The new villain ofDexter: Resurrectionhas put a brilliant twist on the main villain of Joe Keery’s comedy horror movie from 2020. The latest installment in theDexterfranchise,Dexter: Resurrectiontakes place 10 weeks after the events ofDexter: New Bloodand sees the titular serial killer traveling to New York City in the hopes of making things right with his estranged son, Harrison.
After thecontroversial ending of the firstDexterspinoff,New Blood, there was some skepticism about how critics and viewers would respond toResurrection. However, since its release,Dexter: Resurrectionhas been widely praisedfor its powerful storyline and could be one of the bestDexterseasons ever made.
The success of the newDexterspinoff is also helped byDexter: Resurrection’sensemble castand the series' new location in the bustling streets of New York City. The city offers better chances for Dexter to hide in plain sight while also finding himself meeting other famed killers in New York City.
One of the new serial killers introduced in the series is the Dark Passenger Killer, played by Marc Menchaca. Throughout theDexterfranchise, Dexter uses the term Dark Passenger to describe his urge to kill, and inDexter: Resurrectionepisode 2, he is offended that another killer is using this name, which happens to reflect a 2020 horror movie.
Dexter: Resurrection’s Dark Passenger Killer Is Reminiscent Of 2020’s Spree Movie
Spree Followed A Serial Killer Using A Driving App To Lure Victims
Dexter’s new Dark Passenger serial killer is a startling reversal of the lead character, Kurt Kunkle, in the 2020 comedy horror movie,Spree. Played by Joe Keery,Kurt Kunkle gets a job as a ride-share driver, using an app called Spree to collect customers. Throughout the movie,Kunkle murders his victims in various waysand, as the story progresses, his killing spree gains national attention on social media.
Meanwhile, in a clever reversal,the Dark Passenger Killer inDexter: Resurrectiondeliberately targets ride-share driversthroughout New York City as his victims, killing them by using a barbed chain. Prior to Dexter’s move to New York, the Dark Passenger Killer had murdered eight ride-share drivers, intending to kill more.
ThroughoutSpree, Kurt makes it clear that he is committing murder to gain notoriety and attention on social media, which he had been unsuccessfully pursuing for a decade. Kunkle refers to his murder campaign asThe Lesson inSpreeand, through livestreaming, expresses no remorse for his actions.
In contrast, the Dark Passenger Killer inDexter: Resurrectiondoes everything he can to evade capture, including wearing hoodies rigged with lights that make his face impossible to capture on camera. Unlike Kurt Kunkle,the Dark Passenger Killer is determined to conceal his identity during his murder spree, makingDexter: Resurrection’snew villain a clever mirror reversal ofSpree’santagonist.
Dexter: Resurrection’s First New Villain Is Tackling A Terrifying Modern Fear
It Tackles An Ongoing Fear Relating To Using Ride Share Apps
The introduction of the Dark Passenger Killer to thelist ofDextervillainstakes the show in a new direction and also offers a frightening perspective on the growing fear of the use of ride-share apps in society. Since the introduction of apps, including Uber and Lyft, there has been a rise in concern for the safety of passengers (Crime Justice Journal).
According toMAS Law,between 2020 and 2022, there were23 physical attacks reported to authorities that were connected to Lyft rideshares. Studies have also shown that one of the biggest fears of people using rideshare apps is who is driving and their behavior (viaChalik Law).
Both Kurt Kunkle inSpreeand the Dark Passenger Killer inDexter: Resurrectionoffer frightening and intriguing perspectives on the rising worry about the safety of using rideshare apps. Viewers will undoubtedly see how the Dark Passenger Killer’s killing spree plays out and his eventual confrontation with Dexter Morgan as the series progresses.
Sources:Crime Justice Journal,MAS Law,Chalik Law
Dexter: Resurrection
Dexter: Resurrection follows Dexter Morgan as he awakens from a coma to discover his son, Harrison, missing. His search leads him to New York City, where he confronts his past and the challenges posed by Miami Metro’s Angel Batista, as father and son face their shared darkness.
