When I read American Psycho (1991), I was stunned, inspired, and in awe of Bret Easton Ellis. How could someone write like this — and put life into a completely horrifying expose of the capitalist world? The way he has built the character of serial killer Patrick Bateman is a masterclass in writing. So when he wrote The Shards in 2023, I wanted to read it for sure. Though the book didn’t excite me too much, the show, is pretty interesting — like a unsettling thriller/horror. I like the eeriness and strangeness of the world more than what actually happens. 

The show/book is a work of auto-fiction, which blends real-life facts from an author’s life with invented fictional events, and the main character usually shares the author’s name and experiences. Its set in 1981, when a serial killer called The Trawler is terrorising LA, and its narrated by a high schooler called Bret. The ’80s Hollywood lifestyle itself is a treat to watch. But only tune in if you like slow-burn shows where nothing really happens, except the ambience.