logo
What to watch: ‘Happy Face' deserves a stream

What to watch: ‘Happy Face' deserves a stream

The Citizen14-06-2025
'Happy Face' is inspired by the notorious Happy Face killer, Keith Jesperson, and the 2009 biography of his daughter.
There is no spoiler quite like that of a film or television reviewer that intellectualises entertainment and scores a fun or engaging show with a low number. Not every production is meant to be shelved amongst the high-brow and artsy-fartsy top drawer. Many shows can be enjoyed simply by watching them without expectation. Happy Face on Showmax is such a series.
The series is a semi-true but muchly made-up look at the other halves of a serial killer's life. The family drama and the hurt, pain and manipulation with concomitant dramatic ebbs and flows. The storyline is based on and inspired by the notorious Happy Face killer, Keith Jesperson, and the 2009 biography of his daughter, Melissa Moore, called Shattered Silence.
Records show that Jesperson, a long-haul trucker, strangled his victims. He left a trail of bodies across the United States between 1990 and 1995. He signed his work with smiley faces because someone else claimed his killings at first, though falsely. This is how he earned his nickname.
His known victims, despite his claims of over 160 murders, were sex workers or women living on the fringes of society. The kind who wouldn't immediately be missed. He was convicted of eight murders and is serving a life sentence in Oregan, United States, for his murder spree. He'll be eligible for release in 2063.
The smiley face emoji killer
Happy Face was produced by Michelle and Robert King, who also created The Good Wife, The Good Fight and Evil among others. Beyond the story's initial biographical content in Moore's book, it was also subdivided into a podcast of 12 parts before Hollywood turned it into part-fact, part-fiction fun.
ALSO READ: 'So deserved': Viola Davis named among 2025 TV Hall of Fame inductees
Dennis Quaid plays an incarcerated Jesperson who exercises a measure of control over his somewhat estranged daughter Melissa Reed, played by Annaleigh Ashford. Reed has married and lives with her kind, Mr Nice Guy husband and daughter in a leafy suburb. She works as a makeup artist on the Dr Greg Show; a true crime talk show. When the production team finds out, by possible design from Jesperson, that Reed's dad was the Happy Face killer, attention turns to her and she becomes the star of, and coproducer of a narrative about her dad. It also becomes her own journey into discovering her past.
Watch: Trailer for Happy Face
The plot then thickens when Jesperson starts claiming killings that nobody knew of and, through an elaborate smoke and mirrors escapade, he evidences it. Only, the murder was not his and the happy faces were drawn by conspirators and his lover, to aid the plot. All in the name of making good true crime television.
All in the name of good true crime show
Meanwhile, her teenage daughter Hazel, brattishly well played by Khiyla Aynne, reaches out to grandpa behind everyone's backs. She's a somewhat troubled teen and her growing relationship with Jesperson sends mom, dad and daughter on a sidebar collision course. Then, there's the FBI investigators, the recurring memories of Jesperson's gifts to his daughter every time he made a kill. There are many layers to the story, and it's told reasonably and entertainingly well.
And while it's true that some of the performances are as charismatic as a loaf of bread, that Dennis Quaid's skills are underutilised in the show and so on, it's still an entertaining watch. The ponytails and intellectual beards have slammed the show, but it's not fair. Because nobody's looking for perfection, just time out on the couch with popcorn.
NOW READ: 'The Rookie' is no amateur of a show
Orange background

Try Our AI Features

Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:

Comments

No comments yet...

Related Articles

Reality TV heats up: inside the drama-filled lives of 'Vaal Riviera' families
Reality TV heats up: inside the drama-filled lives of 'Vaal Riviera' families

IOL News

time12 hours ago

  • IOL News

Reality TV heats up: inside the drama-filled lives of 'Vaal Riviera' families

Showmax has just dropped the trailer for 'Vaal Riviera', a reality series following four families from the Vaal Triangle. Image: Supplied. Move over, "The Real Housewives" franchise - four new families are headed to Showmax next month. The streaming platform recently dropped the trailer for its upcoming reality series, "Vaal Riviera", set to premiere on Friday, August 22. Produced by POP24, the series follows the vibrant lives of these families hailing from the Vaal Triangle, denouncing any ideas that tiny communities aren't filled with drama. As the trailer suggests, the Vaal region offers a unique kind of glamour. Vanderbijlpark and Vereeniging, nestled along the banks of the Vaal River, may be smaller in scale, but the drama they host is as vast as the waters that surround them. The first episode promises to deliver an action-packed start, as families prepare for the much-anticipated opening of the Vaal River. Cooler boxes packed into flashy cars and boats, ready for launch, set the scene as friendships are forged amidst rising tensions. An exhilarating tube race serves as a precursor to the season's unfolding storylines, hinting at deeper currents beneath the festive façade. Video Player is loading. Play Video Play Unmute Current Time 0:00 / Duration -:- Loaded : 0% Stream Type LIVE Seek to live, currently behind live LIVE Remaining Time - 0:00 This is a modal window. Beginning of dialog window. Escape will cancel and close the window. Text Color White Black Red Green Blue Yellow Magenta Cyan Transparency Opaque Semi-Transparent Background Color Black White Red Green Blue Yellow Magenta Cyan Transparency Opaque Semi-Transparent Transparent Window Color Black White Red Green Blue Yellow Magenta Cyan Transparency Transparent Semi-Transparent Opaque Font Size 50% 75% 100% 125% 150% 175% 200% 300% 400% Text Edge Style None Raised Depressed Uniform Dropshadow Font Family Proportional Sans-Serif Monospace Sans-Serif Proportional Serif Monospace Serif Casual Script Small Caps Reset restore all settings to the default values Done Close Modal Dialog End of dialog window. Advertisement Video Player is loading. Play Video Play Unmute Current Time 0:00 / Duration -:- Loaded : 0% Stream Type LIVE Seek to live, currently behind live LIVE Remaining Time - 0:00 This is a modal window. Beginning of dialog window. Escape will cancel and close the window. Text Color White Black Red Green Blue Yellow Magenta Cyan Transparency Opaque Semi-Transparent Background Color Black White Red Green Blue Yellow Magenta Cyan Transparency Opaque Semi-Transparent Transparent Window Color Black White Red Green Blue Yellow Magenta Cyan Transparency Transparent Semi-Transparent Opaque Font Size 50% 75% 100% 125% 150% 175% 200% 300% 400% Text Edge Style None Raised Depressed Uniform Dropshadow Font Family Proportional Sans-Serif Monospace Sans-Serif Proportional Serif Monospace Serif Casual Script Small Caps Reset restore all settings to the default values Done Close Modal Dialog End of dialog window. Next Stay Close ✕ The Arangies family. Image: Supplied. Meet the families of 'Vaal Riviera' The Arangies embody boldness and flair. Bernelee, a fierce office manager and micro-needling entrepreneur, never shies away from honest opinions or quick comebacks. Her husband, Charl, a race car driver, leads the family business while their daughter, Allegra, navigates the world as a savvy influencer. Little Aaliyah, with her fiery personality, adds a spark to their already dynamic household. The Deysels are effortlessly modern yet deeply conservative. Image: Supplied. The Deysels represent a blend of modernity and tradition. Riandi, a composed working mother, balances her career, childcare and the ambitious project of building a new home. Meanwhile, Jay Jay, the cool father figure, juggles multiple business ventures with ease. Their children, Zaya and Jax, have already made names for themselves as mini-social media moguls, determined to reach greater heights. The Snymans are figuring it out one day at a time. Image: Supplied. The Snymans navigate the complexities of life one step at a time. Rianza, an engaged stay-at-home mom with a creative flair, complements her husband Ruhann, an anaesthetist trying to balance demanding hospital hours with family commitments. Their lively brood, Mila, the ambitious creator; Sebastian, the contemplative thinker and Lika, the effervescent bundle of energy, adds colourful dimensions to their story. The Swarts. Image: Supplied. The Swarts epitomise an intriguing mix of elegance and eccentricity. Matriarch Lané manages their lives with finesse, while her husband, Corrie, a fitness-enthusiast "trophy husband", offers surprising depth. Their sons, Tristan and Louen, fit the ideal image of well-mannered perfection, yet secrets may linger just beneath their polished exteriors. "'Vaal Riviera' is must-watch family television because it's real, unscripted, unfiltered and deeply human. It has something for everyone in the family, from the grown-ups, the men, the women, to the little ones. "Whether it's the drama, the laughs or the heart, there's a piece of real life here that everyone can connect with," said executive producer Lea Knoesen. Watch the trailer below.

South African talent shines in Superman documentary
South African talent shines in Superman documentary

The South African

time14 hours ago

  • The South African

South African talent shines in Superman documentary

South African-born producer Robert Ford is basking in international acclaim with his latest project, Super/Man: The Christopher Reeve Story . The documentary, which arrives on Showmax from Friday, 25 July, has earned an impressive four Emmy nominations. Recognition comes in the categories of Directing, Writing, Editing, and Music Composition. Super/Man celebrates the extraordinary life of Christopher Reeve, immortalised as Superman. Reeve rose from an unknown stage actor to a Hollywood icon. His portrayal of Clark Kent/Superman set the gold standard for superhero films. Reeve starred in four Superman films and played a variety of roles, showcasing his remarkable range. Tragedy struck in 1995 when a horse-riding accident left Reeve paralysed from the neck down. Undeterred, he became a leading advocate for spinal cord injury research and disability rights, according to IMDB . He balanced activism, fatherhood, and continued work in the film industry, emerging as a real-life hero. Ford, originally from Wellington in the Western Cape, reflects on his journey, 'I wish I had known more about the South African film industry at that stage. I only discovered later that SA has such a vibrant film culture.' Now based in the UK, Ford has built a global reputation across film production roles over 25 years. The Superman documentary features never-before-seen home videos and a wealth of family archives. For the first time, Reeve's three children speak at length on film about their father. Hollywood friends and colleagues also share insights, giving the story depth and warmth. With a staggering 98% critics' rating on Rotten Tomatoes, Super/Man has swept more than 30 awards. These include Best Documentary at the 2025 BAFTAs and major wins from the Producers Guild of America and Critics' Choice Documentary Awards. Ford describes the biggest challenge of filming the Superman documentary: 'We had hundreds of hours of footage. The story could have gone in so many directions, so there were lots of difficult decisions in the edit. Letting go of the scenes you love is hard; it's hard killing your babies.' He is also passionate about representation. 'It's important that those stories are heard and not marginalised,' says Ford. For Super/Man , several disabled crew and consultants played key roles. Their insight shaped the film, especially on the complex ethics and realities of disability and cure. Ford's ties to home remain strong. 'I'd love to film in South Africa again. South Africa has great filmmakers and crew, and the filmmaking infrastructure is brilliant,' he says. He's thrilled for local viewers to watch his work and Superman documentary, adding, 'It's a universal story. Behind the onscreen superhero was a real-life hero.' Super/Man stands as a testament to courage and resilience, both on and off the screen. South Africans can take pride in one of their shining moments on the world stage. Let us know by leaving a comment below, or send a WhatsApp to 060 011 021 1. Subscribe to The South African website's newsletters and follow us on WhatsApp, Facebook, X and Bluesky for the latest news.

‘I died inside': Dawn Thandeka King on infidelity and heartbreak
‘I died inside': Dawn Thandeka King on infidelity and heartbreak

The Citizen

time14 hours ago

  • The Citizen

‘I died inside': Dawn Thandeka King on infidelity and heartbreak

Dawn was the latest guest on the Showmax talk show 'Untied'. Award-winning actress Dawn Thandeka King has opened up about the pain of betrayal and the strength it took to rebuild her life following her divorce. The Shaka iLembe star was the latest guest on the Showmax talk show Untied, which explores the raw realities of divorce through the voices of well-known South African women. Dawn candidly discussed the alleged infidelity that shook her marriage and how it left her deeply wounded. ALSO READ: Malusi Gigaba's attempt to halt broadcast of ex-wife's explosive episode on 'Untied' fails Dawn Thandeka King on fame, distance and growing apart She said the challenges began when she moved to Durban for her first major television role on Uzalo, leaving her husband and five children behind. 'The distance was the first challenge. And obviously now I'm in this industry, and I'm doing something that I truly love. It's going to show. I'm going to start looking like a happy woman. Not that I wasn't happy before, but something is happening to me that I never actually thought would happen. 'I think we, one, grew apart. And in our growing apart, I had found myself. Perhaps he hadn't found himself… The more I became famous, the more there was a rift — it just pushed us further and further apart,' she said. Dawn said what made it even more painful was the introduction of someone else into the relationship. 'I suppose this is the person he was speaking to about his troubles… He wasn't saying that to me. He was saying it to someone else. I think that killed me. I felt abandoned. 'It went back to the little girl who was not loved, who was looking to be loved. I died inside, and I thought this was it. For it to hurt me this deeply — that I can't see you as you anymore because you're seeing someone else, and now you can't see me as me anymore,' she added. Dawn also spoke about the courage it took to walk away from the relationship — a decision that, she said, marked the beginning of a new chapter filled with personal growth, spiritual discovery, and professional transformation. She said that her spiritual calling and connection to her ancestors guided her through some of her darkest moments. 'Because I then found an agency, and then my agency found me a job — and that was my first acting gig in 2012. I often wonder whether that was the reason I went through this journey that opened that door,' she said. NOW READ: 'Ma, life hasn't been the same without you' — Winnie Khumalo's kids on what would've been her 52nd birthday

DOWNLOAD THE APP

Get Started Now: Download the App

Ready to dive into a world of global content with local flavor? Download Daily8 app today from your preferred app store and start exploring.
app-storeplay-store