[imagesource: Harry Dempster/Hulton Archive/Getty Images]

Dennis Nilsen might not be a name you’re familiar with, but his five-year London killing spree is the stuff of nightmares.

Between 1978 and 1983, Nilsen killed, dismembered, and then buried or burned the bodies of at least 15 young men, after luring them to his flat.

Some bodies were found under the floorboards of his flat, or in his yard, and it wasn’t until his neighbours called a plumber due to clogged drains that he was brought to justice.

The plumber found human remains in the pipes, which Nilsen had flushed down the toilet due to limited space. He was arrested, and later confessed to 15 murders.

Nilsen’s motives have been speculated on for years, and now we have answers, thanks to Memories of a Murderer: The Nilsen Tapes.

This via the Netflix synopsis:

…with unique access to a wealth of personal archive left in his cell after his death, including over 250 hours of never-before-published cassette tapes of his private recordings, this film will take us into Nilsen’s world.

From a young boy growing up in a quiet Scottish fishing village to a cold-blooded murderer prowling the streets of London.

…weaving together interviews from police, journalists, survivors, bereaved families, and – for the first time – the killer’s own voice, this feature length documentary explores how Nilsen was able to get away with multiple murders and attacks, unchallenged, for five years.

Only eight of his victims have ever been identified, ranging in age from 14 through to 27.

Let’s see the trailer:

Nilsen was sentenced to life in prison, and served 34 years before dying in prison at the age of 72 in May 2018.

Memories of a Murderer: The Nilsen Tapes hit Netflix yesterday (August 18).

Once you’re done there, here are five Netflix classics to seek your teeth into.

[source:netflix]