Hulu's New Show With 'Grey's Anatomy' Star Is a Must-See for Fans of Old-Fashioned Crime Thrillers
It's a restrained and thoughtful thriller that relies on the psychological portrait of its main character and an increasing sense of hopelessness.
The new Hulu series Memory of a Killer, starring Patrick Dempsey, offers viewers a focused story about a killer facing his most insidious enemy, his own memory, rather than a race of special effects.
Fans of old-fashioned, character-driven detective dramas may be pleasantly surprised by this project.
What Is 'Memory of a Killer' About?
Angelo is a professional assassin who has led a double life for decades. To his family, he is a devoted husband and father still reeling from the death of his wife. In the criminal underworld, he's a cold-blooded and effective mercenary.
These two worlds collide when Angelo's pregnant daughter becomes the victim of an attempted murder, and he discovers that his wife's death was no accident.
To protect his remaining loved ones, Angelo is forced to declare war on his bosses. His progressive Alzheimer's disease, which is increasingly depriving him of clarity of mind, is the main obstacle in this mission.
Hulu's Series Is Not the First Adaptation of the Original Source by Jef Geeraerts
The plot is based on the best-selling novel The Alzheimer Case by Belgian author Jef Geeraerts, which has repeatedly attracted filmmakers.
A Belgian trilogy beginning with The Alzheimer Case was released in 2003, and a Hollywood adaptation titled Memory starring Liam Neeson was released in 2022.
However, the Hulu show deviates from the source material. While previous adaptations featured a loner, Angelo in the series is a deeply traumatized but loving father and husband. This adds emotional depth to the story and makes his motivations more personal and relatable.
'Memory of a Killer' Is a Good Old-Fashioned Crime Thriller With a Twist: Main Character's Alzheimer's
Memory of a Killer doesn't overwhelm the viewers with unpredictable plot twists or cutting-edge aesthetics – it's a classic revenge story about protecting one's family.
The serial format allows for a detailed and gradual exploration of how illness undermines the once-perfect instrument of a professional killer: the mind and body. We see Angelo forgetting codes, getting lost in familiar places, and losing his memories.
Patrick Dempsey convincingly portrays this tragic transformation, balancing the composure of a professional with the desperation of a dying man.
What Did Critics & Viewers Think of 'Memory of a Killer'?
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Memory of a Killer has 45% from critics and 67% from viewers on Rotten Tomatoes.
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On IMDb, the series has a score of 7.0/10.
