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Killing Fields

2016–Ongoing3 seasons25 episodes~42 min/epTV-14Midcredits score: 73rd percentile of all shows

True-crime thriller that follows a team of homicide detectives as they open an 18-year-old cold case that occurred in one of America's notorious body-dumping grounds, the Louisiana swamplands.

Your rating, lists and review

Where to watch

Where can I watch Killing Fields?

As of October 24, 2026, MovieCove lists Killing Fields to rent or buy on Apple TV, and on no subscription service.

Rent / Buy

Buy

Highlights

What stands out about Killing Fields?

Killing Fields earns 4 badges, led by Crowd Pleaser and Preferred by Women.

  • Reception
  • Craft and mood

Reception

Is Killing Fields worth watching?

Killing Fields' Midcredits score is the 73rd percentile of all shows, from 938 ratings across 2 sources. 81% liked it (rated it 7 or higher out of 10).

Midcredits score

How well it was received

73rd percentile

Better received than 73% of shows

67th percentile among Action71st percentile among 2010s
Acclaim (how much people like it)68th
Approval (how many liked it)74th

Acclaim

Crowd Pleaser: Rating-distribution shape vs the catalog

How much people like it

74 /100

68th percentile of all shows

65th percentile among Action66th percentile among 2010s

Rating distribution

Most people land high, with a thin tail of low scores from those it didn't reach.

Approval

How many liked it

81% liked it

74th percentile of all shows

65th percentile among Action73rd percentile among 2010s
81% rated it 7–1019% rated it 1–6

Reach

How many have seen it

49th percentile

926 ratings across platforms

19th percentile among Action55th percentile among 2010s
TMDB popularity, last 39 days to Oct 28Up 36% in 30 days

What reviewers say

Common ground

The show provides a slow, methodical look at a real cold case investigation with strong emphasis on the lead detectives' personalities.

Fans praised

  • Real detectives with genuine passion for justice
  • Charismatic, flawed lead detective Rodie Sanchez
  • Authentic look at slow, real-world cold case investigation

Detractors panned

  • Extreme repetition of footage and content padded to fill runtime
  • Overly dramatic slow-motion shots and poor editing
  • Amateur production values and washed-up local talent

What stands out

CharactersDivisive70

Rodie Sanchez praised as compelling, flawed lead; detractors find him annoying

ActingDivisive65

Non-actors bring authenticity but detractors see amateurishness

AtmosphereDivisive60

Louisiana bayou setting praised for authenticity

Emotional impactDivisive60

Fans connect with detectives' commitment to victims; detractors unmoved

CinematographyDivisive50

Beautiful swamp imagery but overused slow-motion

TensionDivisive50

Real-time pacing builds suspense for fans; detractors find it tedious

Plot and storyDivisive40

Slow real-time progression fans find engaging but detractors see as padded

PacingDivisive25

Extreme repetition and dragging of minimal content

Preferred by

Women vs men

Preferred by Women

Women scored it 51 points higher than men.

US vs non-US

Preferred by US Viewers

US viewers scored it 50 points higher than non-US viewers.

Episodes

3 seasons

Season 3 · 2018 · 8 episodes

  • S3E1
    S3E1

    A Body in the Field

    Jan 4, 201840 min
  • S3E2
    S3E2

    Second Suspect

    Jan 11, 201840 min
  • S3E3
    S3E3

    Murder Isle: A Second Murder

    Jan 18, 201840 min
  • S3E4
    S3E4

    Murder Isle: Motive for Murder

    Jan 25, 201840 min
  • S3E5
    S3E5

    Murder Isle: The Confession

    Feb 1, 201840 min
  • S3E6
    S3E6

    Murder Isle: The Hunting Grounds

    Feb 8, 201840 min
  • S3E7
    S3E7

    Murder Isle: Killer Among Us

    Feb 15, 201840 min
  • S3E8
    S3E8

    Murder Isle: The Arrest

    Feb 22, 201840 minFinale

Watch experience

What is Killing Fields like to watch?

Conclusions only — categories and positions, no plot detail.

Earnest, dark and intense — a slow-burn watch that leaves you hopeful.

Setting

  • Contemporary
  • Realistic
  • Rural
  • Wilderness

How it leaves you

  • Hopeful
  • Haunting

Story

  • Mystery: A question drives the story — who did it, what happened, what is real — until it is answered.

What it asks of you

  • Slow burn
  • Engaged
  • Heavy
  • Resolved

Themes

  • Justice
  • Grief
  • Trauma

Style

  • Solemn: Grave and dignified; treats its subject with weight and respect.
  • Tender

Feelings

  • Tense
  • Melancholic
  • Dread
ToneFeelDemandexact position · filled zone: the category

What it asks of you

What it feels like

Heaviest: middle
Told as
Real time · under 1% of shows: Story time equals screen time — no time skips.SerializedOne continuous story
ToneThe series treats its subject with earnest gravity, never undercutting the real-life pain or procedural work.
The rideThe mood is consistently tense and melancholic as the investigation unfolds, with dread building through the middle seasons.
StructureThe show unfolds in real time as the investigation proceeds, with no narrative tricks or multiple timelines.
Episode formatThe series follows a single, continuous investigation across episodes and seasons, making it serialized.
Season formatEach season continues the same overarching case with the same core cast, forming a continuous serial.

How it leaves you

what you carry away
Why it leaves you this wayThe dedication of the investigators leaves viewers believing justice may still be won, but the unsolved elements linger.
How it ends · evidence
Ambiguous ending

Story archetype

where it sits among all shows
Monster — 18% of shows. A threat menaces the hero's world and must be defeated.Rags — 3% of shows. A rise from lowliness to fortune, status, or recognition.Quest — 6% of shows. A journey toward a defined objective, with companions and obstacles.Voyage — 2% of shows. Into a strange world and back again, changed.Comedy — 12% of shows. Confusion and cross-purposes resolved into harmony.Tragedy — 4% of shows. A flaw or fixation drives the protagonist to ruin.Rebirth — 7% of shows. A stalled or darkened life reopened and renewed.Mystery — 8% of shows. A question drives the story — who did it, what happened, what is real — until it is answered.No archetype — 40% of showsPredator — 7% of shows. A creature or killer hunts the protagonists (Jaws, Alien).Tyrant — 3% of shows. A human villain holds power over the hero's world (Die Hard).Invasion — 2% of shows. An external force attacks the home or world (Independence Day).Oppressive state — 3% of shows. A government, its agencies or a secret faction inside them is the monster (V for Vendetta).Corporate villainy — 1% of shows. A company or its bosses are the monster (Erin Brockovich).Institutional injustice — 1% of shows. A court, prison, police force, school or church is itself the enemy (Spotlight).Class system — under 1% of shows. The gap between rich and poor, or a rigid hierarchy, is the monster (Parasite).Technology turns — under 1% of shows. Technology people rely on becomes the threat (The Terminator).Inner demon — 1% of shows. The monster is within — addiction, illness, a dark double.Underdog triumph — 2% of shows. Rise through competition or contest (Rocky).Social ascent — 1% of shows. A climb in class or status (Pretty Woman).Fame and fortune — under 1% of shows. An artistic or showbiz rise (A Star Is Born).Rise and fall — under 1% of shows. Wealth or power gained, self lost (Scarface).Hidden worth revealed — under 1% of shows. The protagonist's true value finally recognized.Treasure hunt — 1% of shows. Retrieve an object of value (Raiders of the Lost Ark).Rescue — 2% of shows. Retrieve or save a person (Saving Private Ryan).Mission — 4% of shows. Accomplish or destroy a defined objective (Mission: Impossible).Journey home — under 1% of shows. The goal is getting back (Finding Nemo).Pilgrimage — under 1% of shows. The journey itself transforms; the destination is symbolic.Portal fantasy — under 1% of shows. Transported into another world (The Wizard of Oz).Fish out of water — 1% of shows. Displaced into an unfamiliar social world (Elf).Survival ordeal — under 1% of shows. Trapped in a hostile environment, fighting back (Cast Away).Time displacement — under 1% of shows. Unstuck in time (Back to the Future).Descent — under 1% of shows. A night-journey into an underworld or subculture (After Hours).Romantic comedy — 2% of shows. Lovers kept apart by confusion, united at last.Comedy of errors — 3% of shows. Mistaken identity or misunderstanding drives the plot.Farce — 2% of shows. Escalating absurd chaos and coincidence (The Hangover).Buddy comedy — 1% of shows. A mismatched pair forced together (Rush Hour).Comedy of manners — 2% of shows. Social codes and class satirized (Clueless).Hubris — 1% of shows. Pride or ambition invites the fall (There Will Be Blood).Obsession — under 1% of shows. A fixation consumes the protagonist (Black Swan).Corruption arc — 1% of shows. Step-by-step moral decay (The Godfather).Doomed love — 1% of shows. Love destroyed by circumstance (Brokeback Mountain).Crushed by fate — 1% of shows. Destroyed by forces beyond the protagonist's control.Redemption — 1% of shows. Moral reawakening of a hardened soul (A Christmas Carol).Healing — 3% of shows. Recovery from grief or trauma (Good Will Hunting).Liberation — 2% of shows. Breaking free of a confining life (Room).Second chance — 1% of shows. A stagnant life re-opened to love or purpose (Groundhog Day).Puzzle — 1% of shows. A clue-by-clue puzzle you can try to solve before the reveal (Knives Out, Clue).Investigation — 6% of shows. A long pursuit of the truth that may never be fully solved (Zodiac, Memories of Murder).Enigma — 1% of shows. The mystery is what is real, or what is actually happening (Mulholland Drive).
Every story archetype, clockwise from the top
  • Monster 18%: Predator 7% · Tyrant 3% · Invasion 2% · Oppressive state 3% · Corporate villainy 1% · Institutional injustice 1% · Class system under 1% · Technology turns under 1% · Inner demon 1%
  • Rags 3%: Underdog triumph 2% · Social ascent 1% · Fame and fortune under 1% · Rise and fall under 1% · Hidden worth revealed under 1%
  • Quest 6%: Treasure hunt 1% · Rescue 2% · Mission 4% · Journey home under 1% · Pilgrimage under 1%
  • Voyage 2%: Portal fantasy under 1% · Fish out of water 1% · Survival ordeal under 1% · Time displacement under 1% · Descent under 1%
  • Comedy 12%: Romantic comedy 2% · Comedy of errors 3% · Farce 2% · Buddy comedy 1% · Comedy of manners 2%
  • Tragedy 4%: Hubris 1% · Obsession under 1% · Corruption arc 1% · Doomed love 1% · Crushed by fate 1%
  • Rebirth 7%: Redemption 1% · Healing 3% · Liberation 2% · Second chance 1%
  • Mystery 8% (this title): Puzzle 1% · Investigation 6% (this title) · Enigma 1%
  • No archetype 40%

Mystery: A question drives the story — who did it, what happened, what is real — until it is answered. · Investigation: A long pursuit of the truth that may never be fully solved (Zodiac, Memories of Murder).

8% of shows fit this archetype

A loose fit — the map only half-holds this one.

Why this archetypeThe series follows real detectives as they pursue a cold case murder, driven by the unanswered question of who killed the victim.

What it's about

7 groups · 53 themes
Bonds — 31% of showsSelf — 27% of showsPower — 7% of showsMorality — 11% of showsSurvival — 9% of showsSociety — 10% of showsIdeas — 5% of showsRomantic love — 10% of showsMarriage — 2% of showsFamily bonds — 22% of showsParenthood — 1% of showsFriendship — 18% of showsLoyalty — 7% of showsIdentity — 20% of showsComing of age — 9% of showsAging — under 1% of showsSelf-worth — 7% of showsAmbition — 14% of showsPurpose — 16% of showsMemory — 3% of showsObsession — 2% of shows. A fixation consumes the protagonist (Black Swan).Power — 5% of showsCorruption — 3% of showsGreed — 2% of showsClass — 4% of showsOppression — 2% of showsFreedom — 4% of showsJustice — 14% of showsDuty — 2% of showsRevenge — 1% of showsGuilt — 1% of showsRedemption — 3% of shows. Moral reawakening of a hardened soul (A Christmas Carol).Forgiveness — under 1% of showsSacrifice — 2% of showsBetrayal — 3% of showsDeception — 6% of showsSurvival — 12% of showsWar — 1% of showsViolence — 2% of showsMortality — 2% of showsGrief — 4% of showsTrauma — 5% of showsMental illness — under 1% of showsAddiction — under 1% of showsIllness and disability — under 1% of showsCommunity — 25% of shows. Consequences reach a town, institution or group.Isolation — 3% of showsPrejudice — 2% of showsDisplacement — 1% of showsFaith — 1% of showsTradition vs change — 3% of showsFame — 5% of showsLegacy — 3% of showsFate — 1% of showsFree will — under 1% of showsTruth — 6% of showsHope — 4% of showsNature — 3% of showsArt — 2% of showsTechnology — 1% of showsSelf
Every theme, clockwise from the top
  • Bonds 31%: Romantic love 10% · Marriage 2% · Family bonds 22% · Parenthood 1% · Friendship 18% · Loyalty 7%
  • Self 27%: Identity 20% · Coming of age 9% · Aging under 1% · Self-worth 7% · Ambition 14% · Purpose 16% · Memory 3% · Obsession 2%
  • Power 7%: Power 5% · Corruption 3% · Greed 2% · Class 4% · Oppression 2% · Freedom 4%
  • Morality 11% (this title): Justice 14% (this title) · Duty 2% · Revenge 1% · Guilt 1% · Redemption 3% · Forgiveness under 1% · Sacrifice 2% · Betrayal 3% · Deception 6%
  • Survival 9% (this title): Survival 12% · War 1% · Violence 2% · Mortality 2% · Grief 4% (this title) · Trauma 5% (this title) · Mental illness under 1% · Addiction under 1% · Illness and disability under 1%
  • Society 10%: Community 25% · Isolation 3% · Prejudice 2% · Displacement 1% · Faith 1% · Tradition vs change 3% · Fame 5% · Legacy 3%
  • Ideas 5%: Fate 1% · Free will under 1% · Truth 6% · Hope 4% · Nature 3% · Art 2% · Technology 1%

Morality

Justice · 14% of showsGrief · 4% of showsTrauma · 5% of shows
Observes its theme: Presents its theme neutrally, declining to judge.Community stakes: Consequences reach a town, institution or group.Single lead
How it treats its themeThe series centers on the pursuit of justice for a murdered woman while grappling with the grief and trauma her death leaves behind.
StanceThe series observes the pursuit of justice within a community affected by the crime, without overt judgment.

The world

Orchestral modernAmbientSupportive music · original score · Matthew de Luca & Neil de Luca
SettingLouisiana bayou and surrounding small towns
MusicThe score uses ambient textures and mournful strings to underscore the bayou's eerie atmosphere.

Content guide

Is Killing Fields okay for kids?

Ratings in 5 other countries
  • Canada14+
  • Denmark15
  • FinlandK12
  • Norway12
  • SwedenFrån 15 år

No detailed content scores for this title yet.

What content warnings does Killing Fields have?

Not screened for content warnings yet.

Cast and crew

Who is in Killing Fields?

Cast

Investigator Kris Coughlin
as Investigator Kris Coughlin
Kevin Collins
as Narrator
Roger Gunter
Lena Richard
as Christine Moore's Sister
Rob Niter
as Agent

Crew

Cinematography

Juan Antonio Puyol, Walter Mather, Gabriel Goodenough, Logan Hodson, Scott McKibben, Paul Niccolls
+1 more, Isaac Mathes

Edited by

Luis Ortiz Guillen, Eric Dufresne, Barry Blaschke, Aaron Pomerantz, Emmett Adler, Lindsay Tessier
+11 more, Dana Hughes, Jevon Roush, Thomas Reuther, Eric S. Anderson, Jenah Pelley, Julie A. Naff, Brian D'Amico, David Fitzgerald, Matthew Jarrett, Frank Perrotto, Tony Pellegrino

Music by

Neil de Luca, Matthew de Luca, Justin Crosby, Kevin Bluhm, Aaron Kaplan

Produced by

Chris Rantamaki, Valerie Haselton Drescher, Hilary Burke, Andres Vasquez, Alexa Danner, Brent Montgomery
+27 more, Alastair Bates, Denise Contis, Donnie Eichar, Tom Fontana, John Slaughter, Joseph Schneier, Rebecca Toth Diefenbach, Joe Venafro, Faith Gaskins, Max Micallef, Lisa Koehler, Wendy Greene, Marion Cunningham, Keith Saunders, David Gelb, Eamon Ducey, Siobhan Walshe, Chelsea Miller, Brian Meere, Lucilla D'Agostino, Maggie Langtry, Margaret Babington, Michelle Bridgman, Andrea Hall, Maryna Harrison, Barry Levinson, Dave Freed

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