It was a game of cat and mouse that spanned years, across multiple countries, and is so shocking that it doesn’t even seem real – Charles Sobhraj was the evil that usually only exists in people’s nightmares. He was a master manipulator, a cunning genius, and a wolf in sheep’s clothing that had the innate ability to blend into any environment, with any group of people, in any situation necessary in order to advance his criminal activities. His story sounds like the plot of a Stephen King book, but with one caveat: it’s real. The height of his criminality is told in The Serpent.
In truth, Sobhraj was a ‘serpent’. His skill as an elusive orchestrater helped him evade justice for years before he was finally punished for his atrocities. Known for being handsome, charming, and having an alluring personality, Charles Sobhrai is infamous for having befriended wester travellers in order to drug them, steal their money and passports, and eventually, murder them. His outward appearance and the way he carried himself gave his victims a false perception of him that smelled of high society and sophistication. If not for Dutch Embassy representative Herman Knippenberg and his empathetic obsession of ascertaining justice for the victims, it’s likely that Charles Sobhraj would have continued his murderous method so as to further fund his extravagant lifestyle.
The Serpent an entertaining yet impactful series that will serve as a reminder of the darkness that walks amongst the masses in plain sight.
The Serpent is a limited series that is more fitting of telling this story than a film would be. As there are so many ideas the series aims to display, it’s more effective to do so in the eight episodes they provide. Directors Hans Herbot and Tom Shankland expertly showcase stunning visuals of multiple countries, integrate rustic footage of Asia during the 1970s, and the tiniest details within their frames to keep things as specific as possible. The two actors that draw the most attention are Tahir Rahim and Billy Howe. Rahim was given the job of portraying the calculated serial killer. His best performance qualities are in that of his stillness, and the small idiosyncrasies he’s able to express by doing very little. Howe plays Knippenberg and is the polar opposite. His character cares, almost more than a person should about the victims. Howe is visibly driven by the objective of stopping the murderer in the hopes of preventing more bloodshed. Two men standing on different sides of morality make The Serpent an entertaining yet impactful series that will serve as a reminder of the darkness that walks amongst the masses in plain sight.
There are flaws in the production, as no show or movie is completely without them. Each episode jumps back and forth between time periods, making it harder to keep up if at any point one diverts attention elsewhere. Although, it should be relatively straightforward when watching without any distractions. Otherwise, be forewarned that this story is dark one but it is fascinating, and based on all available information, it is also fairly accurate. Check out this new limited drama on Netflix.
