A thriller doesn’t have to be loud to be compelling.
Daniel Minahan directs new thriller series “Memory of a Killer”with the first episode premiering on Hulu Jan. 26. Patrick Dempsey stars as Angelo Flannery, a troubled character who seems to be more dangerous than he can even remember. “Memory of a Killer” is a psychological thriller exploring themes of losing control, guilt without memory and violence versus humanity. This series could’ve easily been made about precision and power but instead the hitman genre is transformed into a story that is decaying and vulnerable, it’s the kind of show that deserves an audience.
Warning: this review contains spoilers.
After finishing the first episode, I will I give it my full attention and I am confident that it will catch others’ too. Rather than hooking the audience with sensationalized and explosive violence, the tension is built through the uncertainty, weight and silence. Dempsey’s performance – so far – is foundational and the role he plays is so devastating and vulnerable even though he is clearly dangerous. This reflects not only Dempsey’s strengths as an actor, but also a character who genuinely seems confused with himself and made me truly impressed with the pace and restraint shown in episode one.
Every scene was deliberately planting tiny details and expressions, trusting the viewers to notice these elements and leaving the audience to question the direction and put pieces together themselves. The atmosphere of the show is a major strength, with shadowed interiors and muted lighting that creates a suffocating mood. This directly reflects Dempsey’s character: cold, distant and unstable.
Although the plot is somewhat easy to follow, if I had to point out one weakness, it would be that this show is rather slow-paced, which could potentially make viewers not want to stick around for those looking for immediate thrills. Additionally, many crime shows follow the stereotypical hyper-competent antiheroes that are made to be admirable and in power and I don’t typically take interest in cinematic celebration of impressive stunts or skills. I do not enjoy shows that glamorize and romanticize heroes, I prefer a series that demands some sort of patience and I am attracted to this specific show because of the psychological depth that I can guarantee will come with a meaningful reward. This explains why I am drawn to this series, as it revolves around a character that made me realize how horrifying it can be to question your actions and past. Personally, that is a more disturbing image than any violent shootout that we typically see in both traditional and modern television. The fantasy of the hitman genre is challenged and follows Dempsey’s irreversible damage that he doesn’t understand and can’t undo.
Alzheimer’s is destructive and with Angelo’s memory rapidly deteriorating, the episode takes a devastating turn when hinted he might be connected to the crimes he’s investigating. Instead of this feeling like an unexpected twist, it actually felt more like a tragedy, the violent encounters shown are just as irreversible and unforgiving as a disease like Alzheimer’s. It isn’t about the crimes itself, it’s about understanding the horror of realizing he might not really know who he is. When we learn his brother is suffering from Alzheimer’s with little time left to live, the revelation deepens and transforms from what I thought would be a short simple thriller, into a shocking examination of identity, guilt and tragedy.
This series differs from a lot of the trendy and dramatic TV that has come out recently. I found myself sitting in discomfort and instead of attempting to distract the audience with action I was preoccupied with the exhaustion and confusion Dempsey portrays. The series utilizes Alzheimer’s as more than just an interesting twist and when combined with the context of his dead wife and pregnant daughter, an additional emotional weight is present, making each moment feel fragile. Dempsey himself is a massive reason why I recommend this show, as his performance carries a level of loneliness and grief that not only made me more invested as a viewer but more emphatic for people in similar situations. This series is powerful because of how intentional it is and respects the audience’s intelligence by allowing viewers to feel the tension and connect the dots on their own.
“Memory of a Killer” challenges the familiar crime genre and instead drives a suspenseful story through quiet and meaningful emotion. Rather than focusing on solving crimes, memories are fading away displaying a haunting performance that makes you want to hold onto humanity. Thrillers that terrify you with sadness are more meaningful than the ones that just raise your pulse.
