Best crime documentaries

[melbournemartin]

Hey guys,

Been watching a lot of the show Breakout recently. It's about prison breaks, as you can imagine, reconstructed either from letters and interviews with the prisoner, or actually having the prisoner discussing it on the show. They also have guards, policemen etc contributing. The thing is then recreated with some dramatisation over a 1 hour episode.

Does anyone have some other documentaries to recommend? Prison breaks, death row, epic court cases, all are interesting.

 

[ausgirl]

The Paradise Lost doco trilogy are pretty good, if all over the place as far as alternate suspects go (and missing several really good ones to boot). Still very worth watching. West of Memphis, also good.

An okay doco on the Black Dahlia by Larry Harnisch:

A *really* good doco on child killer Mary Bell:

The 'Dark Minds" TV series isn't all bad, I thought the one on the Original Night stalker was okay:

The Cheshire Murders, HBO:

The Ice man Tapes:

Child of Rage : http://youtu.be/g2-Re_Fl_L4

Let me know which interest you most.. I watch a LOT of crime docos.

 

[ausgirl]

This is 'fun' informative one, with a bunch of forensic scientists trying to come up with the 'perfect' murder. Hate the narrative voice, though why do they have to sound like Marvin the Paranoid Android...doesn't add much to the doco.. Some of the scientists are a bit hilarious, "So I'm very fond of throwing people down holes".

 

[craffles]

Just watched the Mary Bell doco. Pretty good watch, messed up!

 

[_Mike_]

Back when I had foxtel I used to watch a lot of the CI channel until it became repetitive. Watching shows such as - The first 48 hours, America's toughest prisons and banged up abroad.
The first 2 MW3 documentaries were interesting to me (never seen the 3) and so was the iceman but they seem to get repetitive to a degree.

 

[ausgirl]

Just watched the Mary Bell doco. Pretty good watch, messed up!

Good, wasn't it. I was pretty pleased with the inclusion of historic footage with her mum, etc. Really interesting too, that the first response of the courts was to treat a child like Mary with compassion and hope she could be helped.. whereas now, everyone cries "sociopath!" and demands a more heavily punitive approach, largely under the assumption that treatment is not possible. I can certainly understand why anyone'd want harsh punishment for a horrible crime, but where young kids are concerned it's a very kneejerk reaction to a complex issue, in my opinion. Glad you enjoyed it.

Mike, pity you didn't see the third MW3 doco, it was probably the best of the lot. I hear ya though on the repetitive thing, they do get very much so, especially the ones about famous crimes. A lot are really just sensationalist rehashes. But now and then, a really good one with some decent research behind it will pop up. Always with that melodramatic narrator tho!

Here's an awesome doco about Russian prison tattoos. Probably the best one I've found so far on the subject. And ofc, there's Mr Melodrama narrating:

 

[craffles]

Good, wasn't it. I was pretty pleased with the inclusion of historic footage with her mum, etc. Really interesting too, that the first response of the courts was to treat a child like Mary with compassion and hope she could be helped.. whereas now, everyone cries "sociopath!" and demands a more heavily punitive approach, largely under the assumption that treatment is not possible. I can certainly understand why anyone'd want harsh punishment for a horrible crime, but where young kids are concerned it's a very kneejerk reaction to a complex issue, in my opinion. Glad you enjoyed it.

Mike, pity you didn't see the third MW3 doco, it was probably the best of the lot. I hear ya though on the repetitive thing, they do get very much so, especially the ones about famous crimes. A lot are really just sensationalist rehashes. But now and then, a really good one with some decent research behind it will pop up. Always with that melodramatic narrator tho!

Here's an awesome doco about Russian prison tattoos. Probably the best one I've found so far on the subject. And ofc, there's Mr Melodrama narrating:

Thanks for sharing, making my way through all the others now. Will let you know my thoughts

 

[craffles]

Child of rage was very confronting, that is one of the saddest things I have ever watched.

 

[ausgirl]

Child of rage was very confronting, that is one of the saddest things I have ever watched.

I was in dire need of puppies and kittens after that one.. but it was interesting, in conjunction with the Mary Bell one, regarding sociopathic behaviour and the popular view of it these days as being 'incurable' - mainly as both girls went on to live harmless lives. I don't like to think about what harm they might have caused, left to their own devices, however. So yup, very sad, but a little bit hopeful too for kids like that.

 

[ausgirl]

As for epic court cases, the Jodi Arias one was the most epic since OJ, I think. Mainly as she's a pathological liar, and watching her try to squirm her way through lie after lie after obvious lie with an absolutely straight face is weirdly fascinating. Plus the prosecutor had a wicked sense of humour.

 

[craffles]

I was in dire need of puppies and kittens after that one.. but it was interesting, in conjunction with the Mary Bell one, regarding sociopathic behaviour and the popular view of it these days as being 'incurable' - mainly as both girls went on to live harmless lives. I don't like to think about what harm they might have caused, left to their own devices, however. So yup, very sad, but a little bit hopeful too for kids like that.

Well the organisation beth thomas works for now isn't exactly reputable if you read further into it but the turnaround with the right rehab is remarkable. Goes to show how correctional facilities should be set up IMO

 

[bananatigz]

I just found Child of Rage really really sad. On a happy note doing some digging she seems to be one of the lucky ones who actually managed to turned it around and now leads a normal life, even works in a hospital as a registered nurse. Good for her

 

[Long Live HFC]

PBS' frontline have a number of good crime-related docos. frontline isn't flashy, but that allows more information to be provided in it's timeframe.

 

[_Mike_]

Mike, pity you didn't see the third MW3 doco, it was probably the best of the lot.

The only reason I became aware of the case was watching the HBO documentaries for the first 2 on the CI channel. The third instalment which led to a movie sort of put me off in a sense and hasn't compelled me to watch it. I think I'll watch it at some point in time but I've kept up to date through the years with the appeals so I don't think I'll be missing out if I don't see it for a while

 

[treeman]

My favourites are:

Cold Blood - True CSI
FBI Files
48 Hours Mystery

 

[treeman]

A good place for true crime torrents is 10-84.com
If anyone wants an invite let me know.

 

[dvas987]

Lots of good Crime Investigation Australia ones on youtube. They seem to do a very good job in retelling the events

 

[craffles]

Lots of good Crime Investigation Australia ones on youtube. They seem to do a very good job in retelling the events

That show was awesome

 

[craffles]

I just found Child of Rage really really sad. On a happy note doing some digging she seems to be one of the lucky ones who actually managed to turned it around and now leads a normal life, even works in a hospital as a registered nurse. Good for her

Do some further digging.

 

[Moshie The Mook]

Dear Zachary is not your standard formula crime doco, even though it is about a hideous crime. It did get enough response and stirred up enough reaction that a law was amended in Canada.

 

[rocker_oz33]

crime Investigation Australia was top notch doco type show.

 

[craffles]

crime Investigation Australia was top notch doco type show.

Every single episode is on YouTube

 

[rocker_oz33]

Every single episode is on YouTube

I have seen almost all of them when they where on telly.
But good to know there on youtube i can see if i have missed any.

 

[rocker_oz33]

Also seen a fair bit of ..>
Tough nuts australia's hardest criminals.
it was ok but no where near as good as CIA.

 

[Shell]

Saw "Private Violence" on the Crime Channel last night.

Was a really well made insight (is it a series or one off?) into domestic violence, profiling one particular case where a man kidnapped his child and partner, drove them across numerous states lines and beat the living crap out of her with a torch and his fists. The photos of the aftermath brought tears to my eyes, it was unbelievable.

Very tough viewing, but I think it's a very important issue and is good to see a documentary on it.