I'll Be Gone in the Dark (TV series)


I'll Be Gone in the Dark is an American true crime documentary series directed by Liz Garbus, Elizabeth Wolff, Myles Kane and Josh Koury, revolving around Michelle McNamara as she writes a book about and investigates the Golden State Killer. The series premiered on June 28, 2020, on HBO.

Premise

Michelle McNamara lived a quiet life, but as her family slept, she spent the night investigating and writing a book about the Golden State Killer, delving into the world of online chat rooms and crime blogs.

Episodes

Production

In April 2018, HBO Documentary Films acquired rights to I'll Be Gone in the Dark by Michelle McNamara, with plans to adapt the book into a docuseries, with Patton Oswalt serving as an executive producer. Production on the series began on April 24, 2018. In May 2018, it was announced Liz Garbus would direct the series. McNamara's researcher Paul Haynes and crime journalist Billy Jensen, both of whom helped Oswalt finish the book, were signed on as co-executive producers. The series features interviews with detectives, survivors, family members, and Amy Ryan narrating excerpts from McNamara's book.

Reception

Critical response

Review aggregator Rotten Tomatoes reported an approval rating of 95% based on 40 reviews, with an average rating of 8.45/10. The website's critical consensus reads, "Director Liz Garbus smartly centers I'll Be Gone in the Dark around the late Michelle McNamara's passionate efforts, weaving together a heavy, but important tapestry of trauma, obsession, and survival. Metacritic gave the series a weighted average score of 82 out of 100 based on 20 reviews, indicating "universal acclaim".

Ratings