The Makings of a Murderer

Gasps of shock, grunts of disgust, and the odd giggle echoed through the theater during ‘The Makings of a Murderer’, the 2-hour tour of British serial killers that will put your morbid curiosity threshold to the test.

Our tour guide? David Swindle, the real-life investigator who was instrumental in the capture of serial killer Peter Tobin. Suited in a tweed jacket and surrounded by ‘90s detective instruments that looked fresh out of the ’90s, he whittled us through what felt like the complete history of homicide, armed with only PowerPoint and his Glaswegian charm. The way he was able to intricately explain a dismemberment in one breath and then crack a joke in the next, was mesmerizing, if a little flippant at times.

With each murderous story, he analyzed why the culprit did it, how they were caught, and importantly, if they could have been caught earlier. Whilst there could have been more psychological theory involved, his in-depth understanding of the police system was clear, and he wasn’t afraid to call out its shortcomings. The discussion about the importance of preventative strategies in preventing sexual violence was brave and felt particularly poignant in light of the last few years in the UK.

The list format of the first half was frustrating at times, David rattled through lots of different cases, not giving each one enough time and depth to properly grapple with them. The second half on the other hand was almost wholly committed to the investigation of Peter Tobin, which allowed him to go into much more detail, including a fascinating explanation of his ‘ANAGRAM’ method, a tool now employed globally in murder cases. This was more captivating, and Swindle’s personal involvement allowed for a more passionate tale.

I also couldn’t help feeling unnerved by the spectacle of it all. Whilst David made a considerable effort to ignite compassion in the victims, there were still points that underplayed the tragedies central to the show. These included a slide of his ‘favorite’ serial killers and an unsavory selfie with the crowd where we were prompted to ‘say ‘killer’, instead of the customary ‘cheese’.

All in all, if you are a true crime nerd or just fancy a bit of a spook, ‘The Makings of a Murderer’ is sure to deliver, and you'll certainly leave the theater with a deeper gratitude for investigators, DNA tests, and being alive.