User Reviews

The synopsis disrespects Elizabeth Short! It was a misconception that Beth Short was a prostitute. Why didn't the producers or writers of this show do basic research on that case?

No spoilers here but this is one of my favorite episodes of the show. Remember this is a fictitious resolution.

Very well written, acted & directed. It makes it a memorable episode.

Very, very highly recommended if you're a fan of the show.

Normally I don't review individual episodes of TV-series, but I had to make an exception for this. I am deeply fascinated by everything that even remotely has to do with the Black Dahlia murder, but it's not worth sitting through seven seasons of "Hunter" for.

For completion's sake, Black Dahlia is the nickname given to the unfortunate Elizabeth Short. She was a young girl brutally murdered in Hollywood, California, in January 1947. Her corpse was so barbarically mutilated that the case deployed a huge police investigation and massive media attention, but the culprit was never identified. And just because the vicious crime never got resolved, it remained - and remains - a source of inspiration for crime and horror movie (and metal music).

The plot of this "Hunter" episode is reasonably clever. During construction works in the area where Short's corpse was found, another skeleton is found, and it reveals the same barbaric mutilation rites as that of the Black Dahlia. Suddenly, and with four decades delay, it's a serial killer case and it ends up on Hunter & McCall's desks.

Okay, they resolve it very easily and make their 1940s colleagues look quite bad, but there's only 40-50 minutes of running time. The plot is good, and there are excellent supportive roles/guest appearances, like from Lawrence Tierney (as the cop who comes out of retirement to help resolved the one case he never could round up), Logan Ramsey, and Macon McCalman.