One fan described the true crime show as a ‘delicious binge worthy’ watch

Fans of Netflix shows Mindhunter and Monsters have been told that their ‘next TV obsession’ has arrived in the form of a new true crime series streaming now.

Happy Face is inspired by the real-life experiences of Melissa Moore, who shocked the world in 2008 when she revealed on US television that her father was the infamous Happy Face Killer. Following her startling revelation on the Dr Phil show, Moore made several more TV appearances, including on Oprah Winfrey’s show, penned a memoir, and hosted a podcast titled Life After Happy Face.

Now, her chilling story has been adapted into a series streaming on Paramount Plus, kicking off with a two-episode premiere that delves into her life as the daughter of a murderer. Viewers can tune into the series by subscribing to the service directly or through Amazon Prime Video as an add-on.

The show’s synopsis reveals that Happy Face takes Moore’s real-life narrative as its starting point. The role of the imprisoned Happy Face Killer, Keith Hunter Jesperson, is portrayed by Dennis Quaid, who re-enters his daughter’s life after decades of estrangement.

The plot thickens into a race against time as Moore, played by Annaleigh Ashford, must determine if an innocent man is about to be executed for a crime her father committed. As she embarks on this journey, she uncovers the profound effect her father had on his victims’ families and is forced to confront her own identity, reports the Irish Star.

Viewers are already sharing their thoughts as the first episodes hit the screens. With just a handful of reviews on Rotten Tomatoes, it’s off to a strong start with a 70 per cent rating, though this could fluctuate as more opinions roll in.

One reviewer didn’t hold back their praise, exclaiming: “True crime fans, your next TV obsession has arrived.” Meanwhile, another hinted that it might be worth waiting for the full series release, suggesting it’s perfect for a binge session.

Their review read: “Full of mystery, curiosity and depth in its creepy look at the effects of horrific truths and trauma on one’s life and identity, and thanks to a fabulously intriguing narrative and memorable performances from our cast, it’s a delicious, binge worthy watch.”

But not all feedback on Happy Face is glowing. Some early birds have reservations about how the show adapts its real-life source material into fiction.

It draws parallels with Netflix successes like Mindhunter and the Monsters anthology, both of which dramatise true crimes and have faced their own share of critique for playing fast and loose with the facts for the sake of drama.

One critic suggested: “As good as Annaleigh Ashford and Dennis Quaid are in their respective roles, Happy Face would have worked better had it stuck to the true story and not this fictional and sensationalised one.”

Another seemed to concur, stating: “It’s one thing to fictionalize a true story. It’s another to Hollywoodize something real to a degree that the details are completely unbelievable. Sadly, Paramount Plus’ slow-paced Happy Face falls into the latter category.”

There was one reviewer who wasn’t quite taken with the finale, remarking: “Part procedural, part family story, it’s a hybrid that never quite works, despite strong performances and powerful moments.”

While another was more upbeat about the series overall, noting: “Happy Face’s first season is involving enough to make it worth seeing through to the end, but the novel setup starts to feel a bit gimmicky as Keith’s role in the mystery becomes clearer.”

Happy Face is streaming now on Paramount+