I have the terrible habit of sleeping with the TV on. I can’t help it. If I’m not listening to something, my mind starts rambling about the day or the things I have to do next day, and it’s an endless chain of subjects that won’t let me focus and sleep like a normal person… and I’m rambling again. The point is that it all started one day. My mind was doing what it does best, and I thought the best choice was to turn on the TV and rock myself with one of those documentaries about animals. It worked, but I developed a bad habit. Soon, I would try other types of programs, until I found this channel based on true crimes and investigation (I don’t really have to say the name of the channel, right?). Even today I still end my routine with one or two episodes of whatever crime they’re solving that day, and although I sleep like a baby, I must confess that sometimes I feel terrible about how real crimes and the suffering of people pass into a second level when it comes to my sleeping routine.
Then, I saw one amazing episode of South Park in which the kids want to stop their parents from watching what they call “Investigative Murder Porn” (clearly a parody of true crime programs) because they believe their parents might end up murdering each other. Now, while I don’t watch these programs with the intention of the cartoon’s parents, it was great to realize that I’m not the only one who enjoys them and that they’re actually quite popular. But why do we love watching murder on our screens?
According to Scott Bonn, a criminology professor at Drew University, watching documentaries about serial killers and crime works in the same way as watching an accident on the road. You know it’s terrible, but you can’t look away. Moreover, they give us a boost of adrenaline that makes us watch even more. When our adrenaline levels rise, we feel euphoric, similar to an addiction. Besides, these types of experiences, trigger one of our most basic and instinctual emotions: fear. However, the fear here works in a different way than it would when watching a horror film. It becomes a pleasurable experience because, even though we know these are real cases, we feel like safe witnesses outside the screen. Of course, these shows also appeal to the most morbid side of our nature that makes us want to see every single detail about a crime, while deep inside we know we wouldn’t want to really witness something so horrible.
Finally, the last reason why we love watching real homicides and crime stories is the narrative they present. Most of these programs (and actually most crime stories in fiction) have a progression, so spectators can take out their inner Sherlock and solve the crime before the authorities do. We love the satisfactory feeling of solving a puzzle, and what better way to do so without the pressure of actually convicting someone?
So, if you’re like me and enjoy watching true crime stories (I mean, you’re here for a reason, right?), here are seven documentaries that unveil the stories behind the most horrid true crimes.
Making a Murderer (2015) Dir. Laura Ricciardi and Moira Demos
This is probably the most popular true crime documentary in recent years, and why wouldn’t it? This is the story of a man who was convicted for 18 years for a crime he didn’t commit, and once he manages to prove his innocence they charge him again for another murder? Who’s behind all this? Is he really a criminal?
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Into the Abyss (2011) Dir. Werner Herzog
Following the same issue, are we ever truly sure that someone on death row is guilty? This documentary follows the story of two men facing the death penalty while diving into the ethical implications of what these sentences can create. One question that’s posed is whether the families of the victims actually find closure through this method. Or does it only incite more violence from both parties?
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Killer Legends (2014) Dir. Joshua Zeman
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9K52tMetp00
We all love watching a horror movie about monsters and creatures that haunt a town, but what if these stories were actually true? What if there isn’t really a monster, but a criminal behind the legend?
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Paradise Lost: The Child Murders at Robin Hood Hills (1996) Dir. Joe Berlinger and Bruce Sinofsky
Three kids are found dead in the forest and three teenagers are arrested for the murders. Were they really following a satanic rite, as prosecutors claimed?
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The Confessions of Thomas Quick (2015) Dir. Brian Hill
A man confesses to the police that he’s responsible for the murders of 39 people, but suddenly he just stops talking. Furthermore, his confessions don’t really match some of the evidence the police have. Is he really the serial killer he claims to be?
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Who Took Johnny (2014) Dir. David Beilinson, Michael Galinsky, and Suki Hawley
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Zma_r-UmLqw
Imagine not being able to find your son, who disappeared without a trace? Now, imagine that his disappearance is linked to a web of sexual exploitation linked to powerful people.
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These documentaries will not only appeal to your taste for true crime stories, but will actually leave you thinking about the intricacies and flaws of the judicial system. If you can’t get enough from these stories, take a look at:
The Disturbing Case Of The Hello Kitty MurderThe Sick Twisted Story Of The Liverpool Child MurderersThe Beatles’ Song That Inspired One Of The Most Evil Minds In History
Source:
Time Magazine
