Ryan Murphy’s Teen Serial Killer Thriller The Shards Gets Stuck in the Shallow End

Ryan Murphy and Bret Easton Ellis have collaborated on the FX series "The Shards," a teen serial killer thriller based on Ellis' 2023 novel. The show's production design, genre pastiche, and set pieces showcase Murphy's style, while the story delves into themes of youth, adulthood, and the influence of pop culture. The narrative follows a group of wealthy, debauched teenagers in Los Angeles as they navigate their personal lives and a series of mysterious disappearances.

The characters are drawn to the handsome new boy in school, Robert Mallory, who some believe may be the killer, despite flimsy evidence. Ellis' book offers cultural references and symbolism, including nods to Stanley Kubrick's "The Shining," Chinatown, and Michael Cimino's "Heaven's Gate." This rich, layered storytelling attempts to explore the transition from youth to adulthood, but the shallowness of the plot may detract from the intended impact.