Nocturne Reviews: What Critics Are Saying About Stephen Graham’s New Crime Thriller
The 10-episode series follows an imprisoned serial killer who appears to control events from a psychiatric hospital as investigators search for a missing girl.
- Apple TV+ debuted the 10-episode crime thriller Nocturne on Friday, October 30, 2026, featuring Stephen Graham as Jurek Walter, a manipulative serial killer locked in a high-security psychiatric hospital.
- Adapted from a novel by Lars Kepler, the story relocates from Stockholm to small-town Pennsylvania; when a missing boy appears unexpectedly, Sheriff Ellison suspects Walter is involved, raising concerns about his still-missing sister, Felicia.
- Former homicide detective Jonah Lynn, played by Liev Schreiber, returns to investigate Walter's influence, while FBI Agent Saga Bauer, portrayed by Zazie Beetz, goes undercover at the hospital to gather intelligence on the killer's network.
- Critics are divided on the series, with some comparing the premise to "Mare Of Easttown meets Silence Of The Lambs with shades of Prison Break," while others praise Graham's chilling performance despite criticizing the convoluted plotting.
- The 10-episode thriller utilizes high production values to construct its puzzle, though reviewers note the mystery can feel hollow; Nocturne explores themes of grief and parenthood, transcending standard crime-drama tropes.
11 Articles
11 Articles
In the Apple series "Nocturne" a privately drawn cop is on the trail of a psychopathic killer. He is sitting in the psychiatry, but is also incredibly dangerous there.
Sydney Morning Herald
This new slow-burn crime thriller is Stephen Graham's victory lap
Deputy TV editor Meg Watson shares her pick for what to watch this week.
The Independent
The Independent (US)Nocturne reviews: What critics are saying about Stephen Graham’s new crime thriller
Stephen Graham has been praised for his chilling performance as a manipulative serial killer in the new Apple TV thriller, although critics are divided over the show’s convoluted plot and familiar crime-drama tropes
Nocturne, the new psychological thriller to episodes of Apple TV, enjoys the legend of Liverpool Stephen Graham, here more monstrous (and magnetic) than ever
Nocturne Review on X: Stephen Graham’s Terrifying Performance Has Viewers Intrigued, But Not Everyone Seems Sold on Apple TV’s New Crime Thriller
Nocturne has released its first two episodes, and the viewers on X are sharing mixed feelings about the Stephen Graham and Zazie Beetz new crime thriller over performance and writing.
Coverage Details
Bias Distribution
- 75% of the sources lean Left
Factuality
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