This psychological crime thriller follows retired detective Jonah Lynn, played by Liev Schreiber, whose past comes crashing back when a missing boy unexpectedly returns without his sister. The investigation leads towards Jurek Walter, a sadistic serial killer played by Graham, whose influence extends far beyond his prison cell.
Graham has always excelled at finding humanity in damaged men, from This Is England to Adolescence. Here, that intensity becomes something genuinely frightening. His performance is chillingly controlled. A glance, a pause, a slight change in expression, and you can feel the temperature drop.
Zazie Beetz brings welcome urgency as FBI agent Saga Bauer, Jonah’s surrogate daughter. Her relationship with Schreiber’s weary detective gives the investigation a personal dimension beyond the usual hunt for a monster.
Director Tim Van Patten establishes an oppressive atmosphere in the opening episodes, using bleak landscapes, clinical interiors and unsettling sound to build dread. The cinematography favours cold, muted colours, while the score quietly tightens the tension.
Adapted from Lars Kepler’s novels, the writing offers an intriguing psychological battle, although some familiar thriller conventions and underdeveloped supporting characters occasionally weaken its impact.
There are echoes of The Silence of the Lambs and True Detective, but Graham gives Nocturne its own disturbing identity. It’s gripping, deeply uncomfortable television, even when the storytelling threatens to become unnecessarily complicated.
If you enjoy dark, intelligent crime thrillers driven by exceptional performances, this is well worth your time. Just don’t expect a peaceful night’s sleep.