Devil in Disguise: John Wayne Gacy

When a teenage boy disappears, investigators uncover a pattern of missing young men and boys that points to one suspect, John Wayne Gacy. The series tracks the unraveling of a small Midwestern community as detectives piece together fragments of evidence, families push for answers, and prosecutors prepare for a case that will test the limits of the legal system. Scenes shift between investigative rooms, courtroom strategy, and intimate moments with victims' loved ones, keeping the focus on the human cost rather than sensational details. The show avoids revealing outcomes ahead of time, instead showing the slow accumulation of facts and the toll that obsession with a single suspect takes on everyone involved.

Created by Patrick Macmanus and released in 2025, the series features Michael Chernus as John Wayne Gacy, with Gabriel Luna, James Badge Dale, Michael Angarano, and Chris Sullivan among the principal cast. It was developed for television with an emphasis on procedural detail and character work.

As of its initial release, the series had not received major award nominations or wins, though reviewers singled out Chernus's performance for attention and discussion in early reviews.

The show reignited public conversation about true crime drama and ethics, prompting debates on social media and in podcasts about how to depict real victims and the responsibilities of storytellers. Some viewers praised the restraint in presentation, while others questioned the focus on an infamous killer versus the people harmed.

Critical response has been mixed to positive, reflected in a 7.2/10 average from 47 votes. Reviewers generally praised the acting and procedural realism, while critiques centered on pacing and the challenge of dramatizing recent historical crimes. The series repeatedly returns to themes of institutional failure, the persistence of memory, and the impact of obsession on investigators and families, asking viewers to consider the balance between justice and spectacle.