In an exclusive article via Deadline, Netflix is expanding its acclaimed true-crime docuseries with Conversations with a Killer: The Son of Sam Tapes, set to premiere July 30. The three-part series, directed by Joe Berlinger (Extremely Wicked, Crime Scene: The Vanishing at the Cecil Hotel), revisits one of New York City’s most terrifying manhunts.
According to Deadline, the series explores the dark legacy of David Berkowitz, who killed six and wounded 11 others between 1975 and 1977. Newly discovered audio recordings offer rare insight into the .44-caliber killer’s disturbing mindset during his killing spree.
Set against the chaos of 1970s New York, the documentary also draws from firsthand accounts of detectives, reporters, and survivors, Deadline reports. Their testimonies reveal how fear rapidly spread, intensified by cryptic letters, frenzied media, and a killer who vanished as quickly as he struck. Berkowitz’s crimes shocked the nation and left a permanent scar on New York’s collective psyche. Known as the “Son of Sam,” he evaded capture for over a year as the public and police grew increasingly desperate.
“At the heart of Conversations with a Killer lies a commitment to unraveling the complex minds of notorious criminals while providing a space for those closest to the crimes to find closure, ” Berlinger said, according to Deadline. “With The Son of Sam Tapes, we delve into the world of David Berkowitz and his chilling influence on 1970s New York City. These rare tapes reveal unnerving insights into his psyche, shedding light on the intricate details of the case and the pervasive fear that gripped the city. Through these tapes, we hope to not only revisit history, but to bring clarity and depth to a narrative that has long intrigued and unsettled the public.”
According to Deadline, the series continues Netflix’s Conversations with a Killer brand, which began with The Ted Bundy Tapes in 2019 and followed with The Jeffrey Dahmer Tapes and The John Wayne Gacy Tapes in 2022. Each installment uncovers chilling new dimensions of notorious criminals through exclusive archival material.
Behind the camera, Berlinger executive produces alongside Rachael Profiloski (Hitler and the Nazis: Evil on Trial, Crimes Gone Viral), Jon Kamen (Summer of Soul (…Or, When the Revolution Could Not Be Televised, Hollywood Black), Jen Isaacson (Cold Case: Who Killed JonBenét Ramsey, The League), and Bud Brutsman (Everst Air, Overhaulin’), according to Deadline. Co-executive producers include Heidi Burke (Frontline, This Is Life with Lisa Ling) and William Badgley (The Murder Podcast, Hector Felix). The series is produced by RadicalMedia, with Berlinger’s Third Eye Motion Picture Company, BCII, and Molasses Manifesto.