Amazon Prime's 'German Crime Story: Gefesselt' dramatizes one of Germany's most horrifying crimes: the Hamburg murders, where Torsten O. killed at least two men between 1996 and 1997, dismembered their bodies, and dissolved them in sulfuric acid. The six-episode miniseries follows fictional criminal investigator Nela Langenbeck (Mina Tander) as she hunts serial killer Raik Dörmann, portrayed by Oliver Masucci.
Oliver Masucci's disturbing performance
Oliver Masucci, known from 'Dark' and 'Look Who's Back', delivers the killer with a chilling blend of ordinariness and cold brutality. Critics praised his "nuanced and disturbing" performance for portraying the murderer with icy precision, while Mina Tander as the investigating police assistant was celebrated for her "intense realism."
The series transcends typical sensationalist true crime fare. Under director Max Zenk, the production deliberately avoids tabloid-style dramatization. The script by Philipp Kinsky von Beyer and Martin Eigler focuses on thorough investigative techniques and the psychological depths of the case. Hamburg Police's first official collaboration with a true crime series made this approach possible.
The series achieved 7.4 out of 10 on IMDb and 85 percent audience approval on Rotten Tomatoes.
The real killer and his victims
The actual perpetrator, Torsten O., born 1967, lured his victims to his Hamburg apartment in 1996-1997. He strangled them, dismembered their bodies with a chainsaw, and submerged body parts in 200-liter barrels filled with sulfuric acid. Police identified at least two victims, including 32-year-old Holger H.
Body remains were discovered in November 1997 on an allotment garden plot in Hamburg-Wilhelmsburg. Investigators cracked the case through witness testimony and the discovery of a bloody saw blade. A third barrel was suspected but never found. Police identified sexual domination behavior and robbery as the motives.
The Hamburg Regional Court sentenced Torsten O. to life imprisonment on December 15, 1999, for double murder under German criminal law § 211. The Federal Court of Justice confirmed the verdict in July 2000. The killer has remained imprisoned at Hamburg-Billwärder prison since, with no possibility of parole.
Why 'Gefesselt' sets new standards
'German Crime Story: Gefesselt' established itself as German true crime at the highest level, according to the newspaper 'Die Zeit' in October 2023. The series is characterized by several quality aspects: authentic reconstruction based on real investigative documents, respectful treatment of victims and their families, and avoidance of voyeurism.
Hamburg's police director Dr. Ralf Martin Meyer emphasized: "The series is based on real investigations, respects the victims, and provides insight into police work."
With over 5,000 reviews on IMDb and an 80 percent critic score on Rotten Tomatoes, the production established itself as the first German serial killer documentation at an international level. Critics particularly highlighted the balance between suspense and ethical responsibility.
The six episodes of 45-55 minutes offer deep insight into the work of Hamburg's murder commission and demonstrate how persistence and forensic expertise led to the conviction of a man who believed he had found the perfect method to hide his crimes.
