Nocturne: Liev Schreiber Races Against Time In A Chilling & Addictive Serial Killer Thriller | Review

Published Oct 27, 2026, 9:01 AM EDT Dani Kessel Odom (they/them) is an autistic lead writer and TV critic who covers sci-fi shows like Doctor Who and Pluribus, fantasy shows like The Magicians and Percy Jackson, and horror of all kinds. They also cover Marvel and DC TV shows and movies, with a robust knowledge of comic books. Their TV reviews can be found on Rotten Tomatoes. Dani is also part of ScreenRant's books team, using their fiction writing and literature studies as the backbone for their book analyses. They have covered events, such as the Denver Fan Expo. Professionals in the field, such as Damien Leone and Lucy Hale, have shared their articles. Their review of Ponies was quoted in the show's TV trailer. In university, they majored in English Writing with a minor in psychology. They have always had a passion for analyzing TV and movies, even taking filmography and scriptwriting classes in university. They also studied and participated in onstage and onscreen acting extensively from the ages of 7 to 18. Aside from working at Screen Rant, Dani has worked as a freelance editor and writer over the past decade, often in a ghostwriting capacity. Nocturne pits Liev Schreiber and Stephen Graham against each other in a fast-paced serial-killer thriller that’s unlikely to be forgotten any time soon. Nordic noir has finally gained an international audience, and Lars Kepler, the pseudonym of Swedish married couple Alexander Ahndoril and Alexandra Coelho Andhoril, is one of the genre's most popular authors. Apple TV blends the 2012 novel The Sandman and the 2018 book Lazarus in the standout thriller show Nocturne. These two books are known for being extremely twisted and scary, even though they fall outside the horror genre. Luckily, the Apple TV show captures their essence. In the series, a teen boy named Michael, the believed victim of serial killer Yurek Walter, shows up after three years missing, launching a manhunt for his sister Felicia. The problem is Yurek is permanently detained at Riverside Psychiatric Hospital. Retired detective Jonah Lynn, FBI agent Saga Bauer, and special agent Alexandra Quinn work together to figure out how the man could control the situation from inside the Restricted Housing Unit, Riverside's highest-security section. Rather than strictly sticking to Kepler’s books, Nocturne takes creative liberties that mostly enhance the story. Some of the best characters in the Apple TV show are original to the series or composites. Plus, one subplot at the psychiatric hospital is thrilling, though I can’t go into details without spoiling too much. Ultimately, so much worked in this fantastic serial killer thriller, but a few big issues prevent it from being a 10 out of 10 TV show. Yurek Walter Is The Most Terrifying & Manipulative Villain Since Hannibal Lecter If I had to pick just one strength in Nocturne to write about, it would be the villain Yurek Walter, who feels like the spiritual successor to Hannibal Lecter. Yurek is an intelligent, well-mannered serial killer deemed guilty but not culpable by reason of insanity, leading to a mental facility sentence. His sadistic, sinister nature becomes clear in the show's first scene, one of the best openers in the psychological thriller genre. Yurek also has a disturbing ability to manipulate others and to think several steps ahead. He plays the victim when interacting with his nurses, a manipulation tactic. He softens his voice and showers them with compliments to make them feel special. I was equally amazed and horrified by the number of people who knew he was a vicious killer and still did his bidding without question. It’s like he understood the human mind so perfectly that he could mold them like clay. Nocturne’s well-written villain and superb performances more than make up for the narrative predictability, and the story still feels pulse-racing even when it's obvious what's coming. On top of that, Yurek Walter is an organized serial killer, and his crimes really rise above and beyond in their disgustingly twisted nature. He doesn’t just murder folks. He psychologically tortures them. His modus operandi is burying his victims in a box with a small amount of food and water, enough to keep them alive so that they suffer before dying. The murder style requires meticulous planning and forethought, and the fact that he could even think to kill people in this way is chilling. It’s not like other murderers are out here doing the same thing. He’s not taking someone out with a gun or knife. He’s not copying the style of another well-known serial killer. The approach requires creativity and a strong understanding of what would terrorize the human mind. Nocturne’s Powerhouse Performances Make The Show Worth Watching Ahead of Nocturne’s release, the most appealing aspect of the show was its stacked cast. Luckily, most of their performances exceeded expectations. Stephen Graham and Zazie Beetz are the true standouts in the Apple TV show. As I previously mentioned, Graham’s Yurek Walter would make Hannibal Lecter proud. Beetz’s Saga starts out underwhelming due to writing, but by episode 3, she’s the best character, other than Yurek. Unfortunately, I cannot elaborate because nearly everything in her story involves spoilers. Poorna Jagannathan shines as Agent Alexandra Quinn, balancing no-nonsense, badass vibes with moments of emotional vulnerability. Liev Schreiber’s the biggest name on the project, and he’s a great fit for the main character, Jonah Lynn. Similarly, Rory Culkin was perfectly cast as Karl. I started out liking both of these characters, but by episode 7, I got extremely frustrated by their behavior and statements. I wanted to knock some sense into them. However, that’s praise for the actors, not a criticism of them. They caused a visceral reaction, which wouldn’t happen if they'd given lackluster performances. Apple TV’s Nordic noir series taps into everything that makes Lars Kepler’s The Sandman and Lazarus great, except it replaces frigid Stockholm with foreboding rural Pennsylvania. Landon Valentin, the young actor playing Michael, does a brilliant job in a role that would be difficult for even the most experienced actors. Michael experiences severe health problems, so Valentin had to carry his body differently. The character has few lines, so Valentin relies mostly on facial expressions and body language. When he does talk, his voice has a haunting quality. Valentin makes Michael feel like a traumatized child who doesn’t know how to cope with the world after three years in captivity. The scene where he goes out in public for the first time after getting home shows that actor Landon Valentin is going places. Unfortunately, the three biggest letdowns came from Chrissy Metz, Gary Carr, and Bill Camp, who play Ida, Nathan, and Chief Ellison, respectively. The issue with these characters came from the writing, though, not the actors. With three leads, six significant supporting characters, and just ten episodes, Nocturne has to allocate its limited screen time strategically. I understand why Ida and Nathan were shortchanged, but I wanted more of Metz and Carr. The two are extremely compelling characters, even with limited screen time. On the other hand, I wanted less of Chief Ellison because he felt like an afterthought. It’s pretty obvious that he wasn’t a book character. He doesn’t have nearly as much of a personality. His biggest contribution is helping Jonah in the most unnecessary scene of Nocturne. Ultimately, Chief Ellison feels more like a plot device than a character, which is a shame since Bill Camp can act. The Narrative Flaws Of Apple TV’s Nocturne Keep It From Being A Top-Tier Thriller Courtesy of Apple TV Apple TV’s Nordic noir series taps into everything that makes Lars Kepler’s The Sandman and Lazarus great, except it replaces frigid Stockholm with foreboding rural Pennsylvania. Nocturne has flawed protagonists and social critique characteristic of the genre, and the fast pace characteristic of Kepler's books. However, the show isn’t without its issues. Plot twists revealed late in the season get telegraphed in a failed attempt at foreshadowing. The writers were way too heavy-handed with the hints and made the twists feel a little underwhelming. Luckily, they still kept the tension up. Even if I knew what was coming, I still wondered how and why. That being said, the only deeply unsatisfying reveal is both telegraphed and one of the oldest tricks in the book. The deeply predictable reveal is the only time I said, “Really?” Even without telegraphing, I think at least half the audience could’ve guessed it. ​​​​​Another major issue keeping Nocturne from living up to its full potential was believability. This thriller required a high suspension of disbelief. If you’re someone who struggles to ignore logical flaws, this thriller might be difficult for you. Plenty of vital plot points don’t make sense when you think about them for more than a second. On top of that, people behaved in irrational ways. Usually, there’s some patience for illogical choices because human beings make terrible, unreasonable decisions all the time. However, this crossed the line. I had a hard time, in particular, with many of the obviously idiotic choices made in the psychiatric hospital. Karl frequently made me want to shake him by the shoulders and say, “What are you doing, you moron?” Meanwhile, Chief Ellison makes a few decisions that deserve a sigh and a shake of the head. Regardless, Nocturne’s well-written villain and superb performances more than make up for the narrative predictability, and the story still feels pulse-racing even when it's obvious what's coming. What’s more, it’s not over yet. Apple TV hasn’t given press access to the last three episodes to preserve the surprises. The final act of a TV show or movie can make or break it. I’ve seen shows go from great to truly amazing thanks to a well-written, thoughtful ending. Nocturne’s last three episodes could easily reverse the slightly negative effects of the problems. What's more, unless something in the final episodes prevents it, there's plenty of room for the show to return for season 2 and become a certified hit, as all the building blocks already exist. Nocturne episodes 1 and 2 are available on Apple TV starting October 30, with weekly releases every Friday. Release Date October 29, 2026 Network Apple TV Series Nocturne Episodes 10 Pros & Cons Yurek Walter is as chilling as Hannibal Lecter. Nocturne's cast is excellent. Apple TV's adaptation captures the spirit of the book. Nocturne's story is addictive and fast-paced. Character decisions are questionable at times. The series has a tendency to telegraph plot twists.