my favorite murder case (2016-)
Who says crime can't be funny? In this comedy podcast, hosts Karen Kilgariff and Georgia Hardstark tell bizarre murders, true crime stories, and survivor stories, and listeners say, “Hometown Murders.'' We receive many posts about the incident. Over 400 episodes, he has hosted special guests such as Conan O'Brien (60), Tig's Notaro (53), and Patton Oswalt (55), and has developed a cult following that has its own rabid fan base. It has become a hit. (Mardellino) and the tagline (“Stay sexy and don't get killed”).
listen: my favorite murder case On Apple Podcasts, Spotify
hidden truth (2018-)
Atlanta's NPR station WABE produces this podcast about race and injustice in the American South, both in the past (Isaiah Nixon shot in his home for voting in 1948) and today (2020 murders). ) has a season focused on still-relevant stories from ). Ahmaud Arbery). The show is hosted by Pulitzer Prize-winning reporter Hank Kirbanoff, 75, and has attracted awards of its own, including a Peabody Award, an Edward R. Murrow Award, and a Robert F. Kennedy Award. It has proven to be a fascinating show.
listen: hidden truth On Apple Podcasts, Spotify
true crime movie
mama dead and dearest (2017)
This HBO documentary introduced the world to Rose Blanchard, a gypsy who murdered her mother, Dee Dee, after enduring years of abuse. In an incident known as her Munchausen Syndrome by Proxy, Dee Dee concocted a series of fake illnesses, shaved her head and forced her to use a wheelchair for cancer her daughter didn't have. The young Blanchard was in the news again this year, but if you've somehow never heard of the incident or seen the original Emmy-winning miniseries, action — I won't give any spoilers!
look: mama dead and dearest Max on Prime Video
thin blue line (1988)
Errol Morris, 76, took on the case of Randall Dale Adams, a drifter who was sentenced to death row for the murder of a Dallas police officer, alleging a miscarriage of justice. Morris exposed numerous lies and contradictions in the case, and ultimately exonerated Adams. Morris' early masterpiece featured many innovative approaches, including original music by Philip Glass, 87, and while many critics consider it one of the greatest documentaries of all time. , and was scorned by the Academy for its use of controversial reenactments.
look: thin blue line Apple TV, Prime Video
Capture the Friedman family (2003)
Andrew Jarecki, 61, directed this Sundance Jury Prize-winning film about a seemingly ordinary upper-middle-class family on Long Island who follow a computer class in their basement. The story is about a father and his youngest son who are torn apart after being accused of sexually abusing a student. Jarecki was making a very different kind of film about clowns at children's birthday parties in New York City when he stumbled upon the subject. This movie is surprisingly effective at keeping people guessing. The question is, “Did they actually commit the heinous crimes they are accused of?”
look: Capture the Friedman family Max on Prime Video
Drafthouse Films/Courtesy of Everett Collection
the act of murder (2012)
Joshua Oppenheimer's experimental documentary completely reinvented the format. In this harrowing story of mass murder in mid-1960s Indonesia, the filmmakers follow executioner Anwar Congo and his fellow murderers, many of whom are still in power. , asked them to reenact the acts of genocide they committed and talk about them. The film is an extremely complex (and difficult to watch) window into the psychology of mass murder, and was nominated for an Oscar and received a 2014 film. expression of silenceIn this film, a middle-aged Indonesian optometrist whose family has been murdered decides to confront and question the perpetrators while conducting eye exams.
look: the act of murder Peacock on Apple TV
I Love You, Now Die: Commonwealth vs. Michelle Carter (2019)
You may remember the tragic case of Conrad Roy, the teenager who died of carbon monoxide poisoning after his girlfriend Michelle Carter sent him a text message encouraging him to commit suicide. Erin Lee Carr has previously made a name for herself as: mama dead and dearest, directed this two-part documentary that received critical acclaim for its empathy and generosity. Carr questions what would cause someone to act like that, and whether Carter's actions were illegal or simply immoral.
look: I love you, I'm already dead on Apple TV
true crime show
(Left to right) Michael Peterson and David Rudolph in “The Staircase.”
Netflix
stairs (2004-18)
This French-produced documentary series delves into the trial of American novelist Michael Peterson, who was charged with the murder of his second wife, Kathleen, whose body was found under the stairs of their home in Durham, North Carolina. This is something that I dug into. The series, which returned with new episodes in 2013 and 2018, is perhaps best known for its wild “owl theory,” which suggests that a barred owl may have been involved in the killing. The case was later fictionalized in an Emmy-nominated HBO Max miniseries starring Colin Firth, 63, and Toni Collette, 51, which covered not only the death and trial, but also the filming of an original documentary. was also detailed.
look: stairs On Netflix
oath (2020-22)
We Americans love a good cult story. It's easy to feel smug, as if there's no way we could be stupid enough to get involved in such a conspiracy. That's what made the case by Keith Raniere, 63, and his self-help group NXIVM so convincing. The victims were by all accounts smart and successful, and many were enjoying solid careers in Hollywood. You'll be shocked by the breathtaking twists and turns: sex trafficking, branding, a supposed cure for Tourette syndrome, and a surprising amount of volleyball.
look: oath Max on Hulu
Joe Exotic from “Tiger King.”
Netflix
tiger king (2020-21)
Forever associated with the early days of pandemic-era binge-watching (the first season was released on Netflix on March 20, 2020), this sordid docuseries teaches Americans about big cat breeding and private practice. Introducing the world of zoos. The cast of characters includes Joe Exotic and Carole Baskin. He has a multicolored mullet, shoots his own music videos, and is a polygamist who ran for governor of Oklahoma. She may or may not have killed her missing husband. This is a Jerry Springer twist on the documentary series formula. If you are interested in such things.
look: tiger king On Netflix
The Jinx: The Life and Death of Robert Durst (2015-24)
After breaking up with capture the friedman family, director Andrew Jarecki became obsessed with Robert Durst, a New York real estate heir suspected of involvement in the disappearance of his first wife and two murders. When Jarecki created a fictional film version of this story, good thing, Durst contacted me and offered to be interviewed. The resulting over 20 hours of his conversations form the basis of this fascinating documentary series, which features one of his most shocking finales ever witnessed.
look: jinx Max on Hulu
make a murderer (2015-18)
spiritual successor of thin blue lineThe documentary series sheds light on the case of Steven Avery, a Wisconsin man who was released from prison after 18 years for a crime he didn't commit, only to find out two years later that he had been charged with murder. Investigators began uncovering a complex web of attorney incompetence, coerced confessions, and fabricated evidence that led to a massive public outcry and four Emmy Awards.
look: make a murderer On Netflix
keepers (2017)
This humane and haunting seven-episode Netflix series revisits the cold case of the 1969 murder of Sister Kathy Chesnik, a Baltimore nun. She was a popular teacher at an all-girls school, but decades later, some of her former students teamed up to figure out what happened to her. The prevailing theory is that she was murdered after learning about her sexual abuse at the hands of her school chaplain and guidance counselor, as part of a widespread culture of fear and silence. . There may have been collusion between the archdiocese and the police department. and the State Attorney's Office.
look: keepers On Netflix
