View Full Version : Movie Paradise Lost
The Norm
18 Jan 2011, 14:15
Anyone seen this 1996 documentary?
It's about the West Memphis Three - three teenagers accused of slaughtering three young boys in 1993 (or 94).
Crime documentaries aren't usually my thing but this was incredibly powerful ... It reveals the ugly side of humanity in so many different ways.
I'd never heard of it before I watched it (which was for a different reason than the content) and was surprised to learn how prevalent the case has been in the media and still is today.
RisingPhoenix
18 Jan 2011, 14:37
Absolutely amazing, at times terrifying doco.
The first minutes are amongst the most confronting bits of footage I have ever seen...those who have seen it will understand what I am referring too.
The vengance seeking stepdad of one of the murdered boys, is perhaps one of the most frightening examples of how truly deranged America's bible belt truly is. He gets even worse in Paradise Lost II...in which he looks more and more like a potential suspect himself.
Having said that, im kind of on the fence as to whether Echols and friends did it. They have become this massive cause celebre...free the WM6 etc etc, but I cant help but think there is a fair chance they are guilty after all.
smitchell
18 Jan 2011, 14:53
Absolutely amazing, at times terrifying doco.
The first minutes are amongst the most confronting bits of footage I have ever seen...those who have seen it will understand what I am referring too.
The vengance seeking stepdad of one of the murdered boys, is perhaps one of the most frightening examples of how truly deranged America's bible belt truly is. He gets even worse in Paradise Lost II...in which he looks more and more like a potential suspect himself.
Having said that, im kind of on the fence as to whether Echols and friends did it. They have become this massive cause celebre...free the WM6 etc etc, but I cant help but think there is a fair chance they are guilty after all.
C'mon man, he did it.
Can I just ask why there is a fair chance Damien and co. are guilty?
I have been following this case(closely) for almost 14 years and have become almost desensitised(to the literature).
I would like to hear someone's fresh take on the case.
The two doco's have an Australian release (5-6 yrs ago anyway) and there are several good books written, including Damien Echol's autobiography.
It all still makes me angry and sad.
RisingPhoenix
18 Jan 2011, 15:21
C'mon man, he did it.
Can I just ask why there is a fair chance Damien and co. are guilty?
I have been following this case(closely) for almost 14 years and have become almost desensitised(to the literature).
I would like to hear someone's fresh take on the case.
The two doco's have an Australian release (5-6 yrs ago anyway) and there are several good books written, including Damien Echol's autobiography.
It all still makes me angry and sad.
So you think he killed the three, then killed the wife because she knew about it? That's the general 'theory'. Except his DNA/bite marks never matched?
I also understand there is a third Paradise Lost on the way. Surely some resolution must come out of this if those men are innocent.
The Norm
18 Jan 2011, 16:00
So you think he killed the three, then killed the wife because she knew about it? That's the general 'theory'. Except his DNA/bite marks never matched?
I also understand there is a third Paradise Lost on the way. Surely some resolution must come out of this if those men are innocent.
I think it's already been filmed, but the documentarians think that unfortunately there'll probably have to be a fourth by the time they're actually released.
They were granted a new hearing in November last year so that's great news and hopefully will be the end of it.
Regardless of who anyone thinks might have done it, there's no way you could convict them with the evidence supplied.
Crazy to believe this is still going.
RisingPhoenix
18 Jan 2011, 16:11
John Mark Byers is the stepfather/suspect.
Some clips featuring some of his nutty work.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SK0f5zNtXq0
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=q6Jj7z7qACI
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vobfWOkcqfM
AllenJakovich13
18 Jan 2011, 16:15
What happened to the crazy Byers guy? I watched both parts a few years ago. Does he still accuse the MW3 of the crimes?
I watched these a long time ago and have always kept up to date with the case...
I recently rewatched part 1 & 2 and it regalvanised the thoughts of how this could still possibly be going on.
I always thought the stepdad was a monty to be the killer, for example him getting his teeth taken out so they couldn't be examined and giving several different reasons as to why he did so, but the latest findings have suggested otherwise.
The latest rumour is that one of the fathers of another of the boys and a friend of his may have had something to do with the killing. There was a woman (a young girl at the time) who came out recently saying she last saw the father with the 3 boys driving away... or something along those lines.
Hit up the website if you've got half an hour free and read some of the murmurings.
Imagine if the 3 boys (men now) are innocent! They've spent 17 years or so in jail, crazy stuff...
I also reckon it paints a bad picture of that uneducated, low-socioeconomic part of middle America. It surely is not the same country as the cities on the East and West Coast.
What happened to the crazy Byers guy? I watched both parts a few years ago. Does he still accuse the MW3 of the crimes?
I think he came out recently and said he now doesn't think they have anything to do with it!!!
RisingPhoenix
18 Jan 2011, 16:30
I think he came out recently and said he now doesn't think they have anything to do with it!!!
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KxKyQJg_Xjk
Now apparently thinks the WM3 are innocent. Quite a backflip for a man who was out at the crime scene holding impromptu effigy burnings for the cameras only a few years back.
One of my favourite documentaries, although disturbing. Could not believe it the first time I saw it, I'm not a violent person - but one of the few films which made me feel like wanting to punch the TV. :D
I usually try to catch up with what is going on every 6 months or so.
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Another good viewing. this one can't be embedded though, and is nearly an hour long.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JS1yzjNjJGs&feature=fvw
Wahooti Fandango
19 Jan 2011, 13:43
Not seen this particular documentary, but one of the best I have seen is The Murder of Emmett Till.
http://www.pbs.org/wgbh/amex/till/
Also featured in Eyes on The prize
http://video.google.com/videoplay?docid=536339677935896178#
Note: above video actually uploaded by PBS
Big Nasty
10 Dec 2011, 13:33
Have just started getting into documentary films and remembered watching this years back. Interesting development a few months ago. http://www.nytimes.com/2011/08/20/us/20arkansas.html?pagewanted=all
Can't wait for the 3rd film to be released.
Recent CBS '48 Hours Mystery' episode re: the West Memphis 3 (aired in September)
http://www.cbsnews.com/video/watch/?id=7381432n
Just saw that part 3 has been nominated for the documentary Oscar :thumbsu:
Oscars 2012: And the nominees are...
Documentary Feature
Hell and Back Again
If a Tree Falls: A Story of the Earth Liberation Front
Paradise Lost 3: Purgatory
Pina
Undefeated
http://insidemovies.ew.com/2012/01/24/oscar-nominations-2012-announced/
Anyone else seen it? I just watched it yesterday. Very good I reckon. Probably the best made of the 3, from a technical point of view, IMO, so is deserving of the nomination, however it could never top the unbelievable story from #1. Definitely better than part 2.
Not as convincing or as stylishly made as The Thin Blue Line, but still engrossing and well-made.
Like the first two Paradise Lost documentaries, it raises valid questions about their guilt (and implies that others may be responsible), but it doesn't prove their innocence. A jury, presented with all the facts, would probably (and justifiably) reach a verdict of not guilty. Nevertheless, it effectively remains an unsolved crime like JonBenet Ramsey, despite the ridiculous Alford Plea.