Many of them seem to have a lack of empathy. They are able to harm others without feeling remorse. This could be due to a combination of genetic factors and their upbringing. For example, some killers grew up in an environment where violence was normal, so they didn't develop a normal sense of right and wrong.
Often, they have a lack of empathy. For example, Ted Bundy was charming on the outside but had no real regard for his victims' lives. They may also have a history of childhood trauma, like many serial killers had difficult upbringings.
A lot of them have had troubled childhoods. Aileen Wuornos, for instance, had a very difficult upbringing which likely contributed to her criminal actions. Another characteristic can be a fascination with death or violence from an early age, like some killers who started with torturing small animals.
They are often very gritty and realistic. For example, they show the actual crime scenes and the investigations as accurately as possible. This is to give the viewers a sense of what really happened.
Often, they are very manipulative. For example, Ted Bundy used his charm to gain the trust of his victims. They may also have a lack of empathy, which allows them to commit such heinous crimes without remorse.
Often, they have a history of childhood trauma. For example, many were abused physically or emotionally as children. This can lead to psychological problems later in life.
Many real - story - based serial killers are often very manipulative. They can blend into society and deceive their victims easily.
They are often gritty and disturbing. Since they are based on real events, they don't shy away from showing the brutality of the killers' crimes.
Typically, they are highly skilled in combat. For example, in the story of Spartacus, he was a very strong and strategic gladiator. They often have a strong sense of honor. Like the samurai in Japanese history, who adhered to Bushido, a strict code of honor.
They usually show great determination. These fighters in true - story - based movies often have to overcome huge obstacles. Whether it's an injury, lack of support, or tough opponents, they keep pushing forward. In 'Raging Bull', Jake LaMotta had to deal with his own self - destructive behavior and still managed to have a remarkable boxing career.
It depends. Some cases might be inspired by real events, but often they are fictionalized or exaggerated for dramatic effect.