Disturbing New Serial Killer Show With MCU Star Scores A Perfect 100% On Rotten Tomatoes

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Shows about serial killers are hugely popular right now. From Ryan Murphy’s *Monster* series, which recently featured Ed Gein, to documentaries like *Gone Girls: The Long Island Serial Killer*, and the fictional series *You*, there’s plenty to watch if you’re interested in this type of content. And there’s a new show leading the pack that you might want to check out.

The new Peacock docuseries, *Devil In Disguise: John Wayne Gacy*, is currently maintaining a perfect 100% score on Rotten Tomatoes. The show focuses on John Wayne Gacy, a contractor from the Chicago area who lived a double life as a serial killer, as detectives work to uncover the truth. Viewers are praising it for respectfully handling the difficult subject matter, focusing on the victims and their families instead of sensationalizing the killer himself – a common pitfall in similar true crime stories.

Devil In Disguise Just Works

Viewers are responding positively to the series’ sensitive handling of both John Wayne Gacy and the lasting trauma he inflicted on the victims’ families. One Reddit user praised the show’s pacing, its focus on the victims’ lives through flashbacks, and its emphasis on the impact of the investigation and trial on those involved – rather than sensationalizing Gacy himself. They also appreciated that, so far, the series hasn’t attempted to portray Gacy sympathetically, a common trope in other serial killer shows. Another user simply stated it was a significant improvement over a previous series by Ryan Murphy.

However, the show hasn’t been without its critics. In a review for USA Today, Kelly Lawler gave it a two-star rating, explaining that it presents Gacy’s crimes in a way that feels distant and unclear. She described the series as both disturbing and surprisingly unremarkable, finding it strangely unoffensive despite dealing with such horrific acts as serial sexual assault and murder.

Many true crime shows focus on the killer, but *Devil In Disguise* thoughtfully centers the victims and their families, which is a refreshing approach. While the series isn’t perfect, it’s easy to forgive its flaws because of its sensitive and respectful portrayal of those affected by John Wayne Gacy. One Reddit user praised it, saying it’s everything they hoped Ryan Murphy’s *Monsters* series would be, highlighting how the show shared scenes from the victims’ lives and then presented real photos of them at the end of each episode. This emphasis on the victims, rather than the killer, is something many other serial killer documentaries and series often miss.

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2025-10-18 22:10