This is something a little bit different but Netflix is great for having some outstanding crime-centred films, documentaries and shows. If you are at all interested in true-crime then I’m sure you will love some of these. It’s a mix of original ideas and real-life crime but each are equally as intriguing as each other.
1. La Mante
La Mante is a French thriller miniseries, set in Paris that follows Detective Damien Carrot as he searches for a copy-cat serial-killer that is basing there crimes on none other than Carrot’s mother Jeane a.k.a La Mante. Think Silence of The Lambs but Hannibal Lecter as a morally justified non-cannibalistic female. Jeane is doing life in prison for 8 murders and volunteers to help with the case as long as her son works on the case with her. The story is wholly original in its concept; not to mention that La Mante is rare as a woman serial killer.
There are so many twists and turns that are completely unexpected and its almost impossible to guess what happens in the end. It is so worth the watch, not only for the mysterious elements but Carole Bouquet’s performance as La Mante is superb.
2. Manhunt: Unabomber
Manhunt: Unabomber chronicles the FBI’s hunt for the Unabomber. Granted this programme, which originally aired on the Discovery Channel in the U.S, is not entirely historically accurate but it makes for a very compelling story.
The Unabomber was discovered to be Ted Kaczynski, a highly intelligent man, who believed that the world was becoming far too reliant on technology and subsequently moved to a cabin in Montana to become self-sufficient. In order to gain attention he started to mail bombs to people who represented what he opposed, however, after he realised this wasn’t working he sent letter to major newspapers telling them that he would desist from the bombing if they published his manifesto, Industrial Society and Its Future, which they did. It’s hard to disagree with what he believed in but of course his execution was, well, poorly judged.
The show stars Paul Bethany as Ted Kaczynski and Sam Worthington as F.B.I profiler, Jim Fitzgerald; who was brought in to beef up the current profile of the Unabomber. Fitzgerald disagreed with what they were asking him to do and his belief in forensic linguistics was what ultimately led to Kaczynski’s capture.
3. Marcella
Taking a leaf out of Scandinavian-noir’s book, Marcella is a triumph. Dead bodies, bleak scenes, moody characters and lots of knitwear you wouldn’t be surprised to know it was written by The Bridge writer Hans Rosenfeldt.
4. Making A Murderer
If you’ve not seen Marking a Murderer yet then what are you doing with your life? The programme is fantastic and by the end of it you will be in love with the defence lawyers Dean Strang and Jerry Buting. Unsurprisingly, these two slightly stole the show and the internet’s hearts.
5. Slasher
Subtitled, The Executioner, the programme follows Sarah Bennett who moves back to the home where her parents were brutally murdered on Halloween and on her return a copy-cat of her parents murderer appears and goes on a killing spree.
A bit of suspension of disbelief is needed to watch this programme but Slasher is nonetheless a very compelling story.
6. Belief: The Possession of Janet Moses
Belief is a devastating documentary that details the days that led up to 22 year old Janet Moses’ death. This story is horrific and utterly tragic.
Janet Moses was murdered by family members during an exorcism called mākutu lifting because they believed her to be possessed. At around 8:00 AM on 12th October 2007 Moses died by drowning after she was held down on the floor whilst being drenched in water. What’s most sad about this case is that she was most likely suffering with a psychological disorder and in need of help.
9. Alias Grace
Following the success of The Handmaid’s Tale Netflix brought us Margaret Attwood’s Alias Grace, which is a fictionalised tale of Grace Marks who was convicted of the murder of her employer Thomas Kinnear.
Abortion, anti-immigration and class, it portrays a time of powerlessness and brutality and in this post-Weinstein/Trump age it has come at the perfect time. Attwood wrote the back more than 20 years ago but the timing of its arrival to Netflix was fantastic as the issues it discusses are more than relevant today.
10. The Keepers
The Keepers had a lot to live up to coming after Making a Murderer but it doesn’t quite hit the mark. It’s a good programme but not quite as binge-worthy.
10. Casting JonBenet
The death of JonBenet Ramsey in 1996 remains unsolved to this day and at aged six is one of the most tragic cases to ever make the news.
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