8 Crime Shows to Watch this Halloween

Now, it may be controversial, but I’m not all that bothered by Halloween… I’ve only ever been trick or treating once, I’m not a fan of horror films and although I like to try to get into the festive spirit, Halloween has just never been a huge thing in my life.

Saying that, this year I’m still going to carve a pumpkin and try to get excited about Halloween. One thing I do like to do however is watch true crime shows and documentaries. Especially recently, I feel like I’ve really been on the true crime hype. Whether its classic crime dramas or new true crime documentaries, I’ve probably watched them! I’ve watched so many in such a short space of time that I got confused when an actor playing a murderer in one drama was then playing a detective in another!

So, to try to get into the spooky spirit, I thought I’d write a post all about the crime shows and true crime documentaries I’ve been loving recently. Cosy up with a warm drink and a soft blanket and get watching! But, if crime shows aren’t your thing, a post featuring a load of other autumn film and TV recommendations that are a little less creepy is coming soon!

Unforgotten

“DCI Cassie Stuart and DI Sunil ‘Sunny’ Khan investigate emotionally-charged cold cases.” – ITV

I love an ITV crime drama! Unforgotten is a three series drama in which two detectives work to solve cold cases that have been reignited with new evidence. Each series is just as good as each other, and a fourth instalment is in the works. Full of twists and turns, Unforgotten is everything I love in a crime drama. Watch out for the last episode of the third season – it gave me the creeps!

Deadwater Fell

“Investigations into the deadly house fire reveal something sinister and the villagers must pick through the ashes to find answers. Was it a tragic accident or something more troubling?” – All 4

Featuring David Tennant (surely you already know it’s going to be good just from that), this four part miniseries is well worth the watch. Tennant plays a doctor (not THE doctor this time) whose wife and children die in a tragic house fire. It’s less of a ‘who-dunnit’ for me as I think it was pretty obvious from the get go, but the finding out of why, and seeing everything that happened behind closed doors makes this a really good watch!

One of Us

“It was a shocking, senseless act of brutality. But murder is only the beginning of this sordid story.” – Netflix

Starting with the murder of a newly married couple, this BBC drama follows their families in the aftermath of their deaths when the person who allegedly killed them shows up at their house. The two families intertwine as they try to hide quite a few pretty big secrets. Full of tension and mystery, this four episode long series is easy to devour in one sitting.

Honour

“Follows the police investigation and the revelations about police failings in the run-up to the ‘honour killing’ of Banaz Mahmod, a 20-year-old Iraqi Kurdish woman.” – IMDB

Based on true events, this two episode feature tells the story of how DCI Caroline Goode investigated the death of Banaz Mahmod, a woman killed at the hands of her family after she left an abusive marriage and began a relationship with another man. The truth behind this show makes it an emotional watch, and I really recommend reading up on Banaz Mahmod’s story if you do watch this.

The Fall

“A detective superintendent battles her own personal demons as she tries to get inside the head of a serial killer hiding in plain sight.” – Netflix

Three series long, this drama is addictive! Jamie Dornan plays a serial killer hiding in plain sight whilst being hunted by a detective played by Gillian Anderson. Incredible casting, fascinating characters and a storyline full of tension, The Fall is the perfect binge-worthy series, which is exactly how I watched it.

American Murder: The Family Next Door

“Using raw, firsthand footage, this documentary examines the disappearance of Shanann Watts and her children, and the terrible events that followed.” – Netflix

Anyone interested in true crime has mostly likely heard about the Watts murder case. With raw footage from police body cameras, interview tapes and home videos, this documentary gives a harrowing account of the deaths of Shanann Watts and her children. This is a particularly heartbreaking documentary about senseless murders, which is worth taking into account before watching.

Murder 24/7

“Following teams of detectives and specialists involved in murder investigations.” – BBC iPlayer

I find watching real detective work fascinating and Murder 24/7 is the perfect depiction of that for me. Available on iPlayer, there are five episodes covering different murders, allowing you to see the police as they go through the process of collecting evidence, forensic searching, including bringing in dogs, and searching for a suspect. This docuseries is perfect for those interested in true crime.

Catching a Killer

“A gripping series with extraordinary access to the police as they investigate murders and search for missing people.” – All 4

Much like the above, this series is great for true crime lovers. It’s so interesting to see how the police work when investigating crimes and this series gives such an in depth look into their work. It is definitely a very emotional series as the families of victims are involved; an exceedingly personal watch with very engaging content.

Have you seen any of these shows? Any others I should add to my list? I’m always looking for new crime dramas and true crime documentaries to watch!