Lana Del Rey has acknowledged the song’s popularity, occasionally performing it live during her tours, such as the Endless Summer Tour in 2015 and at Lollapalooza Brazil in 2018.

Critics have noted this connection, observing a "sense of menace underlying the garishness" in her visual style, with elements like "psychedelic burnout, Watergate disillusionment, —all tingeing images that otherwise might evoke 'a simpler time'". This aesthetic reached its peak in the short film for her 2017 single, "Lust for Life," which directly engaged with the mythology of Hollywood tragedy. However, in "Serial Killer," the menace is purely psychological, making it a more intimate and relatable exploration of these dark themes.

For fans who possess a clean, verified copy of the track, modern streaming services like Spotify and Apple Music allow users to import their own local audio files into their personal cloud libraries, seamlessly blending unreleased tracks with official discographies.

Lyrically, "Serial Killer" explores the toxic intersections of love, obsession, and danger. Del Rey uses the macabre metaphor of a serial killer to describe an all-consuming passion, blending sweet, breathy vocals with a sinister narrative.