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Lunch » Tags » Movies » Reviews » Dexter: The First Season (2006)

Dexter: The First Season (2006)

1 rating: 5.0

DVD movie directed by Michael Cuesta and Tony Goldwyn

An interesting and original idea that's very skillfully executed, Showtime'sDexteris never less than watchable, often quite compelling, and sometimes thoroughly riveting. As the 12 episodes from the show's first season (packaged here in a four disc set) … see full wiki

Tags: Movies

Cast: Julie Benz, Michael C. Hall, James Remar, Erik King, Jennifer Carpenter

Director: Tony Goldwyn, Michael Cuesta

1 review about Dexter: The First Season (2006)

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A Serial Killer With Scruples?

Feb 20, 2008

by JanetBoyer
posted in Movie Hype

Rating:

Is it possible to create a drama where the audience sympathizes with a serial killer? By the time you finish watching Season 1, the answer crescendos to a resounding YES!

With theatrically trained Michael C. Hall as a blood-spatter forensic expert by day and a "taking out the trash" serial killer by night, this expertly cast nail-biter mixes quirky humor, relationship conflict and existential self-examination with atmospheric music, visual surprises and complex characters.

The result is a superb show that presents a colorful layering of moral dilemmas, office politics and human psychology into one helluva entertaining drama. (Want proof? My husband and I watched the entire first season of Dexter on DVD within a few nights!)

I knew there was quite a buzz surrounding Dexter and since I have an intrinsic fascination with "separate lives" serial killers (e.g. BTK), I was eager to view the series. When I saw that Deb Aquila was a casting director, the anticipation increased. (For those who don't know, Deb Aquila has an outstanding ability to cast actors, especially police dramas. FX's The Shield is but one example of her uncanny ability to pair the right actor with the perfect role.)

I'd rather not give you a run-down on each episode (which you could readily find elsewhere), but suffice to say that this mature-rated drama raises profound questions on one level while satisfying "entertain me!" cravings on another. What is family? Is killing ever moral? What is justice? Is blood thicker than water? Are humans more a product of genes or the environment? Do emotions define relationships?

You won't find much in the Bonus Features in Season 1 (unfortunately), but the cast bios were intriguing. (I wasn't familiar with ANY of the characters except recognizing "Debra Morgan" as the actress who played the central character in The Exorcism of Emily Rose). For example, the actor who plays Angel Batista was an NYPD cop before becoming an actor; he heads up a theater company with Oscar-winning actor Philip Seymour Hoffman.

Amidst the cloying heat and mambo music of Miami walks an "ethical" serial killer with a code taught by his adoptive cop father, Harry. With a remote and a stomach for blood, you can explore the twisted world of Dexter Morgan and company.

But don't say I didn't warn you if you end up dreaming of cunning, methodical serial killers...

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