“Homicide: New York” is a documentary series about the most famous murder cases in New York, told by the detectives in charge of the investigation themselves.
The Manhattan Police Department doesn’t just have one, but two homicide departments dedicated to solving murder cases: Manhattan North and Manhattan South. “Homicide: New York” introduces us to 5 of these chilling stories, told through the eyes of the detectives in charge of the cases.
We begin with a homicide at an Indian restaurant, the Deli Restaurant, where there were two fatalities and three injured. The scene is captured with images from the moment aid arrived, as well the testimonies of the investigators tasked with solving the case.
These cases, among others, offer a glimpse into the darkest side of New York with accounts presented by the investigators themselves. The series is not focused on the murders or the investigations, but rather it provides a narrative and an insight into the investigators and the grim side of New York City.
It’s a modern take on the classic “Hill Street Blues”, filled with computer-generated effects and a fast-paced rhythm that paints a picture of the investigation process and the investigators.
About the documentary “Homicide: New York”
This documentary series covers crimes from the 90s and 2000s, featuring brutal murders retold with special emphasis on the details, always seeking the most macabre aspect to engage the viewer, accompanied by thriller-like music.
This series also resonates with a sense of revival and nostalgia. It doesn’t depict the present-day New York, with its drastically reduced crime rate, but takes us back to the New York we saw in movies twenty years ago, the New York of “Taxi Driver” (Scorsese) where hundreds of murders were committed in Central Park.
“Homicide: New York” primarily focuses on the investigators, who are the main characters in this documentary. More than just investigating the crime, these investigators share their own stories, how they were raised, and how they ended up investigating crimes in Manhattan.
About the cases
Besides the restaurant crime, the first season of “Homicide: New York” revisits the investigation of a savage murder in Central Park: a man found floating with his intestines exposed and his wrist slashed; the mysterious disappearance of a woman on Wall Street; a business homicide where the victim had been stabbed between 30 to 40 times in their own place of business; and a serial killing in East Harlem.
Our opinion
“Homicide: New York” is more than just a narrative about crime investigations. It tells the story of crime in Manhattan during the 90s and 2000s. It’s a deep dive into the darkest, most brutal, and horrifying aspects of human nature, as told by the investigators themselves.