Inspired by true events, this six-part miniseries is a wholly engrossing prison drama narrative based on the book In With the Devil by Hillel Levin.
Successful, cocky jock James Keene (Taron Egerton) may be a former star college athlete and ex-policeman’s son, but caught drug dealing and gun-running sees him sentenced to 10 years without parole in spite of a plea bargain. A natural born charmer, Keene is seen as something of a potential asset by the FBI in a case where a second appeal against conviction is looming. The authorities fear child-killer Larry Hall (Paul Walter Hauser) could walk free.
Agent Lauren McCauley (Sepideh Moafi) puts a deal to Keene. Transfer from his soft minimum security to Springfield, Illinois – the maximum security prison for the criminally insane: elicit a confession in an attempt to find the bodies of as many as 18 young girls the soft-spoken Hall is suspected of murdering. Walk free. No tall ask – Hall is known as a serial confessor but who withdraws his confessions a day or two later. His current conviction is based, according to his lawyers, on a confession obtained through duress.
Interweaving prison, the ongoing investigation and events in Hall’s past, Black Bird slowly unfolds. Only the prison psychiatrist knows what’s going down and, over time, a strutting Keene is emotionally and psychologically affected. Guards and other inmates inevitably impact but the focus is on Keene and Hall as the former slowly wins over trust. Outside prison, McCauley and local detective Brian Miller (Greg Kinnear), the man first responsible for arresting Hall, desperately search for evidence that will keep the suspected killer inside.
Hauser is psychotically extraordinary as Hall, a quietly spoken outsider. But behind that withdrawn demeanour and downcast eyes is a manipulative schemer: it’s no easy task facing Keene. Whilst Hauser is a standout, Black Bird is packed with strong performances, including the final appearances of Ray Liotta as Keene’s ex-policeman father. It’s a gripping six episodes.
Rating: 83%
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