Apple TV's 'Nocturne' Is a Solid Crime Thriller That Could've Been Even Better | Review

Published Oct 27, 2026, 9:01 AM EDT Charlie Ridgely is a writer from Maryland, currently residing in Nashville, Tennessee. He may be new to Collider, but he's been writing, editing, conducting interviews, and podcasting around the industry for 10 years. From 2016 to the start of 2026, Charlie was a full time writer and critic at ComicBook.com. A lifelong movie fan, avid reader, and renowned (fictional) dungeon explorer/dragonslayer, Charlie is a jack-of-all-trades throughout the fandom multiverse and has covered everything under the sun. Dark, twisted crime dramas are a dime a dozen these days, especially on the small screen. Films like The Silence of the Lambs and Zodiac set the standard for these stories, while True Detective perfected the formula for television. Since HBO's landmark crime saga premiered, it feels like every network and streamer has tried desperately to hit the same high with its own thrillers (ironically, HBO has repeatedly been the closest). Many of these brooding, sometimes nightmarish detective stories have come along over the last 15 years or so, and most have failed to create any lasting legacy. Enter Nocturne, the new crime thriller from Apple TV, which appears poised to actually generate real buzz amongst viewers. Based on Lars Kepler's novel The Sandman, Nocturne is a Silence of the Lambs-inspired story of an imprisoned killer and a group of detectives racing against the clock as the crimes mysteriously continue. The series comes from Rowan Joffe and John Hlavin, and boasts an all-star ensemble led by Liev Schreiber, Zazie Beetz, Stephen Graham, Rory Culkin, and Bill Camp. Given the prestige of Apple TV dramas and its incredibly strong cast list, Nocturne seems like the dark thriller fans have been waiting for — but does it live up to its billing (and that phenomenal trailer)? 'Nocturne' Starts With a Great Idea Putting a spin on the fourth entry in Kepler's bestselling Joona Linna series, Nocturne moves the story of The Sandman from Stockholm, Sweden, to Western Pennsylvania, where former police detective Jonah Lynn (Schreiber) is several years removed from the capture of a terrifying serial killer and the death of his wife and daughter. A young brother and sister had also gone missing and were presumed victims of the notorious killer Jurek Walter (Graham). The quiet, still silently grieving town of Fairhaven, PA is thrown into a panic when the missing boy suddenly reappears, giving them hope that his sister and other missing persons might still be out there, but also dredging up a flood of old wounds. Then there are the questions surrounding Walter, who has been locked up in a maximum-security psychiatric ward since the kids disappeared, leading Jonah to suspect there is still an accomplice at large. The clock is ticking on what feels like a short window to find the missing girl, but Walter himself is the only person who might have real insight into her whereabouts. Jonah's protégé, FBI agent Saga Bauer (Beetz), goes deep undercover at Walter's facility, hoping to navigate his mind games and get information. As the search continues, more developments unfold, leading everyone in the town — especially those close to the case — to wonder if they've been overlooking the truth for years. There are plenty of changes to the original story, most of them effectively transforming the material to fit the rural Pennsylvania setting. It's a faithful adaptation in spirit, and it gets to the chilling heart of life in a small town. Throughout the seven episodes that were made available for review (out of 10), there are always new layers to peel back and secrets to uncover. Nocturne has a mystery box element that keeps you on your toes with each new episode, and the plotting over the course of the season is effectively paced. Even in the moments when there may be a little too much going on, or when the quality of the writing doesn't come close to what it's aiming to accomplish, the story itself holds, and you'll always want to see where it's going next. 'Nocturne' Struggles With Its Own Authenticity Image via Apple TV The most frustrating part of Nocturne is knowing that the meat of this tale is more than enough to sustain viewers, and that a level of simplicity to the production would allow that story to fulfill its potential. Very little is needed to make Nocturne feel authentic, but so much of the series feels wildly over-produced, to the point where it becomes difficult to connect with characters or situations on a deeper level. It's difficult not to compare Apple TV's new crime drama to True Detective — which had grit and authenticity not only in the story and writing, but in the filming that helped build the perfect tone and ambiance. Nocturne represents the other end of the spectrum. There's a polish over the entire thing, a sheen covering so many of the shots that it loses any sense of reality that the story's grounded nature demands. Everyone involved in Nocturne on a technical level appears to be genuinely good at what they do; it's just that there's almost too much happening at once, and the added layers of lighting, lenses, camera tricks, and blurred backgrounds feel disconnected from the grounded material. To some degree, the same can be said about much of the series' dialogue. There's so much work done to make these situations sound like what great TV shows should sound like that it loses touch with what real people actually do or say. 'Nocturne's Solid Cast Still Brings Their A-Game Observing a few actors, especially in Nocturne's early episodes, emphasizes that there's an awkward rhythm to manage. Those performances collectively improve as the season goes on — as does most of the writing — but even some members of the ensemble have trouble transforming weak dialogue into something effective. That said, the cast is too good to hold down, and they all bring their A-game at one point or another. For some, it just takes a little longer to settle in. Schreiber is obviously a solid, dependable lead, as we've come to expect from him over the years, but Bill Camp shines the brightest here, stealing each and every scene he's in. His Western PA accent is flawless (Schreiber and Chrissy Metz are solid too, for what it's worth), and he's easily the most grounded aspect of the entire production. Whether it's a dry joke about life in a small town or the tender care he shows for a neighbor, Camp's performance as Fairhaven's sheriff is oftentimes the North Star of Nocturne. Whenever things stray from the center, he carefully and confidently guides it all back home. Nocturne may not be as great as the trailer makes it seem, but it sets a significantly higher bar than many of its genre contemporaries on rival streamers. A deeply engaging and thought-provoking tale is bolstered by a fantastic cast, keeping it afloat when some of the production elements struggle with their identity. By the halfway point, things really start to fire on all cylinders, and Nocturne figures out how to leave a lasting impression. Nocturne premieres October 30 on Apple TV. Release Date October 29, 2026 Network Apple TV Showrunner John Hlavin, Rowan Joffe Directors Tim Van Patten, Logan Kibens, Allen Coulter, Joe Chappelle Writers Rowan Joffe, John Hlavin, Dorothy Fortenberry, Lee Edward Colston, Jenina Kibuka, Matthew Newman Cast Pros & Cons It's a dark, gripping detective story. All-star cast keeps your attention. Layers of mystery will keep you guessing until the end. Head-scratching production distances the story from reality. It takes a while for the story to really get going.