I am normally not one to rave about tv programs, but Epitafios a new series from HBO Latin America is so far outstanding. It is a 13 part very gory serial killer/revenge story. Think Seven and Silence of the Lambs, mixed with 24.

I finally got to see the first episode and it blew me away. Each episode is 1 1/2 hours. How the hell did they manage to get budget to do 13 whole episodes? And everything is excellent from the effects and make up to the acting and cinematography.

To get an idea go check out the very well done (Flash) Epitafios web site. The way the killer kills his victims is like a more extreme version of what Brad Pitt and Morgan Freeman were up against in Seven.

The plot is based around a cop who was at the scene of a hostage crisis in a high school. A teacher had taken 4 students hostage and poored gasoline on them. When the hero tries to rescue them, he makes a mistake and the teacher lights his students who go up in flames in front of everyone. This is now several years later and the serial killer is trying to revenge himself on everyone who had anything to do with that incident. The cop himself feels very guilty himself, which adds an interesting edge to his role.

The name of the series comes from the fact that the killer announces his intent to murder someone on the epitaphs of grave stones that he sends the police.

All in all very cool stuff. I’m sure they will be exporting it to markets outside Latin America, so keep an eye out. It will probably be called Epitaphs in English.