"Last Call: When a Serial Killer Stalked Queer New York," streaming on Max.
I'm always interested in a true crime story, but this docu-series is so much more. Yes, in four artfully constructed episodes, "Last Call" tells the story of the murder and dismemberment of four gay men that happened in the NYC-Metro area in the early 90s; the panic in the community that ensued; and the multi-year investigation into finding the killer that followed.
But it also paints a much bigger picture of the homophobia and bias on the part of the NYPD and, to a lesser extent, other law enforcement entities that should have worked much harder and faster to solve the case – and would have, had the victims not been gay.
No spoilers here, and you're better off watching the entire series before googling whether the killer was ever caught. But a somber segment at the end points out that where we are now, politically and culturally, in 2023, is not much better than where we were then. And we might just be worse off.
