the Prisons and Probation Ombudsman stated that Nilsen had been left "deteriorating for two and a half hours" after rejecting the opportunity to be seen for longer in the healthcare wing on the morning of 10 May last year. But it also stated that the treatment he initially received in prison was "commensurate with that which he would have received in the community".
    • Soundtracks
      Zoom (Radio Edit)
      Written by Len Barry and Bobby Eli

      Performed by Fat Larry's Band

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    Details

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    • Release date
      • August 18, 2021 (United States)
    • Country of origin
      • United Kingdom
    • Official site
      • Netflix Site
    • Language
      • English
    • Also known as
      • مذكّرات قاتل: تسجيلات نيلسن
    • Filming locations
      • London, England, UK
    • Production companies
      • Eleven
      • Netflix Studios
    • See more company credits at IMDbPro

    Tech specs

    Edit
    • Runtime
      1 hour 24 minutes
    • Color
      • Color
    • Sound mix
      • Dolby Digital

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