THE VAULT

The Element of Crime (1984) Explained: Beyond the Blood

Scare Score: 7/100

The Premise

Fisher, an ex-detective, decides to take one final case when a mysterious serial killer claims the lives of several young girls. Fisher, unable to find the culprit, turns to Osbourne, a writer who was once respected for his contributions to the field of criminology. Fisher begins to use Osbourne's technique, which involves empathizing with serial killers; however, as the detective becomes increasingly engrossed in this method, things take a disturbing turn.

Why It Terrifies Us

Categorized under Neo-noir, Sci-Fi, Thriller, The Element of Crime taps into fundamental fears. The 7/100 Scare Score is well-earned. The themes of cairo, journey in the past, hypnosis continually haunt viewers long after the credits roll.

Into The Vault

Ready to dig deeper? The ScreamDesk Vault connects you to the architecture of fear.