It is in all probability no simple feat to drag off a sadistic nickname just like the Joyful Face Killer. However in the event you punctuate your many handwritten letters to the media and authorities with that famed illustration after murdering nearly 10 victims, that is one solution to obtain the eerie title. A brand new true-crime detective sequence hitting Paramount+ this month recounts stated real-life serial killer’s life throughout a sure chapter of his life. In Joyful Face, we meet Keith Hunter Jesperson (Dennis Quaid) late in his jail sentence whereas his grown daughter Melissa (performed by Annaleigh Ashford) grapples along with her personal identification amid new developments in her dad’s exhausting case.
If the present’s edgy trailer did not already skeeve you out, simply you wait till father and daughter come nose to nose within the numerous jail scenes throughout the sequence’ eight principally gripping episodes. From showrunner Jennifer Cacicio (Your Honor author) and director Michael Showalter (The Dropout, The Shrink Subsequent Door), Joyful Face actually gives some juicy true-crime mania to fulfill a sure twisted obsession of ours, not less than till the following monumental docuseries drops on Netflix or the like. The general TV-MA darkness may have been amplified a bit extra to make the top outcome that rather more impactful, however it’s sufficient to get the web boards swirling as soon as once more.
Revisiting a Twisted Previous
Joyful Face
- Launch Date
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March 20, 2025
- Community
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Paramount+
- Administrators
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Michael Showalter
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Annaleigh Ashford
Melissa Moore
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- Dennis Quaid successfully oozes creepiness.
- True-crime die-hards, step proper up.
- Subpar performances past two leads.
- Documentary is perhaps extra impactful.
Maybe there’s a pattern brewing in Hollywood: horror and simply plain grim tasks are being given paradoxically joyous titles. After a pair of terrifying films referred to as Smile, plus the most recent John Wick-centered entry actually referred to as Ballerina, now there’s the serial killer-focused sequence Joyful Face in your enjoyment. The narrative content material supplied right here is impressed by the real-life story of Melissa Moore, plus her Joyful Face podcast and autobiography Shattered Silence. The soft-approach finish outcome feels a bit prefer it may have aired on considered one of a community like NBC, moderately than a streamer equivalent to Paramount+ that may welcome these edgier, extra TV-MA productions we have grown so keen on recently. However that is to not say the subject material of Joyful Face will not shake you to the core at sure factors.
At first, it is all pleasantries in Melissa’s life because the pilot episode opens. Married with two stunning youngsters, a gradual job as a make-up artist at a TV studio — however talking of, that is when and the place the difficulty brews. The studio that employs her produces an edgy speak present hosted by Dr. Greg (David Harewood), who receives an surprising cellphone name sooner or later from the one and solely Joyful Face Killer (Quaid), claiming there’s really yet another sufferer he hasn’t but claimed from years earlier. Oh, and one different factor: He will not share additional particulars with anybody in addition to the lady named Melissa at Dr. Greg’s studio. Oof.
That is when Melissa feels pressured to disclose her precise backstory to her friends as soon as and for all, that she had beforehand modified her identify after studying as an adolescent about her father’s true nature. Her shrouded historical past was all in an effort to steer a traditional life within the years following her discovery — however now, all that seems to be in jeopardy since, if this ninth sufferer her dad speaks of does in truth belong to the Joyful Face Killer, meaning there may be an harmless man in jail someplace who has wrongly charged with the crime. Meaning Melissa is not taking part in make-up artist and is now producer on the case along with her seasoned colleague (Tamera Tomakili), jetsetting all the way down to Keith’s jail to try to study extra and in addition to the place inmate Elijah (Damon Gupton) is being held, the person who was really charged for murdering the sufferer Melissa’s dad is now claiming. The more and more advanced case means time away from Melissa’s household, which rightfully infuriates her loving husband Ben (James Wolk). It is a near-impossible scenario for her to handle, and lead actress Ashford reliably nails the half.
It is the Quaid & Ashford Present
The troublesome conditions Melissa places herself in additionally raises pertinent questions concerning the pursuit of justice and what different elements of our lives we’ll sacrifice alongside the way in which. It appears Melissa cares extra about her monster of a father at instances, the way in which she prioritizes his case over her troubled household again dwelling, together with her teenage daughter Hazel (Khiyla Aynne) who retains appearing out in classic rebellious style. And on that be aware — what’s the actual motive most of us will tune in for Joyful Face? Maybe it is to see simply how nasty of a flip Quaid gives because the eponymous killer, oozing sleaze and gaslight-inducing allure in nearly each scene. One may argue it is nauseating to observe; others may argue that is the purpose and that we should always simply embrace the insanity. It is a true-crime drama sequence, in any case. And as acknowledged earlier, simply be careful for the moments when Ashford and Quaid come nose to nose. The remaining, sadly, may simply go in a single ear and out the opposite.
Joyful Face will start streaming on Paramount+ March 20.