Nocturne (Apple TV) Review: Superb Tension

Nocturne is a sinister reversal of the cat-and-mouse genre, with superb tension, top-tier acting, a methodically unfolding plot, and a magnificent serial killer aspect.

Now, fresh off the heels of Adolescence and A Thousand Blows, Graham is back in another superb leading role that is so riveting yet psychologically unsettling that it makes Hannibal Lecter seem tame.

The Emmy winner stars alongside Liev Schreiber (Ray Donovan), Zazie Beetz (Good Luck, Have Fun, Don’t Die), and Rory Culkin (Under the Banner of Heaven) in the 10-episode series, which debuts on October 30. Inspired by the 2012 bestselling novel “The Sandman” by Lars Kepler, the pen name for the Swedish husband-and-wife wordsmithing duo Alexander Ahndoril and Alexandra Coelho Ahndoril, the series was adapted for television by Rowan Jaffé (28 Weeks Later).

Graham stars as imprisoned psychopathic serial killer Jurek Walter, who is being held deep underground in an isolated concrete box inside a psych ward for a series of brutal kidnappings and murders. When one of his victims, a missing child of three years, resurfaces, and more disappearances and murders bearing Jurek’s MO kick back up, authorities have no choice but to revisit the past and confront Jurek. Are we dealing with a copycat, or is Jurek somehow escaping and committing these crimes? Maybe he has an accomplice on the outside, and if he does, how are they communicating?

Enter another master at portraying pent-up emotion: Liev Schreiber. He plays Jonah Lynn, an ex-soldier-turned-retired homicide detective struggling with his own personal demons. He was part of the team that helped put Jurek away, but the case and its effects troubled him so deeply, he retired and moved to a small Pennsylvania town for a quiet life. When this missing child resurfaces, Jonah is pulled back into the case to uncover the truth and, once again, come face-to-face with Jurek, who knows of a crippling secret Jonah is hiding. The tension between the two is thick, palpable, and utterly delicious.

Zazie Beetz is Saga Bauer, FBI agent and Jonah’s goddaughter. Her late father was Jonah’s former partner. This means the two have a personal interest in the case that also makes them vulnerable to Jurek’s vengeance, and this is where Nocturne’s mission comes into focus. With a new victim missing, they’re running out of time to find her before she turns up dead, so, while Jonah works to unravel the mystery taking place on the outside, Saga goes undercover as a psych patient in the prison to get close to Jurek. It’s a dangerous risk that’ll have you on the edge of your seat.

And this brings me to Rory Culkin. I love watching a Culkin in anything. There’s a delicate innocence they bring to a story, and Rory knocks his portrayal of psych ward nurse Karl clean out of the park… or in this case, through the concrete walls. He’s just a sweet, innocent fly caught in a deadly web of manipulation that forces him to grapple with his own morals. As viewers, we really can’t help but feel for his character, wanting to warn and rescue him, but we can’t. We’re stuck on the other side of the glass, watching as he’s drawn deeper into this web of madness.

There’s no doubt this plot is riveting, but what really ups the ante is Graham’s intoxicating performance. It’s impossible to look away when he’s onscreen, even if he’s just staring at the wall. Everything about his character, his actions, and his portrayal is so perfectly crafted, it makes your mouth water in anticipation of what’s coming next and how it will unfold. The lengths Jurek goes to manipulate others are shocking yet simple, adding a heightened layer of curiosity to his character. He is the epitome of pent-up emotion rooted in psychological control. I’m not sure there’s ever been a role that has allowed Graham to showcase his range of talent on this level before now. His performance is so impressive, in fact, it’s comparable to James McAvoy’s in Split: mind-boggling, authentic, heartfelt, and explosive.

Beetz, Schreiber, and Culkin also give stellar performances packed with tension and emotion. There are several moments during Saga’s undercover stint where her actions and reactions are flooring. This could be her best performance yet. And regarding Schreiber, his character arc is quite interesting. See, he quit on a promise to his late partner, and as this mystery methodically unfolds, we see just how that decision has affected him and his psyche, and how he continues to struggle with it. You think you know what’s driving our four main characters—Jurek, Jonah, Saga, and Karl—but deep down are triggers you never see coming. 

What sets Nocturne apart from other shows in the genre is exactly what gives life to its most psychologically unsettling aspect: Jurek’s weapon of choice. As a serial killer, his weapon isn’t tangible. He preys on hopelessness. For him, the best and most pleasurable way to strike is to use seemingly harmless methods disguised as empathy, helplessness, and concern to make someone feel so low and hopeless that they believe the only way to make their life better is to end it, and they do. What makes Jurek so dangerous, like Hannibal Lecter, is his ability to get into your head and manipulate feelings and situations. However, where Lecter preys on suppressed shame, guilt, and trauma, Jurek preys on innocence, empathy, sadness, and pity. It’s not his appearance or his manner of speaking that make him creepy. It’s his ability to appear gentle, broken, and sincere and evoke compassion from his victims.

While critics were only given the first seven episodes to screen, it’s my conclusion that Nocturne is a must-see, top-tier crime drama with zero hallmarks of a bad show. There are no distinct plot holes or boring distractions, no time spent on irrelevant characters and subplots, and no sub-par acting. By episode two, it’s crystal clear that what we’re dealing with here is an extremely rare serial killer thriller that reimagines the entire genre by displacing the threat. By episode seven, you realize Nocturne is artistic nourishment so delectable, you can’t stop yourself from gorging on it, nor do you want to.

The first two episodes of Nocturne will be available to watch globally on Apple TV on October 30, 2026. The remaining episodes will be released weekly, with the finale on December 25.

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