# Devil in Disguise: John Wayne Gacy (2025)

> A miniseries dramatizing the 1970s investigation into serial killer John Wayne Gacy as a missing teenager exposes a pattern of vanished young men.

Canonical page: https://ember.film/tv/172132

## Facts

- Seasons: 1
- Episodes: 8
- Episode runtime: 57 min
- Status: Ended
- Genres: crime, drama
- Created by: Patrick Macmanus
- Network: Peacock
- Cast: Michael Chernus, Gabriel Luna, James Badge Dale, Michael Angarano, Chris Sullivan, Marin Ireland, Greg Bryk, Etienne Kellici
- TMDB rating: 7.4/10
- IMDb: https://www.imdb.com/title/tt31314754/

## Ember's analysis

- Pacing: measured
- Intensity: strong
- Complexity: accessible
- Violence: graphic
- Tone: somber, dread-filled, grounded, tense, bleak

## What critics say

Audience reception is positive, with viewers praising the grounded true-crime investigation and the committed lead performance in a dark, disturbing miniseries.

## Synopsis

Devil in Disguise: John Wayne Gacy (2025) is a American true crime miniseries created by Patrick Macmanus for Peacock. Across eight episodes of roughly fifty-seven minutes each, the story follows Detective Rafael Tovar (Gabriel Luna) as a missing teenager's case exposes a pattern of disappearances among young men and boys, with the prime suspect being the contractor John Wayne Gacy (Michael Chernus). Chief of Detectives Joe Kozenczak (James Badge Dale) pushes the investigation forward against institutional resistance, while Sam Amirante (Michael Angarano) and lead prosecutor Bill Kunkle (Chris Sullivan) drive the case toward the courtroom. The engine of the series is the painstaking work of gathering evidence, interviewing grieving families such as Elizabeth and Harold Piest (Marin Ireland, Greg Bryk), and confronting a suspect who hides in plain sight. Set in 1970s Illinois, the show is grounded and somber, with a dread-filled, procedural tone. It will appeal to fans of Mindhunter, Zodiac and Monster: The Ed Gein Story, who want a patient, sober dramatization of real criminal history told from the investigators' side. Its atmosphere is cold and restrained rather than sensational.

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