Nocturne Review: Stephen Graham knocks it out the park again as chilling serial killer ★★★★

Stephen Graham is earning praise for his unsettling portrayal of a calculating serial killer in Nocturne, a dark psychological thriller now streaming on Apple TV. While some critics have been captivated by the actor’s menacing performance and the series’ disturbing atmosphere, others have questioned its pacing, convoluted plotting and occasional lack of plausibility.

With eight episodes to unravel its chilling mystery, Nocturne is a slow-burning thriller that places human evil firmly at the centre of its story. And if the early reviews are anything to go by, Graham’s performance is the show’s biggest strength.

The Guardian: “Stephen Graham is TV’s most evil serial killer”

The Guardian has delivered one of the strongest endorsements of the series, declaring: “Stephen Graham is TV’s most evil serial killer … and it’s impossible to stop watching him”.

The newspaper also highlights the show’s suitability for the Halloween season, writing:

“It is the perfect watch for Halloween, especially for those of us who are always more horrified by the menace that stalks the earth in all-too-human form than by anything they say the supernatural can throw at us”.

The praise captures what makes Nocturne particularly unsettling. Rather than relying on supernatural scares, the series draws its horror from the actions of a deeply disturbing human antagonist. Graham’s portrayal of Jurek Walter provides the central source of tension, with the actor bringing a threatening presence to a character whose intelligence makes him all the more dangerous.

For viewers looking for something darker than the usual Halloween fare, the series appears to offer a chilling reminder that the most frightening monsters can be entirely human.

LA Times: “It can be implausible, but it’s more often intriguing”

Not every critic has been completely convinced by the series. The LA Times offers a more measured assessment, saying: ” It can be implausible, but it’s more often intriguing”.

The verdict suggests that Nocturne occasionally stretches credibility as it develops its crime story, but retains enough mystery and dramatic tension to keep viewers interested.

Serial killer thrillers often depend on elaborate investigations, extraordinary criminal intelligence and characters pushed into increasingly desperate situations. With Jurek Walter at the centre of the story, the series has plenty of opportunities to test the boundaries of plausibility.

Nevertheless, the LA Times’ assessment indicates that the show’s intrigue generally outweighs its shortcomings, making it a potentially rewarding watch for audiences willing to embrace its darker and more heightened moments.

NME: Stephen Graham shines despite plotting problems

NME is similarly appreciative of the lead performance but less enthusiastic about the show’s overall execution.

The publication praises Graham while noting: “Nocturne‘s clever but convoluted plotting results in some sluggish patches, especially in the first two episodes, and the characterisation can feel clichéd”.

The criticism points towards one of the series’ biggest potential stumbling blocks: its pacing. With eight episodes to tell its story, Nocturne has considerable room to develop its characters and gradually reveal the details of its central mystery. However, that extended format can also make the opening chapters feel slower than expected.

The observation about clichéd characterisation suggests that some familiar crime-thriller conventions may prevent the supporting characters from feeling as distinctive as the premise demands. Even so, NME’s praise for Graham reinforces the impression that his performance remains a compelling reason to keep watching.

For viewers who enjoy methodical mysteries, the slower opening may prove worthwhile as the larger story takes shape. Those expecting an immediate rush of action, however, may need a little patience.

Time Magazine calls Nocturne a “slow burn”

Time Magazine also describes the series as a “slow burn”, adding to the emerging consensus that Nocturne favours gradual tension over constant action.

A slow-burning thriller is not necessarily a criticism in itself. Carefully building suspense can make a story’s most disturbing developments more effective, particularly when the antagonist is as calculating as Jurek Walter. The challenge is ensuring that each episode adds enough new information, danger or character development to justify the time invested.

For Nocturne, the eight-episode structure means audiences have to settle into its unfolding investigation rather than expect every instalment to deliver immediate answers. Whether that approach pays off will depend on how satisfying viewers find the eventual progression of the mystery.

wheretowatch.tv: A quality production with an unsettling central performance

At wheretowatch.tv, the assessment is that Nocturne is indeed a slow thriller, although the pacing does not feel entirely intentional as the story unfolds across eight episodes.

The review is more positive about the casting, describing it as perfect, and argues that Stephen Graham once again proves he is the best person to play a menacing serial killer like Walter.

The production also receives praise for its uncomfortable atmosphere and overall quality. As the review puts it, the series is an unsettling experience and, as viewers have come to expect from Apple TV, an absolute quality production that will have them gripped.

This assessment captures the distinction between a thriller that moves slowly and one that builds suspense effectively. While the extended storytelling may occasionally test viewers’ patience, the performances and production values help sustain the sense of unease.

Graham’s casting is particularly important. A convincing serial killer needs to be more than simply threatening; the character must command attention even when the story pauses to explore the investigation around him. Walter’s calculated menace gives the series a powerful focal point, while the polished production helps create the oppressive atmosphere the story requires.

What is Nocturne about?

Nocturne follows Jonah Lynn (Liev Schreiber), an ex-soldier turned homicide detective who has grown tired of working the tough streets of Philadelphia. Hoping for a quieter life, he moves with his family to a small town in western Pennsylvania.

But the promise of a fresh start quickly turns into a nightmare when the town and Jonah’s family come under attack from Jurek Walter (Stephen Graham), a diabolically cunning serial killer.

As the investigation intensifies, Jonah finds himself caught in a desperate search for Jurek’s last missing victim. The case takes an especially personal turn when Jonah is forced to send his surrogate daughter, FBI Agent Saga Bauer (Zazie Beetz), into the dangerous world of the killer.

With the lives of those closest to him hanging in the balance, Jonah must confront a terrifying question: how far will he go to protect the people he loves?

The premise gives Nocturne two interconnected sources of tension. On one side is the investigation into a highly dangerous killer; on the other is the personal cost of pursuing justice when family and professional duty become increasingly difficult to separate.

The presence of Saga Bauer also adds another layer of jeopardy. Sending someone Jonah considers a daughter into direct contact with Jurek creates an emotional dilemma that goes beyond the usual detective-versus-killer dynamic.

Is Nocturne worth watching?

The reviews suggest a series with a standout lead performance, impressive production values and an unsettling premise, but one that may not satisfy every viewer.

The Guardian’s enthusiasm highlights the effectiveness of Graham’s chilling portrayal, while the LA Times finds the story more intriguing than implausible. NME raises concerns about convoluted plotting, sluggish early episodes and familiar characterisation, while Time Magazine’s description of the show as a “slow burn” reinforces the question of pacing.

For wheretowatch.tv, the series’ strengths ultimately lie in its casting, uncomfortable atmosphere and high production quality, even if the story takes its time to unfold.

The result sounds like a thriller best approached with patience. Viewers looking for relentless action from the opening episode may find the eight-part structure frustrating, but those who enjoy slowly developing mysteries and psychologically disturbing villains could find plenty to appreciate.

Above all, Nocturne appears to belong to Stephen Graham. His portrayal of Jurek Walter is the element that repeatedly draws praise, giving the series a menacing centre that can hold the attention even when the plotting falters.

The verdict: Nocturne may not be a fast action thriller, but its all the better for it. It’s unsettling subject matter, polished Apple TV production and Stephen Graham’s disturbing performance make it a strong contender for Halloween viewing. If the idea of a genuinely frightening human villain appeals more than supernatural horror, this could be one to add to your watchlist.

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