Born Evil: The Serial Killer and the Savior – Review | ID / Max

BORN EVIL: THE SERIAL KILLER AND THE SAVIOR on Max is a new ID docuseries about a serial killer you may not know. Produced by director Michael Bay who also participates. Read our Born Evil: The Serial Killer and The Savior series review.

BORN EVIL: THE SERIAL KILLER AND THE SAVIOR has premiered on Max. With five episodes, this new ID / Max true crime docuseries covers a lot of ground. Director Michael Bay is producing in his first true-crime endeavor.

The focus is a serial killer, but not one of those many will know by name. In fact, you may not know about him at all. I didn’t. Once you see a few pictures, watch police interviews, and hear others speak of him, it’s obvious that he’s dangerous.

Continue reading our Born Evil: The Serial Killer and The Savior series review below. Find the first episodes on ID and Max from September 2, 2024.

Scarier than Fiction

As we’ve witnessed repeatedly, real life proves to be scarier than fiction. The phrase “Hadden Clark is the serial killer you’ve never heard of” is used in the marketing material, and I can understand why.

It seems like he should be listed right next to Bundy and Dahmer. However, there is still a little doubt about exactly what he has done. He hasn’t been convicted of more than two murders but appears to have in-depth knowledge of many more.

In Born Evil: The Serial Killer and the Savior, we get to know Hadden Clark through many interviews with people who know him. From his brother to people who just met him briefly, and – most importantly – his previous cellmate.

The information about many additional murders comes from Hadden Clark creating a bond with his cellmate. Or rather, he believes that his cellmate is actually Jesus Christ and wants to confess his sins to him.

Hence the title of The Serial Killer and the Savior.

A serial killing family

As we get the full story (or confessions) of Hadden Clark, it turns out the Born Evil docuseries isn’t just about Hadden Clark but rather the serial killing Clark family.

Across five episodes, we learn about the brutal murders that landed Hadden Clark in prison where he is serving a 60-year sentence. We also find out that he confesses to a myriad other people, he claims to have killed.

However, while listening to this, we should remember that he is a diagnosed paranoid schizophrenic, now 72 years old.

While there is clear proof of some things, Hadden Clark claims, I am always remembering Henry Lee Lucas.

If you’ve watched the Netflix docuseries The Confession Killer, then you’ll be familiar with how he confessed to over 600 murders. Not that he could have possibly committed them all, but he sure helped solve many cold cases that way.

Start watching Born Evil on Max or ID now

This new ID / Max true crime production was produced by acclaimed action movie director Michael Bay. And yes, he does also participate as he conducted several interviews over the phone with Hadden Clark.

This is Michael Bay’s first true-crime documentary series, but I can imagine it wouldn’t be the last.

While I definitely liked all the facts presented via access to Hadden Clark’s personal journals and illustrations – which seem to outline his crimes – it isn’t a production I enjoyed overall.

The people interviewed are fascinating and seem honest and direct. However, there is a touch of drama that they appear to highlight in unnecessary ways. In that sense, it reminded me of the Natalia Grace productions.

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To me, it’s just crazy to go for the overtly created drama (via dramatizations and fast cutting), when the story itself is chockful of drama and more than enough on its own.

The docuseries will premiere across three nights beginning on the first Monday of September. It’s out on ID and streaming on Max – release on the latter seems to be simultaneously internationally.

BORN EVIL: THE SERIAL KILLER AND THE SAVIOR premieres on ID and starts streaming on Max on September 2, 2024.