By Sonia Yee

If you love true crime then you’ll love Heinous – An Asian True Crime Podcast from Mediacorp and 1 Up Media.

Described as a revived look at the most heinous crimes in Asia, each story is delivered in half-hour episodes with the exception of the occasional two-part series. In each instance, we hear the backstory to a notorious killer or crime told through a narrated script. 

Approached with detailed storytelling and imagination that sits more on the side of factual drama, the series takes a look into the criminal underworld in Asia, and the cultural and social influences that have informed each crime or ‘act of terror’, and the way in which it plays out. 

The episode titles are eye-catching and will lure you in: My Wife is a Demon, The Cebuano Boogeyman, The Smiling Killer, and more.

The Pick Up Truck Killer is well worth a listen. Presented over two episodes, it profiles the story of Nirut Songkamhan who was considered one of Thailand’s most prolific serial killers. 

In the episode we find out the motivation behind Nirut’s killing sprees, including why he travels to the southern tip of the country between Malaysia and Thailand as part of his journey. 

The presenter paints a dark and foreboding picture, outlining what it’s like for the targeted drivers that come across the killer’s path.

“Imagine what it must be like for the victims [who are] accepting a job and working hard to feed their families, unaware that they were driving themselves into their own graves.”  

In The Smotherer we end up unexpectedly in Australia with the story of young couple, Kathleen and Craig Folbigg whose baby is presumed dead as a result of SIDS - Sudden Infant Death Syndrome. But when each of Kathleen’s subsequent births have been followed by SIDS, it becomes clear that something is awry. 

The story is a sad, and rather tragic one that addresses postnatal depression, mental health and wellbeing. 

Heinous delivers on the true crime genre and all the suspense you can handle with the presenter able to guide listeners through the series, aware of when to change the pitch or tone of his delivery to take us somewhere else.

Throughout the podcast he also voices ‘characters’ in the stories, which helps to set up the scene, sometimes with unintentional comical effect. In one episode he plays an elderly woman, and although a little distracting, it adds an unexpected dose of entertainment to the otherwise grisly themes.

On occasion, some of the peripheral characters are performed by other actors, which helps to break up the solo narration. While the performances sometimes feel over-the-top, it’s a welcome change and adds additional dimension to the stories with a well-executed soundscape that helps to establish the world of each character.

For the most part, music is used effectively to add tension, which is ideal for the genre. Although there are some occasions where the producers are looking to shift the tone and pace, and the choice of music sometimes sits at odds with the themes. For instance, where the transition means to take us somewhere lighter, quirky music instead transports the listener to what feels like a cabaret show in a house of horrors.

The episodes end with earnest commentary about the social impact of the crimes and the wrongdoings of the people in the story. While it almost veers on cheesy, it also adds another layer of meaning to the intention of the podcast as if outlining that they are not judging the people in the story, but merely exposing the environment that has shaped the crime, or the person.

Overall, the team behind Heinous delivers a well-researched series that feels fully formed, and there is enough tension, information, drama and suspense to keep you listening, leaving no room for boredom. 

Listen to the episodes above or head to the full suite of podcast episodes here.

Review Rating: 4/5