User reviews

I loved the trailers and my mom recommend which is fair since we tend to enjoy crime/dramas this is a phenomenal one! Black Bird keeps you intrigued from beginning to end of each episode. It's well filmed, exceptional cast, awesome music, and the story hits the spot all around. Paul Walter Hauser is great in any role I love how he's considered a sick puppy in this! I can't believe there's only 6 episodes I love everything about it.

This is an intelligent and interesting story that is added to by the fact that it's based on real events.

The lead cast is excellent, but Paul Walter Hauser's portrayal of Larry is absolutely stunning. His mannerisms, voice and dialogue are truly amazing. I don't think I have seen many actors emitting so much evil in a performance.

It's a big thumbs up from me.

Who is Paul Walter Hauser that I haven't heard of until this series?! Why haven't we heard anything about this formidable actor totally getting mixed up with psycho Larry?! It's extremely hard to decide what I like best about this series?! A "dark" series and even more so because I also see the last role of the late Ray Liotta. Since the first "True Detective" series, I haven't seen a series that deals so well with a very controversial subject anyway. Biopics about Ted Bundy, Ed Gein or Dahmer have been attempted, but this is by far the most complex. The ending of episode five is absolutely incredible and leaves a lot of questions open.

All around phenomenal. Acting, pacing, direction are all on point. Even though Jimmy and Larry haven't had any scenes together yet, the suspense of what's to come is already there.

Paul Walter Hauser really is a phenomenal actor. This might be Taron Egerton's best role yet outside of Rocketman.

I had never heard of these events so I went into it completely in the dark and absolutely loved the first two episodes.

Looking forward to the rest of the series for sure.

Only 2 episodes in and I'm so hooked. The 2 lead male actors are enough to carry you through even if you hate everything else about it. The story feels like a prison drama done right. It ain't a new narrative, but the acting + good writing makes it work. Give it a go.

Everyone already talked about how wonderfully made the film is. What I find mostly intriguing is Larry's complex character played by the genius Hauser. A chilling, terrifying villain that you somehow sympathize with at times. The brilliance of creating a character of opposites, violent and vulnerable sides.. which is very real and close to human nature..

Egerton is amazing as well with his effortless and strong acting.

The story keeps you wondering what would you do or choose to do if you were in his position.

It took me a few weeks to get myself to watch this series, but the reviews helped me decide to do it. And I am so glad I did - for a couple of reasons.

This is an amazing and equally difficult series to watch given the true story it tells. Nothing is pretty. Nothing is smooth.

HOWEVER! Even if you don't like the story or the facts, it is worth watching for several reasons - all of them actors. First and foremost (Forgive me, Ray Liotta) - Paul Walter Hauser is scary brilliant as Larry Hall. He brought to life a monster I promise you will never forget. He builds layers week by week by week. It's the same with Taron Egerton as Jimmy.

Ray Liotta as the dad. Well. It's Ray Liotta, isn't it? Perfection from his first appearance on the screen, as always. This was a good way for him leave.

The story is even scarier given that it's true.

Do watch it - even it's uncomfortable (and it is). You'll be rewarded with some of the best acting you've been privy to in a long time.

His performance deserves an award!! The way he emotes using his face and convinces you that he is the character is incredible.

After this performance, everyone will know about Paul and he will have many more roles available to him.

I can't count how many series my husband and I don't make through the first episode deciding the writing, acting, or premise, or all 3, are just terrible. Blackbird had us hooked at 10 minutes in.

People describe this series as having bad dialogue and bad acting with unrealistic story lines. I imagine these are the same people who think Walt Whitman and T. S. Eliot aren't poets because they don't rhyme. This series exemplifies character development and is sharply written. This is expertly casted and Paul Walker Houser's acting is beyond words. He is on par with Anthony Perkins for nailing the soft spoken, mild mannered yet infinitely creepy and deadly sociopath.

I haven't watched a series this well done in forever. I didn't have faith in Apple as The Morning Show I thought was regurgitated dribble and though Ted Lasso was feel good fun, it lacked depth. Blackbird will not disappoint. And for all those people who say the storyline is not believable, least I remind you, truth is stranger than fiction.

One of the best mini-series I've watched. The acting is beyond believable, nothing is over-the-top. Every part is played to perfection. We also get to see Ray Liotta, in one of his final roles, outdoing his Goodfellas performance, in my humble opinion.

After two I am enjoying this limited series so much. The acting all around is fantastic and the pacing is smooth and some kind of wonderful. The characters and plot are well developed and I truly look forward to the next episode. Hats off to the director.

The two top reasons I thought this was so good are: 1 - The acting. Paul Walter Hauser was so good! He was so creepy, like real life subtle creepy, just amazing. The way he goes into almost like a trance, the way he talks, the smooth transition from seeming almost normal to creepy and just everything about him, he is so good. And Taron Egerton, you can see him holding back his real emotions until they come out when he's alone, you can see in his face that he's saying disgusting things he doesn't want to say but has to say to "get in" with Larry. You can see those emotions in his face. Also amazing! Rest of the cast is excellent too.

2 - The respect shown for the victims. They don't show any of the crimes, we don't have to watch the victims suffering which in my opinion is unnecessary and can sometimes feel gratuitous. And when they do allude to the crimes, the score portrays the deep sadness. Not some "ooh it's creepy" music but real tragedy. There are other ways the victims are respected but I don't want to say too much and give things away and take away from the story. But let's just say that we are shown a little bit about how society could do better in general. It's not just the serial killer who is analyzed.

In addition, the show just keeps you on the edge of your seat waiting to see how it all unfolds. Excellent story telling and in only 6 episodes! We couldn't stop watching. It's very disturbing of course but there's the hope for justice at least that keeps you watching.

One of the best dramas of late. Gripping and tense with an excellent script and stirring soundtrack. Knowing the series was based on a true story made it even more compelling. Hope Taron Egerton and Paul Walter Hauser win awards for their fine performances. Greg Kinnear top notch too. Ray Liotta's last performance as fine as it was moving .

Anyone who reviews this less than an 8/10 has 0 taste in cinema and would rather watch a Fast and the Furious movie. Masterfully directed and acted. Performances across the board are top tier. Taron is one of the most underrated actors of modern film, I know that he won an award for Rocket Man but I feel like he is rarely talked about in the media as one of the greats and I think he should be. Paul WH puts on a master class with his evil role. Tense and gripping, emotionally gut wrenching, this is such a great piece of work. Limited series really are the way to go. I can't tell you the last time I put my phone down and actually paid attention to a show.

Each episode is a treat. Taron is dazzling and well-cast as always and Hauser is brilliant... as always. Loved the overall direction of the first episode particularly. I rarely give reviews but I feel this show's gotten thrown by the wayside as most true story-type mini's do. Give it a shot.

It's been a long time since I've been so simultanously horrified and impressed with anything on tv. The story is brilliant, the acting top notch and I absolutely dislike the fact that I have to wait a whole week for the next episode. Larry Hall gives me the creeps for sure!

STAR RATING: ***** Brilliant **** Very Good *** Okay ** Poor * Awful

It's the early 90's, and Jimmy Keene (Taron Egerton) is a high flying drug dealer, revelling in a girls and guns lifestyle while raking in the cash. But it all comes crashing down when the FBI raid his home, and he finds himself handed a lengthy custodial sentence in a federal prison, with only his regretful crooked cop dad, Big Jim (Ray Liotta) to visit him. But he finds himself handed a lifeline, when the FBI once again approach him, and offer him a reduced sentence, if he infiltrates another prison and befriends suspected serial killer, Larry Hall (Paul Walter Hauser) in order to illicit a confession and derail his appeal. Accepting the case, he finds himself plunged into a dark and dangerous world, facing evil he can't believe.

With nothing seemingly anything these days unless it's on one of the 'streaming services', Apple TV was one I had for a while that I didn't get the most out of, and so I cancelled it, but reinstated my subscription in order to see this several part crime thriller, that turned out to be based on a true life story. Opening like a standard gangster thriller, but evolving fairly quickly in to a dark serial killer story, with a teleplay from none other than the excellent Dennis Lahane, it has a reliable air of uneasiness to it, that sucks you in from the first episode to the last, with a solid cast to help pull it all off.

In the lead role, current hot property Egerton has an assured presence, and is naturally convincing as the bad boy who can handle himself, but it's co star Walter Hauser who really steals the show, as a seemingly childlike creature, with a soft, whiny voice (that is sadly ripe for parody), carrying himself with a pathetic aura that is probably true of most such criminals that gives him an air of believability that gives his performance extra appeal. But second prize must go posthumously to the brilliant Liotta, in what would appear to be his final role, genuinely alive with an air of electric intensity in this supporting role, that is reminiscent of the more prominent early roles where he established himself, a sad reminder of the great talent we have lost. The remaining supporting cast, including the likes of Greg Kinnear, add to the overall quality.

It's an unsettling, uneasy tale, all the more so because it's true, but it's assuredly carried off by a solid cast of performers, and a first rate teleplay from a master of his craft, leading to a rousing finished product. *****

6 episodes in and looking forward eagerly to know what and how and who...... Characters are superb, I'm getting real chills from Larry, the suspected killer, excellently played by the actor. Tension is perfectly building up with Jamie being in the prison not knowing if / when it will just spill over. Detectives are also great but I'm missing more support for Jimmy, I mean should someone in Jimmy's situation really expect such low amount of support from the agents, helping their case and being put amongst sociopaths? That's just sad.

It's important to understand that these types of reality exist. I am captivated by all the characters. They have nailed this story and kept me waiting for every new episode. Although it's hard to believe at times that Larry hall is actually extremely intelligent, he suffers from alot of pain and loneliness which evolved into a scary individual capable of horrible things. This also reminds me how important our men in blue are. Without them there would be a lot more killers walking the streets! Paul Walter Hauser and Taron Egerton deserve a round of applause for the work they have done together on this show. You can't get better than black bird people. Watch and enjoy!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Ray Liotta died last year, while this miniseries was running, in fact. I finally got around to watching it. What a story. Having never heard of Larry Hall before watching it made "Black Bird" all the more gripping. Like Dennis Lehane's "Mystic River" (turned into a movie by Clint Eastwood), it's about the evil that people can do.

All in all, this is one of the best - and most intense - miniseries that I've seen. Apple TV has given us some amazing work with this, along with "For All Mankind", "Severance" and "The Last Days of Ptolemy Grey". Definitely a fine end to Ray Liotta's career, with excellent performances also from Taron Egerton, Paul Walter Hauser, Sepideh Moafi and Greg Kinnear.

Wow AMAZING!

Brilliant acting I was gripped throughout. The actors who played Jimmy and Larry were just outstanding I can't remember the last thing I've watched where the acting was this good. The actor who played Larry was so good at turning the switch and showing when Larry was being weird it's like you could see it come from his eyes first. Honestly outstanding by all involved.

I wish there were more episodes but also feel that it was closed of nicely. I wish it hadn't taken me so long to watch this but happy I did watch it in the end.

Heartbreaking that this was a true story and what a guy Jimmy was.

Never expected to be logging this as it's actually a mini-series, but I was utterly captivated, and even enamoured, by this show. Not even for one second does it get boring for me. Taron Egerton is an unbelievably excellent lead, he genuinely shocked me with his showing here, he evokes so much emotion out of us. But even his performance is topped by the astonishing Paul Walter Hauser, who plays the repulsive rapist to perfection. For his acting alone, this is worth the watch. Both wholeheartedly deserve Emmys, and I'm glad they've at least been recognised with nominations. I so hope they both win, for I cannot stress just how formidable their performances were. As for the story, I mainly just remember what happened in the last two episodes, as they were so engrossing that I couldn't take my eyes off the screen for a second, as I was literally on the edge of my seat! Episode 5 is my favourite, as it is extraordinarily emotional. Hall (Paul Walter Hauser) describes in horrifying detail what he did to one of his victims, and even just thinking about it now makes me so angry yet melancholy at the same time, especially considering that this is sadly based on a terrible true story. And this feeling is intensified by Keene's (Taron Egerton) reaction to this gut-wrenching anecdote, whose reaction is exactly the same as ours, only at a more extreme level. It's such a harrowing scene, and there are many many scenes that you could pick out that are simply exceptional. It's a masterpiece of a series, and I recommend it to absolutely anybody who has Apple TV+. If I were you, I wouldn't want to miss out on this. Heck, I wish I could forget it all just so I can watch it all over again, that's how much I loved it.

"Black Bird" starts off as any run-of-the-mill drug bust, tainting the life of a privileged entitled white jock. Soon it becomes a very intense psychological exploration, thanks to the intricately delivered conversations, dark atmosphere, suspenseful soundtrack, fueled by top-notch performances by the two leads and strong supporting veteran actors. Egerton is very much well-deserving of a 2023 Emmy and Golden Globe Best Actor award here, however he faces fierce competition from his co-lead Paul Walter Hauser who literally embodies all of the physical and vocal nuances of a deranged individual. It rivals Anthony Hopkins' portrayal of Hannibal Lecter in my opinion. An all-around well-crafted show, "Black Bird" with its captivating six episodes will go down as one of the most memorable limited series to grace any streaming platform in recent history.