West of Memphis
Dir: Amy J. Berg
2012
*****
The Paradise Lost films are some of the most important documentaries ever made and should be seen by all. West of Memphis isn't as redundant as I thought it might be with that in mind. It's good to see an overall telling of accounts and seeing as Peter Jackson has been so actively involved in the case, it's fair enough that he should produce his own movie, along with the brilliant documentary maker Amy Berg. There are bits of information involving the case that are not mentioned in the Paradise Lost films, being made slightly later than Paradise Lost III there are pieces of new evidence and theories too. We know about the murders and we know the WM3 didn't commit them, West of Memphis concentrates on the fact at hand that the person who did do it, and we all have our suspicions, is still in society and the law is not looking for them. It's so much more than a film about a murder though, this questions societies lack of rational thought, judgement based on lies, corruption and good old ignorance. It terrifying stuff and needs to be seen and discussed. I've looked on a few threads and it amazes me that so many people have missed the point of all four of the documentaries and still think the WM3 did it! Like I said, terrifying stuff!