KC Frankenburger
America’s Favorite Pastime: True Crime. Is that not how that saying goes? Whether we can blame Serial or Netflix’s Making a Murderer, it would appear that our collective true-crime obsession is here to stay. And for good reason. These stories force us to come to grips with the reality of what desperate humans are really capable of; they allow us to play detective, if only for a little while; and they provide us with a window into worlds that most of us, hopefully, will never have to face ourselves.
Whether you’re dying for the next The Jinx, or just finished watching The Keepers, here are seven more of the best true crime documentaries that are available for streaming right now.
Beware the Slenderman — HBO
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9igINAFXXNA
While not the most solid documentary I’ve ever seen, the subject matter here is fascinating and twisted and makes it worth the watch. Morgan Geyser and Anissa Weier were both recently sentenced to 40 and 25 years (respectively) in a mental institution, and this film is not only a deep exploration of their crime, but of the mental illness that drove them to do it.
Into the Abyss — Netflix/Hulu/Mubi/Sundance
This film by legendary documentarian Werner Herzog is subtitled: A Tale of Death, a Tale of Life. And that is exactly what it is. Not only an investigation into a triple homicide, this movie is an exploration into the death penalty and how and why that particular sentence is, or is not, doled out in the American justice system.
West of Memphis — Starz/Doc Club/Sundance
If you have never heard of the West Memphis Three case, this is probably where you should start. But that’s only just the beginning. There are already three other documentaries produced by HBO, and in the current season of the Truth and Justice Podcast, host Bob Ruff is exploring this case in great detail.
Mommy Dead and Dearest — HBO
This is probably the most extensive case of Munchausen syndrome by proxy ever documented. The harrowing story of Dee Dee and Gypsy Rose Blancharde is one that will stick with you long after you have watched it.
The Thin Blue Line — Netflix/Film Struck
The Thin Blue Line is arguably the grandparent of the modern true crime documentary, and the birth of the real reason we love them: they not only impact the audiences that can’t get enough of them, but they also have the power to uncover new truths and as a result, can sometimes have real-world implications for the people involved in the case.
Dear Zachary: A Letter to a Son About His Father — Fandor/Doc Club/Sundance/Tribeca Short List
If you go into this documentary blind you will be viscerally moved by what you will find within. And at the risk of spoiling anything, I will refrain from saying any more. Do not google this case. Just watch the movie.
The Central Park Five — Amazon Prime/Doc Club/Sundance
This is one of the most talked-about true crime cases in the public consciousness, and for good reason. Director Ken Burns exposes that what is fascinating about the justice system is how often it gets it wrong, and how often it compels otherwise good people to make really terrible choices in search of justice.
Runner up:
I’m sad to say that one of my favorite true crime documentaries, Capturing the Friedmans, is not currently available for streaming, but luckily you can sign up to be notified by Reelgood whenever it does become available.
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