Nocturne Review: Liev Schreiber and Stephen Graham’s New Apple TV Thriller Has One Big Problem

Apple TV is returning to the serial-killer thriller genre with Nocturne, a psychological crime drama featuring Liev Schreiber, Stephen Graham and Zazie Beetz. Despite its impressive cast and unsettling premise, the series struggles to deliver something genuinely fresh, relying heavily on familiar crime-drama conventions instead of creating its own identity.

Premiering on October 30, 2026, the 10-episode series comes from creator Rowan Joffé and is based on The Sandman, the Swedish crime novel by Lars Kepler. The story follows a retired detective pulled back into a terrifying investigation involving a convicted murderer whose influence continues long after his arrest.

Stephen Graham’s Serial Killer Is Pure Nightmare Fuel

Graham plays Jurek Walter, a convicted murderer whose ability to manipulate people makes him exceptionally dangerous. Even while confined inside a psychiatric institution, Jurek maintains an unsettling psychological hold over those around him.

His character immediately invites comparisons with iconic fictional killers such as Hannibal Lecter. Jurek is calculating, persuasive, and capable of exploiting emotional vulnerabilities, making him a disturbing presence even when he is physically restrained.

The series builds much of its tension around whether anyone can truly contain a criminal whose greatest weapon is psychological manipulation.

However, the problem is that the character’s familiarity becomes difficult to ignore. Rather than developing a particularly distinctive antagonist, Nocturne often feels content to revisit characteristics audiences have already encountered in numerous serial-killer productions.

Liev Schreiber Returns as a Haunted Detective

Schreiber plays Jonah, a former Philadelphia police detective whose past is closely connected to Jurek’s imprisonment. Although retired, Jonah is drawn back into the investigation after a child, Michael, is discovered alive following years of disappearances and suspected murders.

Michael’s reappearance raises urgent questions about another missing victim, his older sister Felicia. Fairhaven’s police chief, Ellison, turns to federal investigators, but Jonah quickly becomes central to the renewed hunt.

The detective is portrayed as a deeply traumatized figure carrying the weight of personal tragedies, including the deaths of his wife, child, and former partner.

Schreiber delivers a dependable performance, giving Jonah the weary intensity expected of a detective who has spent years battling his own memories. However, the character carries so many familiar tragic-hero traits that he rarely feels original.

Zazie Beetz Emerges as the Standout Performer

While Schreiber and Graham get much of the attention, Zazie Beetz delivers the series’ most compelling performance.

She plays Saga, an FBI agent and Jonah’s goddaughter who takes on a dangerous undercover assignment inside the psychiatric facility where Jurek is held.

Saga brings intelligence, emotional complexity, and a more unpredictable energy to the investigation. Unlike some other characters, she can surprise viewers with her decisions and reactions.

Bill Camp and Poorna Jagannathan also contribute as police chief Ellison and FBI agent Quinn, respectively, although their characters receive comparatively limited development.

Is Nocturne Worth Watching?

Visually, Nocturne delivers the polished production associated with Apple TV dramas. Director Tim Van Patten handles the opening episodes, using atmospheric locations and contrasting environments to establish an appropriately unsettling mood.

The narrative includes disturbing discoveries, mysterious symbols, psychological games, and several revelations designed to keep viewers guessing. Some twists work well, though others fall flat on closer inspection.

Ultimately, Nocturne is watchable but rarely gripping. Its performances, particularly from Beetz and Graham, give you enough reason to keep watching, but the overall experience feels too familiar.

Fans of serial-killer mysteries may find an entertaining addition to their watchlist. Viewers expecting something as distinctive as Mare of Easttown, Black Bird or The Silence of the Lambs, however, may leave disappointed.

Nocturne has the ingredients of an excellent thriller. Its biggest failure is that it rarely does anything unexpected with them.