Nocturne Review: Stephen Graham Makes a Chilling Serial Killer Impossible to Ignore

A killer locked behind concrete walls should be out of reach. In Nocturne, Stephen Graham’s Jurek Walter still finds ways to unsettle people around him and that unnerving presence is already emerging as the series’ biggest talking point.

The 10-episode Apple TV psychological thriller brings together Graham, Liev Schreiber and Zazie Beetz in a missing-children investigation that grows into a tense contest of control and suspicion. Early reviews have singled out Graham’s restrained, disturbing performance as a major strength, even as they note that the show’s slow pace and winding mysteries may test some viewers’ patience.

What is Nocturne about?

The story centres on Jurek Walter, a serial killer serving time in a psychiatric hospital. When a boy who disappeared years earlier turns up alive, the case reopens the search for his still-missing sister and draws retired detective Jonah Lynn back into an investigation that has haunted him.

Schreiber plays Jonah, while Beetz is FBI agent Saga Bauer, his surrogate daughter, who goes undercover at the hospital to get close to Walter. Graham’s character is already imprisoned, but the mystery is whether he is still directing events from inside.

Stephen Graham’s performance is the standout

Early critics have focused on the quiet menace Graham brings to Walter. Rather than relying only on loud outbursts, he plays the character as watchful and manipulative, making even small moments feel charged. The Guardian review describes him as a captivating presence, while NME also highlights his performance as a key reason to stay with the series.

The rest of the cast gives the investigation its emotional stakes. Schreiber’s Jonah is pulled back toward a painful case, while Beetz’s Saga takes the most direct risk by entering Walter’s world undercover. Rory Culkin, Bill Camp and Chrissy Metz are also among the ensemble cast.

Is Nocturne worth watching?

The early critical response points to a thriller with a strong central performance and a mystery designed to unfold gradually. That slow-burn approach can build suspense, especially as the story asks how much influence Walter can exert from behind locked doors.

There are caveats: reviewers have described parts of the plot as convoluted or implausible, and some supporting characters may feel less developed than the central trio. So viewers looking for a fast, tightly streamlined crime story may find the series uneven. For fans of atmospheric psychological thrillers and of Graham’s work the performance and central cat-and-mouse setup may be the stronger draw.

🩸 Apple TV’s Nocturne could be the next great crime thriller. Inspired by Lars Kepler’s novel The Sandman, the series follows detectives racing against time to stop a string of mysterious crimes involving an imprisoned killer. Read the full review: https://t.co/5rnj6bQTzH https://t.co/lATc7Jr3HC

— Collider (@Collider) October 27, 2026

Nocturne release date and where to watch

Nocturne premieres globally on Apple TV on Friday, October 30, 2026, with its first two episodes. New episodes are scheduled to arrive weekly through December 25.