On July 30, 2025, Netflix will offer Son of Sam: Self-Portrait of a Killer, a three-part documentary series directed by Joe Berlinger. This new chapter in the series Autoportrait d'un tueur looks back at the hunt for David Berkowitz, nicknamed the "Son of Sam", who was responsible for a wave of murders in New York in the late 1970s. Using never-before-seen sound archives and the testimonies of survivors, journalists and investigators, the series retraces one of the most influential manhunts in American history.
The official trailer reveals chilling archival footage, interview excerpts and previously unreleased passages from Berkowitz's recordings, offering a terrifying glimpse into his tortured mind.
Son of Sam: Self-Portrait of a Killer will air on Netflix from July 30, 2025.
Synopsis: This gripping three-part series chronicles one of the most impressive manhunts in New York history. Son of Sam: Self-Portrait of a Killer allows viewers to follow the NYPD's frantic pursuit of David Berkowitz, the abominable .44-caliber killer, and probe the disturbing workings of his mind. Newly discovered recordings offer a unique insight into a twisted psyche, revealing what was going on in the killer's mind as he struck fear into the city in the late 1970s. Drawing on the testimonies of police officers, journalists and survivors, the series shows how terror spread through the streets of New York, fueled by enigmatic letters, a frenzied media and a killer who seemed everywhere and nowhere at the same time.
With Son of Sam: Self-Portrait of a Killer, Netflix revisits a case that left its mark on America's collective memory. Through meticulous investigation, the series traces the rise of a climate of fear in the streets of New York, where random murders struck young couples in their cars. Each new crime heightened the anxiety, fueled by provocative letters to the press.
Drawing on never-before-released recordings, this documentary series seeks to understand what drove the .44-caliber killer, while exposing the challenges faced by the police and media at the time.
Directed by Joe Berlinger, already known for his work on complex criminal cases, this series follows in the footsteps of Conversations with a Killer. It adopts the same approach, blending sound archives, testimonies and documentary narration to probe the psyche of infamous serial killers.
This new opus offers a chilling insight into David Berkowitz's motivations, while placing his career in the social and media context of the 1970s.
Son of Sam: Self-Portrait of a Killer may be of interest to fans of true crime and psychological documentaries such as Mindhunter, Dahmer or Don't F**k With Cats. The series will also appeal to those interested in major American crime stories, the investigative methods of the time, and the influence of the media in the treatment of these events.
With a serious, immersive tone, this production is aimed at an adult audience in search of in-depth crime stories focused on understanding the mental mechanisms of serial killers.
Son of Sam: Self-Portrait of a Killer (original title: Conversations with a Killer: The Son of Sam Tapes) is a three-part American documentary series directed by Joe Berlinger. Available on Netflix from July 30, 2025, it follows the hunt for killer David Berkowitz in 1970s New York. Drawing on never-before-released recordings and first-hand accounts, it plunges into the mind of the murderer and the inner workings of an investigation that has become legendary.
This article is based on information available online; we have not yet viewed the film or series mentioned.
Netflix July 2026: the new movies and series to catch this month
What to watch on Netflix in July 2026? The platform is rolling out new films, series, anime and documentaries in France, including Enola Holmes 3, Human Vapor, Heartstopper Forever, 23,000 Lives, The Little House on the Prairie, Thunder 3, The Palace of the East, and The Hawk. [Read more]
Netflix, Disney+, Prime Video, Apple TV+, HBO Max, Paramount+… Check out the films, series and new VOD releases to watch in June 2026 across streaming platforms. [Read more]
Today's new streaming releases: movies and series added today to Netflix, Prime Video, Disney+, Apple TV+, HBO Max, Paramount+, and VOD. [Read more]
This page may contain AI-assisted elements, more information here.
Netflix July 2026: the new movies and series to catch this month
Streaming highlights for June 2026: films and series to watch on Netflix, Disney+, Prime Video
What to watch today on streaming? Today's new releases
