Conversations With a Killer: The Son of Sam Tapes – Review | Netflix

THE SON OF SAM TAPES on Netflix is the fourth installment in the Conversations With a Killer true crime anthology series. In these three episodes, we hear interviews with David Berkowitz. Read our full Conversations With a Killer: The Son of Sam Tapes series review here!

THE SON OF SAM TAPES is a new Netflix true crime production in the Conversations With a Killer anthology series. As always with this particular true crime series, we hear from the serial killer via taped interviews.

In the three episodes of this installment, it’s David Berkowitz being interviewed during his imprisonment in Attica. We do hear from a few friends or relatives of victims, but this is mostly about the killer and his crimes. This doesn’t offer much nuance, which I missed.

This is the first installment featuring a serial killer who is still alive. Of course, this begs the question: why rely on decade-old tape recordings instead of just interviewing him now?

Continue reading our Conversations With a Killer: The Son of Sam Tapes series review below. Find it on Netflix from July 30, 2025.

From the .44-caliber killer to Son of Sam

With The Son of Sam Tapes, we’re getting the story of one of the greatest manhunts in New York City history. During three episodes, we hear the story from mostly detectives, a few reporters, and some experts who have researched and written about this serial killer.

At first, no one was able to connect the murders, and once they did, he was labeled the “.44-caliber killer” due to the murder weapon used. It wasn’t until later that the moniker “Son of Sam” came into play. If you don’t know the story, I’ll let you experience it in this Netflix series.

The Son of Sam Tapes refer to decade-old taped interviews with David Berkowitz while he was in prison in Attica. This was a serial killer who killed seemingly at random and later even taunted the police via letters. Not unlike the Zodiac Killer, though in a different way.

I need more focus on the victims

Obviously, we do get a focus on the victims in any true crime production, but I would’ve liked more focus on them. Mostly due to the police detective not doing the victims justice. I’m thinking mostly of how these older male detectives tend to speak of appearance before anything else.

We hear one refer to a victim as “She was just 26 years old. A beautiful woman”,  as if her beauty was what made her brutal murder sad. Or another one speaking about the “pretty girl” lying in a pool of her own blood after having been shot.

Sure, we get a little more information on some of them, but it’s not much, so their perceived beauty is suddenly what defines them mostly in The Son of Sam Tapes, and I am not a fan of that.

Watch Conversations With a Killer: The Son of Sam Tapes on Netflix now

This is the fourth installment of Conversations With a Killer from Emmy-winning and Academy Award-nominated director Joe Berlinger. David Berkowitz killed for the first time on July 29, 1976, so this is released just one day after that infamous date.

He was finally captured by authorities in August 1977 and was convicted in 1978. Everything happened within the span of a few years, but the infamous Son of Sam has been talked bout ever since.

As with the Netflix series Mindhunter, I recognize the need to understand serial killers to help stop future killers. However, when it comes to the victims, they are also defined both by what is said and all that is left out. Way too much is left out.

Other than that, it often becomes the story of how brilliant the homicide detectives are. But really, David Berkowitz operated for quite a long time before anyone noticed any connection. And ultimately, he confesses to everything and makes it quite easy for them.

The Son of Sam docuseries is out on Netflix on July 30, 2025.