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Original poster

Manhunt The Night Stalker

77 replies

Cwtchycoopark · 20/09/2021 23:09

Really enjoyed this first episode, although obviously harrowing at times.
I was confused by two of the main characters looking so alike (Morgan and Eason) but wonder if they have done that deliberately because so far they have only gone on racial profiling to find the perpetrator (if the face fits, you're a suspect) so it's ripe for a case of mistaken identity?

I'm assuming that Martin Clunes comes up trumps and solves the case but for now my money is on Dave, whose only job this episode was to hold a door open, but it was worthy of a lingering camera shot...

OP posts:

PrincessScarlett · 23/09/2021 23:40

At the end there was a scene where they talked about old people being ignored in society so that was one of the reasons it took 17 years to catch him. And from many past crimes it's very apparent that only young photogenic female victims have masses of coverage in the media.

friendlycat · 23/09/2021 23:47

It was good and very well done. Very thought provoking and horrible subject matter. Some areas from where I grew up that made it more hard hitting.

I do recall reading various headlines of that era and thinking how utterly awful. The depravity of the man really was truly awful. That he had a caring role for his wife and tried to frame his estranged son added to his awfulness.

Can’t help but agree that loads more resources would have been thrown at the case if the victims were all of a young profile, which also makes it even more awful than it was.

Cocolapew · 24/09/2021 00:03

I really enjoyed both series, they were sensitively done. I'm sick of dramas that focus on the crimes against, usually, young women. If I see one more naked body on an autopsy slab I might scream.
The acting from everyone was excellent, but particularly Martin Clunes.

colouringindoors · 24/09/2021 09:25

Yes I agree there was a lot of subtlety and sensitivity which for me made it more powerful.

I am feeling chuffed as I tweeted about the fact that, as others have raised, if it had been younger victims, more resources would have been put in earlier, and the real Colin Sutton liked it! What a smart guy, coming into an investigation of that complexity and age and turning it round. Huge credit to the man.

PlonkyWillyWonky · 24/09/2021 10:05

So good to see it acted so sensitively
I gave myself a tension headache watching it

Buggerthebotox · 24/09/2021 10:50

Just ordered the Colin Sutton book the Night Stalker

viques · 24/09/2021 11:15

@PlonkyWillyWonky

So good to see it acted so sensitively I gave myself a tension headache watching it

What a pathetic sentence he was given - not that he will ever be released of course- but I felt the total sentence hardly reflected the nature and quantity of his offences, barely a year for each if you divided them ( which I know they don’t).I think there is a case to have violent serial offenders sentences recorded sequentially, I have forgotten the word for this, not concurrently.

I know if it was my parent who had been assaulted and raped in their own home I would want to look at the sentence and feel that justice had been visibly served.

viques · 24/09/2021 11:16

Sorry, I didn’t mean to tag that on to Plonkys comment.

JacquelineCarlyle · 24/09/2021 13:36

I agree @viques - sentences should be consecutive even if it means they end up with 200 years or whatever, then at least there would be a guarantee that they would die in prison! I really hope he never gets out!

Akire · 24/09/2021 13:40

I was also surprised he didn’t get life sentence. How old is he supposed to be? Mid 50s? Potentially be out and fit enough still do stuff. Least was sent Bellmarsh high security so at least as sex offender it’s no holiday.

viques · 24/09/2021 13:58

@JacquelineCarlyle

I agree *@viques* - sentences should be consecutive even if it means they end up with 200 years or whatever, then at least there would be a guarantee that they would die in prison! I really hope he never gets out!

It’s not even the guarantee that they will die in prison that irks me - I don’t think he will ever be released even if he tries to pull the Ronnie Biggs trick - it is him having a sentence in years that barely reflects the effect that his crimes have had on so many people. A cumulative sentence that says “ this society sees your crimes and judges you” would give the victims of his crimes knowledge that their pain was understood.

“Consecutive” , that was the word I was searching for in my head.

JacquelineCarlyle · 24/09/2021 14:14

Very good point @viques - you're right, there should be something that acknowledges the crime against each individual rather than all combined.

SunShinesBrightly · 24/09/2021 16:39

Binge watched all of series 1 last night!
Martin Clunes isn’t the best actor in the world but the series was well scripted.

Starting Series 2 tonight.

SunShinesBrightly · 24/09/2021 16:40

@Buggerthebotox

Just ordered the Colin Sutton book the Night Stalker

I’m looking too.

SunShinesBrightly · 24/09/2021 16:41

Unbelievable job & responsibility.

Akire · 24/09/2021 17:00

Found the audible book which may scare me to death have to see. About 20 same name but got one by Colin Sutton

SunShinesBrightly · 24/09/2021 20:26

On ep3 series 2.
Unbelievable. I take it back re. Martin Clunes. He’s excellent in this series.

I don’t know how this ends as I don’t know the case.

suckingonchillidogs · 24/09/2021 20:43

@3kidsareenough

Oooh will check out the ITV player never thought on that thanks mumtojackie and Schaden will have a look at the Stephen Laurence program too. Steve Coogan is quiet good in serious roles.

Has anyone watched the Night Stalker on Netflix? It's a documentary rather than a drama about Richard Ramirez. he committed a similar type of crimes over a long period of time, although he murdered a lot of his elderly victims, and it wasn't just the elderly there was children as well. It happened in LA during the 1980s. I have to say it scared the life out of me after watching it I was checking all doors and windows going to bed after watching that one.

I watched the Netflix one - it's absolutely horrific, I do NOT recommend watching that if you're home alone. He was a whole different level of depraved.

AnneElliott · 24/09/2021 21:03

I really enjoyed these. I've heard the real Colin Sutton speak as well and there is a documentary about his cases on Netflix. That's also worth watching.

Oldsu · 25/09/2021 07:23

There was a programme on ITV hub about the real investigation, the scene in the programme where a victim pulls down Colin to her and says 'he interfered with me you know' and later dies through not eating is true, when Colin Sutton was recounting it he was visibly upset and said that's when he hated the night stalker and vowed to find him.

colouringindoors · 26/09/2021 20:50

Outstanding, Outstanding drama. Finally watching the last one. What a psychopath. His son?!!!

Akire · 26/09/2021 21:05

I got the audio book which is more less same as book but more detail. They explained the ornaments he was very tidy, but he would reach in windows and grab them and put on floor to stop making a noise. Might be obvious to some not to me!

absolutelynotfabulous · 30/09/2021 18:42

The Night Stalker documentary is on tonight. ITV at 9pm.

Noeuf · 01/10/2021 17:59

Just watched all of this this morning . ITV Hub is dire had to keep restarting it, turning tv on and off etc but managed to get through. I think MC is amazing in this sort of role but agree with pp that the wife scenes were very boring.

Standrewsschool · 01/10/2021 18:11

Started watching the documentary. I had to turn it off - the descriptions of all the victims was too distressing.

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