A true crime documentary about a Scottish serial killer in the early 1980s, Memories Of A Murderer: The Nilsen Tapes is a fascinating look into a murderer, much of which is in his own words.
I have been a true crime junkie since I was in high school. While that concerned my parents a bit at the time, with shows like Dateline and 20/20 airing true crime stories every week and podcasts abounding, this has become an incredibly popular genre over the years. I have always been fascinated by the psychology of the crimes, so if you’re like me, you’re going to want to watch this film.
Memories of a Murderer: The Nilsen Tapes focuses on the crimes of Dennis Nilsen, a Scottish serial killer who committed his murders between 1978 and 1983. When caught, he confessed to having murdered 15 or 16 men, and there were other victims that escaped. The movie includes interviews with victims, families of victims, and investigators, as well as video footage of news reports and lots of audio of Nilsen himself from the tapes he made while in a jail cell.
This is a solid documentary that is only heightened by the Nilsen tapes themselves. Hearing him describe himself, his history, his crimes, and his understanding of what turned him into who he became is fascinating. They are insights that only he could provide, and while the other interviews and narratives around the crimes help to build the world of understanding, the tapes are invaluable.
Nilsen’s acts and thought process remind me very much of Jeffrey Dahmer (a Milwaukee serial killer who was active between the late 70s into the early 90s). Both men are the definition of “unassuming white guy” and both prayed on young men.
Nilsen found “rent boys” (young male prostitutes) on the street and took them home with him. He was assured that these men were on their own and would have no one looking for them, and that is the biggest tragedy of the entire situation. No one was looking for these boys, and it is only because of Nilsen’s own actions that he got caught.
At the beginning of the documentary, they talk about the initial arrest. Neighbors of Nilsen’s had contacted a professional because their toilets were blocked. Upon investigation into the cause of the blockage, the technician found body parts had been flushed and clogged up the lines. From there, the police went to Nilsen’s apartment where they detected an awful odor. When asked if they were looking at 1 or 2 bodies, Nilsen replied, “15 or 16.”
This is one of those films that I will rewatch at some point because there is so much information and it’s very well presented. A quiet and passive man on tape, you know that there is a disturbed individual who understands the situation. As Nilsen says, “I am a man, not a monster. Awkward, isn’t it?”
I have been a true crime junkie since I was in high school. While that concerned my parents a bit at the time, with shows like Dateline and 20/20 airing true crime stories every week and podcasts abounding, this has become an incredibly popular genre over the years. I have always been fascinated by the psychology of the crimes, so if you’re like me, you’re going to want to watch this film.
