The Alienist
It's hard to imagine a time before the police had access to the technologies and techniques of forensic investigation, especially when crime scene investigation is such an intrinsic part of our entertainment. But oftentimes investigators didn't have all of the answers, and the beat cops didn't rely on a department full of specialists, especially when it came to uncovering the psychology behind the most horrifying and evil crime scenes. In "The Alienist," the Award-winning TNT Limited Series available now on DVD and starring Luke Evans, Daniel Br�hl, and Dakota Fanning, the murder mystery unravels in New York City in the late 1800s.
In the series - which is based on the book by Caleb Carr - Daniel Br�hl plays Dr. Laszlo Kreizler, a psychiatrist (or an "alienist," the term that was then in use for anyone who was in the practice of analyzing individuals who were suffering from mental illnesses). At the time, anyone who exhibited signs of mental or emotional health issues was deemed a deviant or thought to be possessed of demons, but Kreizler was more involved with the inner workings of the human psyche. What drives another human being to violent butchery and bloodthirsty lust?
When a series of ghastly murders begin to plague the streets, targeting young boys who are engaged in prostitution, Kreizler enlists his ally John Moore (Evans), an illustrator at the New York Times, to help him document the killer's murders and ravenous appetite. The murders bear a striking resemblance to the chronicled crime scenes of London's own Jack the Ripper. NYPD Commissioner Theodore Roosevelt (Brian Geraghty) doesn't have the resources or manpower to deal with the horrific case. His associate Sara Howard (Fanning) becomes intrigued.
It isn't long before Kreizler, Moore, and Howard find themselves on the path to track down a serial killer, leaving a trail among the city's most discontent and disenfranchised. Utilizing techniques that had not yet been developed and were only theory, "The Alienist" is a profoundly eye-popping dive into what life was like in a darkly Gothic New York City, where death and disease lurked in the shadows and civilization struggled to find its footing amid the chaos of an industrial Golden Age.
The performances are engaging, and the lead trinity of actors share the task of creating a perfect portrayal of life in New York City during 1896. It's a far cry from the sprawling metropolis of today and feels very much in the grip of a dangerous growth period. The imaginative effects team perfectly recapture the environment, which is as much a character in "The Alienist" as its cast. A mix of true crime fact and fiction, "The Alienist" is thrilling and all-consuming. It's very hard to let go of the series once it sinks its teeth into you.
The 3-disc DVD features all 10 episodes of the Emmy� Award-winning series that will have your heart stopping and your blood chilling. It's an intense study into the macabre, though rooted very much in the real world it inhabits. The DVD includes additional bonus Special Features that take you "Inside the Episode," explore the unique historical aspects of bringing the limited-series to the screen and the award-winning special effects brought the New York City of "The Alienist" to life for the small screen.
"The Alienist"
DVD
$14.99
https://www.tntdrama.com/shows/the-alienist
The discs include an analyist of each episode, as well as a special look at the Special Effects that brought the unique look of "The Alienist" to life for the 10-episode mystery series.