In this interview feature, we explore the fascination with true crime series that led André Borges to launch a series of killer recommendations—how it started, how it’s going, and why he keeps doing it.
Why are we so obsessed with true crime? What is it about dark murder mysteries that fascinate us so much? Maybe it’s the journey of solving the puzzle of a whodunit, the chilling calm or the lolgical explanation of a calculated killer, or the deep psychological dive into what drives people to go to the dark side and do the unthinkable. True crime or dark murder mysteries isn’t just about gore violence or grabbing headlines. It's more about the why then about the how and what. It’s about motive, mind, and the messy depths of human behavior. It's more about psychology that we ever realize because at its core, it asks what makes someone cross the line? And why are we so drawn to watching them do it so much so that we are almost obssesed with it?
For writer and content curator Andre Borges, that fascination turned into a full-blown habit and eventually, a beloved series of dark, addictive recommendations. What started as a personal obsession with twisted true crime series and murder mysteries became a way to connect with others equally intrigued by the darker corners of the human psyche. His background in psychology certainly helps, but what truly sets him apart is the way he tells his recommendations with a dark, eerie narrative style that feels more like a question than a review. He doesn’t just list reasons to watch a show or break down its plot, giving way too many details. Instead, he frames each recommendation as a twisted “what if? or imagine this” scenario. As if through his recommendations, imagine if this horrifying thing actually happened, what would you do? More importantly, would you enjoy watching this? That’s the unsettling tension at the heart of Borges’ storytelling, and what makes his content so compelling, just like the dark content he is recommending.
In this conversation, we unpack the psychology behind true crime, explore what led Borges down this path, and hear how he built a community around curated fear, suspense, and storytelling. From cult classics to underrated gems, he’s got a killer rec for every mood and a theory for why we can’t look away!
Here's what he had to share!
True crime and dark thrillers have long captivated audiences, but what was the spark that led you to turn this obsession into a curated recommendation club? And why now, in particular?
This is a good question. Honestly, it's just the genre that I enjoy the most. I like horror, thrillers, and crime stories because they need to be really, really interesting for the viewer. The writers and creators need to think a lot about how much information to give the audience, what to hold back, when to spring the twist, and how far is "too far," and that really captivated me about the writing of these kinds of stories. I wanted to be better at hooking the audience with things I enjoy, and while I've become the unofficial movie and TV recommendation guy in my friend group, this year, I just decided to talk about it when the camera was pointed at me.
Why do you think we, as viewers, are so drawn to content that explores the darkest sides of human behavior? What is it about murder mysteries or psychological thrillers that keeps us coming back for more?
These kinds of stories draw people in because they want to see reflections, they want to solve things, and they want to be drawn into worlds that are deeper and more intricate than your standard rom-coms and comedies. I don't just think it's murder mysteries and psychological thrillers, it's also smart and complex dramas like Succession or Mad Men. The characters come with layers, the story is played out with interesting and complex themes, and viewers are starting to crave more of that escapism than ever before.
You clearly have a soft spot for these stories like many others but would you say your obsession stems from how deeply they tap into the human psyche? Do you think thrillers explore internal conflict more effectively than other genres?
Yeah, I genuinely think so. I used to like a lot of the police procedural shows, especially ones like Castle and Criminal Minds. But then Mindhunter came along, and all of the previous ones seemed a lot more surface. I'm also a psychology student, so the human mind fascinates me a lot, and more often than not, horror and thriller, or dark comedies, unlock a lot of the subconscious thought, and the drive to survive that really opens you up to who you really are.
Do you ever catch yourself questioning the ethics of enjoying true crime or violent fiction? Have you ever felt guilty about being entertained by someone else's pain or trauma? How do you process those darker themes after the screen goes black?
Deep disconnect in my head from fictional stories vs real life. For instance, when there's news about violent crimes or such stories in real life, I don't usually get involved in the story more than superficially, and that's only if it's shoved down my face with the algorithm. But if it's a show or film, I don't know why, but I can easily compartmentalise it in my head.
Your delivery style is uniquely gripping, more narrative and atmospheric than a straightforward review. How did you craft that voice, and was it intentional from the start? Do you ever worry about staying distinct in a sea of similar content online?
The first couple of videos started with more deep dives and focused a little on the plot. But after chatting with one of my closest people, she helped me understand that on Instagram, I myself love watching something that draws me in, rather than a complex breakdown of the subject matter. This made me tweak the formula that has helped me stay a little ahead of the curve. I changed the delivery, focused more on immersing people in the role, and added some positives about the direction, acting, or themes towards the end. I definitely want to make more in-depth content on cinema in general, but that's best suited for YouTube, rather than Instagram. Attention span really matters there. I'm not sure if I worry too much about staying different. I've been building content for more than a decade now, whether it was my page, or at BuzzFeed, or at Pocket Aces. One thing I've realised is people will continue to be a part of your community if you're consistent, deliver value to their lives, and don't stray too far away from your legit self. More people recommending good stuff is great for everyone at large!
What’s your creative process like behind the scenes for each recommendation? Do you dive deep into the research before filming, or is it more about instinctively reacting to what you’ve just watched?
Oh, I'm obsessed. I watch stuff literally every second I get. To a point where I've made some of my friends who are not big film buffs watch 8-9 season shows in a two-month stretch. I think that's why this works. I really do love watching stuff, it doesn't feel like work or keeping up a content pipeline (It does sometimes, but not as much as many others would assume). I'm also, by nature of the big projects I've built, very organised and data-driven. So I do have lots of sheets, planning, and a wide, wide list of films and shows that at some point I want to talk about. So there's some structure, and some research here and there, but for the most part, I just bought a tripod and a good mic, shoot on my phone, and edit whenever I can.
How do you discover the titles you recommend? Are they suggestions from your community, or do you have a personal watchlist that you’ve been curating over time?
Long list that I've been curating for a while. My algorithms are also very very primed to lists and reccos, and deep dives into films way before all this started. It's just that I've been so into the genre of visual stories that I've just automatically created many many lists for myself. Although off late, I have to thank people in my comments and DMs who now often send me stuff they think I should cover or just watch. Especially regional Indian cinema, which I've been having an absolute blast discovering off-late.
When you first began making these videos, did you ever imagine it would evolve into a full-fledged series with a loyal audience? Was there any feedback that made you feel special or changed your style of doing things?
Honeslty it's a little in between. I did math, I know how the internet works, and I calculated what the growth could potentially be. It's just how my brain works. But I didn't expect it to be this rapid, and so quickly built. I genuinely feel like we've built a strong, super helpful and fun community, and it's been such a fun ride.
Do you see this evolving beyond true crime and mystery someday? Maybe stepping into other genres or format or even creating long-form content of your own?
I've done quite a few that aren't specifically crime and mysteries, but those are the ones that the audience really really likes and reacts to the most, and plus I also enjoy that the most, so that's probably going to be a pretty consistent part of the page for as long as I can help. But I definitely want to expand different formats within film, and start fully deep diving into some of them, more focused on the nuance of the storytelling, etc. Other than that, there are many plans to create different kinds of content, but I'm not sure if I'll do it on this page, maybe another one where I can focus on different types of content, and about long form that's the dream to have enough time and resources to actually sit and make proper long form YouTube videos. Hopefully, in the next few months, I'll get around to doing that!
Do you think your fascination with the dark side of storytelling has changed how you view people or the world around you? Has it made you more cautious, more curious, or simply more empathetic?
Very honestly, no. I think of people the exact same way. I've been able to draw a good line in my head, so I don't think it's impacted how I look at the world or the people in it.
What are your thoughts about this topic and Borges recommendation series? Tell us in the comments below!
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