Copycat Killer: A Retrospective

Copycat Killer

MysteryGuest brings us a tribute to a Taiwanese
thriller that doesn't skimp on the bondage.

raffish

Today's feature arrives courtesy of the one and only MysteryGuest, who also provided the writeup. Take it away, MG!

Wow, Copycat Killer is dark! So dark, it makes Nordic Noir feel like comedy. If there's a single moment of light relief, I didn't spot it. But, of course, I wasn't looking for light relief. I was looking for bondage, and the quantity and quality I found in only ten episodes seems barely credible.

Uniquely, to my knowledge, the kidnapper restains his captives using thumbcuffs. As many will know, these vicious little devices secure the wearer's hands by crushing their thumbs, and to ensure they can't squirm free, the insides are lined with metal teeth. To be effective, thumbcuffs need to be brutally tight, and they must have been torturous for the actresses to wear, especially for the scenes that required them to struggle. And they aren't just thumbcuffed. In all cases, the girls are taped, roped, strapped or chained as well. We even get some shibari. When it comes to bondage, this show is not messing around.

It's not messing around when it comes to mental torture, either. I could highlight several scenes, but I'll pick just one. In episode 2, Yi-Jyun Cin (played by Yi-Chieh Lee) leaves the kidnapper's grim prison and travels across the city in a van. She can see the people outside, but they can't see her. She does all she can to attract attention each time the van stops, but with her thumbs cuffed behind and her wrists, ankles and mouth taped, she fails miserably. Then, the van parks outside her grandfather's house. Watch and see what she does next...

I could go on and on, of course, but it's time to let you watch for yourselves. Oh, and to draw your attention to episode 4, which by itself produced four scenes, including another trip in the van, some lingering gag closeups, an escape attempt and a hogtie!

Note for scene hunters: The clip listed as Episode 5 actually contains scenes from Episodes 5-7. We combined them into a single clip since they're all so short.

Copycat Killer

  • Copycat Killer (2023)
    Episode 01.02
    Yi-Chieh Lee
  • Copycat Killer (2023)
    Episode 01.03
    Yi-Chieh Lee
  • Copycat Killer (2023)
    Episode 01.04
    Ally Chiu
  • Copycat Killer (2023)
    Episode 01.04
    Ally Chiu
  • Copycat Killer (2023)
    Episode 01.04
    Ally Chiu
  • Copycat Killer (2023)
    Episode 01.04
    Ally Chiu
  • Copycat Killer (2023)
    Episode 01.05
    Ally Chiu
  • Copycat Killer (2023)
    Episode 01.08
    Lucia
  • Copycat Killer (2023)
    Episode 01.08
    Ruby Lin
  • Copycat Killer (2023)
    Episode 01.08

Join the discussion