In a TV landscape where most shows are either jumping on the Big Little Lies bandwagon or serving up yet another version of the apocalypse, Memory of a Killer stands out like a sore thumb — a silly, and at times ridiculous, offering that feels perfectly suited for a lazy Sunday afternoon watch.
You’ll likely guess every twist and turn long before they land… but somehow, by the time you reach episode eight, you’ll find yourself rooting for Angelo and his family to survive the vengeance of the so-called bogeyman — The Ferryman.
Having gone through every episode muttering “Why didn’t you return for Scream 7?” every time he appears on screen, the ever-reliable Patrick Dempsey carries this premise on his back.
Playing Angelo — a father to Maria (Odeya Rush), who is heavily pregnant — the pair are still haunted by the loss of their wife and mother a few years back. On the surface, Angelo sells printers — which means he’s constantly on the move, staying away overnight. Something Maria never really questions… and honestly, she probably should.
Because when Angelo leaves the family home, he’s not exactly heading off on business. He’s slipping into another life. A more polished apartment in another part of town…and eventually, into a fully equipped man-cave of weapons.
Angelo is a hitman — and a good one at that.
Working for a head honcho in the shape of Dutch, played by Michael Imperioli, he’s your typical TV gangster. Of course, he runs his own Italian restaurant — because where else would he be handing out names for Angelo’s next job? Much like Maria, he too is completely oblivious to the other life Angelo is leading. but of course being a ten episode new thriller, the two worlds are set to collide especially when you add another element to the plot.
Angelo is beginning to display the first stages of Alzheimer’s, a disease that affected his brother only a few years before. Also it seems that a mystery shadowy figure called The Ferryman has figured out the two lives he leads and so plots a revenge for something that Angelo will have to figure out why, but how can he battle all these threats when he can’t trust his own mind?
Based on the Belgian film De Zaak Alzheimer — which, if you recall, Liam Neeson did something similar with in 2022’s Memory — this feels like a TV thriller they just don’t really make anymore.
It’s nonsense. It’s clunky. And the dialogue doesn’t always land.
But somehow… it works.
There’s just enough here to grab your attention — whether it’s the sheer silliness of it all, or those last five minutes of each episode that always build into a cliffhanger strong enough to make you hit next episode.
This is proper binge-worthy TV junk food.
A premise you’ve seen countless times before — and done better — but the likeable cast, with Dempsey leading the way, delivers enough action and just enough thrills to let you overlook the painfully signposted twists.
You just sit back… switch off a few brain cells… and go with it.
It’s dumb. But when that finale hits — complete with the expected cliff-hanger —you’ll find yourself wishing Season 2 was already waiting.
All episodes of MEMORY OF A KILLER is now available on AMAZON PRIME.
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