# I'll Be Gone in the Dark (2020)

> A documentary miniseries following true crime writer Michelle McNamara's obsessive hunt to identify the Golden State Killer, the serial predator who terrorized California.

Canonical page: https://ember.film/tv/86274

## Facts

- Seasons: 1
- Episodes: 7
- Episode runtime: 60 min
- Status: Ended
- Genres: documentary, crime
- Created by: Liz Garbus
- Network: HBO
- Cast: Amy Ryan, Joseph James DeAngelo, Adam Drucker, Jennifer Barth, Billy Jensen, Paul Holes, Kathleen Conroy, Mary Rita Skrine
- TMDB rating: 7.4/10
- IMDb: https://www.imdb.com/title/tt8259114/

## Ember's analysis

- Pacing: measured
- Intensity: strong
- Complexity: layered
- Violence: moderate
- Tone: somber, meticulous, haunting, emotionally raw

## What critics say

Audiences rate the miniseries positively for its serious, immersive account of the Golden State Killer case and McNamara's obsessive pursuit, though some viewers wanted more investigative detail.

## Synopsis

I'll Be Gone in the Dark (2020-2021) is an HBO true crime documentary limited series created by Liz Garbus. Across seven hour-long episodes, it follows true crime writer Michelle McNamara, whose obsessive research into the Golden State Killer became a personal crusade after she began piecing together attacks across California. The engine of the series is her relentless pursuit of a predator who committed dozens of sexual assaults and a string of murders in the 1970s and 1980s, and the frustration of an investigation that stalled for decades. Each episode mixes archival footage, interviews with survivors and family members, and accounts from investigators such as retired forensics chief Paul Holes, with McNamara's own words read in voice-over. The tone is somber, meticulous, and emotionally raw, weighing the human cost of unsolved crimes against the stubborn hope of a resolution. Set largely in 1970s and 1980s California, it moves between the crime scenes, the rural and suburban neighborhoods where attacks occurred, and the modern-day detective work that carried the case forward. Viewers who appreciated the long-form investigative patience of The Jinx, the moral unease of Making a Murderer, and the forensic persistence of The Staircase will find much to hold onto here. It is a sober, adult viewing experience best approached with full attention.

## Shows like I'll Be Gone in the Dark

- [The Killing Season (2016)](https://ember.film/tv/60127)
- [The Jinx: The Life and Deaths of Robert Durst (2015)](https://ember.film/tv/55155)
- [Conversations with a Killer: The Son of Sam Tapes (2025)](https://ember.film/tv/199730)
- [Don't F**k with Cats: Hunting an Internet Killer (2019)](https://ember.film/tv/81143)
- [American Manhunt: Osama bin Laden (2025)](https://ember.film/tv/189357)
- [American Murder: Laci Peterson (2024)](https://ember.film/tv/175260)
- [Gone Girls: The Long Island Serial Killer (2025)](https://ember.film/tv/190919)
- [The Keepers (2017)](https://ember.film/tv/24040)
- [Night Stalker: The Hunt for a Serial Killer (2021)](https://ember.film/tv/95584)
- [Unabomber: In His Own Words (2020)](https://ember.film/tv/83999)

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