David Berkovitz A.K.A. 'The Son of Sam' goes down in history as one of the most notorious serial killers in the 20th century. Claiming that he started killing at the instructions of a demonic Labrador, Berkovitz terrorized New York in 1977 while leaving behind letters that mocked the police. After a massively publicized manhunt, he was finally captured in August of the same year.
Since then, Son of Sam has become the lore of several true-crime documentaries—the latest being Netflix's The Sons of Sam—and a few feature films, all of which tend to understand his motives and the impact he had on American society.
Out Of The Darkness (1985) - 6.1
Out of the Darkness offers a glimpse at the search for Son of Sam from the police's perspective. Even though the CBS telefilm functions as a docu-drama, it does have its share of factual inaccuracies. Still, if one wishes to watch a dramatized story of Detective Ed Zigo's pursuit of Son of Sam, it makes for an intriguing watch.
Martin Sheen stars as Ed Zigo, a man whose personal life is also touched upon in great detail. As for Berkovitz, Robert Trebor plays the killer with a chilling physical resemblance.
Summer Of Sam (1999) - 6.7
A large part of Spike Lee's initial filmography takes place in New York. Summer of Sam is a prominent example with its premise being set in a Bronx neighborhood of the 1970s. Events like the New York Yankees' 1977 win and the police manhunt for Son of Sam serve as a backdrop for the lives of two friends (Adrien Brody and John Leguizamo) who deal with their own share of personal tussles. As paranoia of the killer rises, the Italian-American dwellers start suspecting each other.
A parallel story covers the exploits of Son of Sam (Michael Badalucco). The film even features John Turturro voicing the demonic dog.
Son Of Sam: The Hunt For A Killer (2017) - 6.7
The two-part documentary Son of Sam: The Hunt For A Killer released around the 30th anniversary of Berkovitz's arrest. It mainly relies on interviews, testimonies, and archival footage to trace all the ways Son of Sam baffled the police.
Apart from the police investigation, the documentary also makes an attempt to understand the man behind the glamorized serial killer. With statements from several psychologists, the documentary also attempts to understand the unclear motivations behind his murders.
The Sons Of Sam (2021) - 7
The Sons of Sam: A Descent into Darkness is a Netflix documentary miniseries that explores the whereabouts of the serial killer's followers. Berkovitz has made claims of joining a Satanic cult in 1975, and this prompted journalist and author Maury Terry to study his murders further. Terry was convinced that many of his actions were directly linked to a Satanic cult.
Narrated by Paul Giamatti, the documentary also serves as a warning to journalists and investigators who get obsessed with serial killers. In the case of Terry, his obsession took a toll on his own mental state, leading him to the titular 'descent into darkness.'
The Killing Of America (1982) - 7.6
From the 60s to the 80s, America witnessed the assassination of a President, cult-related slayings, and the rise of serial killers like Ted Bundy and Son of Sam. The Japanese-American documentary The Killing of America attempts to cover the traumatic violence of these decades while elaborating on the socio-political disturbances that it led to.
The documentary also subtly points out the need for gun control to prevent American crime. Even though this particular conclusion might seem to be polarizing for audiences, it serves as a dark chronological reminder of America's past.
Son Of Sam: The Killer Speaks (2017) - 7.8
Four decades after his arrest, CBS journalist Maurice DuBois paid a visit to the imprisoned killer. The result of this interview was a TV special that finds Berkovitz musing on his troubled past. Even though he doesn't offer many details on the nature of his murders, he explains his encounters with demonic forces and his change in religious outlook in prison.
In an unprecedented set of events, he had turned into a born-again Christian in 1987. To date, he writes essays on faith and repentance for websites and publications.
The Lost Tapes: Son Of Sam (2017) - 7.8
A Smithsonian Channel production, The Lost Tapes' fourth episode faithfully recounts all of Berkowitz's publicized murders through local newscasts, personal recordings, and police footage of the time. Instead of just focusing on the summer of 1977, the documentary aims at going right back to the start when the killer started hunting down his earliest victims in the previous year.
The series otherwise features similar events of historical importance through unbiased archival methods. Themes for the other episodes include the LA riots, the bombing of Pearl Harbor, and the abduction of Patty Hearst.
The Bronx Is Burning (2007) - 7.9
Released to coincide with the 30th anniversary of the New York Yankees' win in the 1977 World Series, The Bronx is Burning focuses on the rivalry between Yankees' right fielder Reggie Jackson (Daniel Sunjata) and manager Billy Martin (John Turturro) in a tumultuous summer.
What adds to the general air of tension is, of course, the rise of the '.44 caliber killer.' A Son of Sam subplot not only covers his murders, but also the city's fiscal crisis and an unexpected 25-hour blackout that added to the fears of New Yorkers.
Mindhunter (2019-) - 8.2
Dealing with the actual experiences of FBI officials in profiling serial killers, Mindhunter featured several infamous criminals ranging from Charles Manson to Son of Sam. The Netflix series relies on a haunting claustrophobic atmosphere in scenes that involve the protagonists interviewing the murderer.
Similarly, in the second episode of season two, Holden Ford (Jonathan Groff) and Bill Tench (Holt McCallany) meet David Berkowitz (Oliver Cooper) at the Attica Correctional Facility in New York. The cross-questioning eventually compels Berkowitz to admit that he was lying about hearing voices and demonic entities. This conclusion would explain why he never pleaded for insanity.
Seinfeld (1989 - 1998) - 8.9
Interestingly, the iconic sitcom Seinfeld has been referencing Son of Sam in several instances. A case in point would be the Season nine episode "The Frogger" in which a new killer called The Lopper is on the loose. Instead, Kramer (Michael Richards) proposes a better name, 'Son of Dad.' The character Newman is also shown to be owning a mailbag that was once used by Berkowitz back when he worked as a letter sorter for the Postal Service.
Another episode from the same season finds Frankie (Dana Gould) exclaiming 'Seinfeld's van.' Mishearing it as 'Son of Sam', George replies, 'I knew it wasn't Berkowitz.'