Criminal Minds (TV Series) Natural Born Killer (2005) User Reviews

Torture has rarely been scarier

[TheLittleSongbird · 9/10 · 19 September 2016]

'Criminal Minds' when good or at its best makes for compulsive viewing, and one of the few shows today not missed without fail. Season 1 did become inconsistent after "The Fox", but, while there were a few dull and routine episodes between that and "Riding the Lightning", "What Fresh Hell" and "Natural Born Killer" were very good.

The only thing that seemed a little off about "Natural Born Killer" was the very odd talk about optics that will leave some scratching their heads. To a lesser extent, Morgan also seemed to find the gun a little too easily, doesn't one think? However, there are some great character moments, like the fight with Hotch, the rapport between Garcia, Reid and Elle (Garcia has some smart and hilarious lines and this is one of not many episodes that didn't leave me cold towards Elle) and the scenes between Hotch and the unsub.

As for the torture, it is harrowing and genuinely scary here and not in a way that feels gratuitous (if anything it added to the already creepiness of the atmosphere), if anybody hates rats they are guaranteed to hate them even more. The unsub is one of the season's, and show's most interesting and chilling, amazingly played by Patrick Kilpatrick with a stare that will give even those with strong stomachs and not easily terrified the heebie-jeebies.

"Natural Born Killer" is one of the season's most stylish, darkest, grittiest and atmospheric visually, and the music is haunting. The writing is strong, with some of the best use of profiling in 'Criminal Minds' history, and the story is riveting and filled with genuine horror, tension and suspense. The regular acting is very good across the board, especially Thomas Gibson, but Kilpatrick gets the acting honours here.

In conclusion, a riveting episode with torture that has rarely been scarier or more effective and profiling that the later seasons (especially Season 11) should have taken notes from. 9/10 Bethany Cox

Patrick Kilpatrick...

[improvizatori · 7/10 · 8 November 2019]

Just wanted to get on here to say that he played this character terrifically in my opinion. My favorite thing about this episode.

A Brutal And Riveting Episode Of An Incredibly-Sick Killer

[ccthemovieman-1 · 10/10 · 6 January 2007]

This is a particularly gruesome, sordid story of an extreme psychopath who has killed perhaps as many as 100 people over the years, not just killing them but torturing many in the process. The bloody and sadistic scenes of past crimes are so bad even some of the BAU can barely look at the photos.

Now, after the last killing, the murderer has an undercover cop - a good guy - in his hold and is torturing him for information. Can the BAU, and other law enforcement officials find this beast before the undercover policeman is killed?

To say this an intense story is an understatement. It is an outstanding episode that has you on the edge of your seat squirming all the way.

Opening Pandora's Box ?

[enchantmentsllc · 10/10 · 5 March 2019]

I have seen this episode many times. Yet, I just noticed the ending when Aaron opens the little box, seemingly with no tie to the storyline but the sound the dramatic music score reminded me of opening Pandora's box. Then one thinks of future episodes. . . Hmmmmm

Could have been better

[lottiemarshalllm · 6/10 · 29 July 2020]

Disclaimer:I am no expert reviewer, I just need a show to binge watch and I'm going to Write a review for every episode I watch.

All I can say is that this episode is fine. It's definitely one of the most boring episodes I've watched so far.

I think they try to make it much more dramatic by saying that he has over 100 victims but we only see him murder and torture for so it doesn't really have that much impact. I don't know I just thought it was kind of a weird way to go.

Something else that really annoyed me was that the cop from Baltimore that knew he was working undercover Acted so unprofessional during the interrogation. You're telling me that Morgan and Hodge both outside of the interrogation room and they somehow let that police officer burst in and ruin whatever they had started.

Something I really did like about this episode was that the professional killer got tripped up because he had to kill a woman for the first time I really like that aspect of his profile and how hodge was able to use it to his advantage.

Also the rats made me want to throw up.

42 Minutes Of Meh

[nebohr · 23 November 2021]

There is a 1.9% chance that monkeyface Gideon will show a human emotion this episode.

At 02:24- the neighbor is looking at her bloody hand so there is no way she could give a description of the man as he runs past.

At 03:08- Gideon says that eyewitness accounts are notoriously unreliable.

At 04:23- there is blood pooled in the shower but none pooled in the tub. Gideon says that from the looks of the ring in the tub whoever was in it lost their entire blood volume. Reid quotes 10.6 pints. The ring corresponds to a liquid volume closer to fifteen gallons.

At 13:30- the mug shot looks nothing at all like the police sketch.

At 13:48- Hotch says no one lives in the apartment without even bothering to look around.

At 14:28- Derek zooms in on a slight imperfection in the kitchen wall of the ratty apartment, punches a hole with his hand and says we got a hot weapon before even unwrapping it. Then, of course, handles both the gun and the magazine while ungloved.

A very disappointing episode with multiple plotholes

[ericwilsonworldwarii · 1/10 · 26 February 2021]

1. In the beginning of the episode, we see Jimmy running out of the house with blood on his hands; but later on, we're told that it's the hitman, Vincent Perotta, who killed the people in the house. Why was Jimmy in the house, and why did he run away?

2. Francesco Quinn, who plays the mob boss Russo, is such a terrible actor. The scenes with Hotch and Morgan are just pure cringe- why did does the mob boss collaborate with the FBI, when Morgan himself tells him that it'll look bad to be talking with the authorities? Did he know of the planned capture of Vincent Perrotta, and did he end up meeting with his hitman before the capture?

3. Was Vincent Perotta's mother dead? If so, how was he able to own the house in her name, while she was already dead?

Just overall a poorly written episode. Gaping holes in the storyline, and other than a decently interesting unsub, the acting in this episode was terrible. Definitely the worst episode in a rather great season.