"Part of what makes "Devil in Disguise" so strong is how showrunner Patrick Macmanus put his limited series in conversation with other true crime shows. We see no murders and very few acts of violence. Timothy Jack McCoy, John Butkovich, Francis Wayne Alexander, Darrel Samson, Samuel Stapleton, Randall Reffett, Michael Bonnin, William Carroll, Jimmy Haakenson, Rick Johnston, William George Bundy, Kenneth Parker, Gregory Godzik, John Szyc, Jon Prestidge, Matthew Bowman,"
"The result is a haunting series that emphasizes the humanity of the victims and the loss they experienced to their loved ones and the world. These aren't people defined by their death, but instead, by their full, if short lives. These are boys who deserved better. The show is also very clear about who's at fault. Of course, primarily, it's John Wayne Gacy, played by a phenomenal Michael Chernus."
More than thirty young male victims are foregrounded, each named and shown as friends, sons, lovers, and boys finding their place in the world. Violent acts and murders are largely withheld from view, shifting attention to the victims' lives and the losses felt by families and communities. The narrative examines how ideals of masculinity and social trust enabled predation and delayed accountability. John Wayne Gacy appears as a chameleonic figure who performed for children, aided neighbors, and maintained a respectable public persona while committing horrific crimes. Michael Chernus captures Gacy's charm and menace, demonstrating how performance masked brutality.
Read at Roger Ebert
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