JohnDoe
Bryn
Brenton
Paradise Lost: Child Murders at Robin Hood Hills (1996)
Paradise Lost/Paradise 2: Revelations
DVD Cover
The US justice system and conservative American values are under the spotlight in this shocking documentary that captivates and challenges.
May 6 1993, the land of the free is outraged and repulsed by the vicious murder that took place in a small Memphis town. Three 8 Year old boys, Michael Moore, Steven Branch and Chris Byers were raped and mutilated, their bloodless bodies found in Robin Hills Woods on the outskirts of town.
May 9 1993, a trio of teen suspects were found and arrested for the crimes; their names were Damien Wayne Echols, Jessie Miskelly Jnr and Jason Baldwin.
With no physical evidence, motive or connection to the victims, the now infamous West Memphis Three are judged for the clothes they wear, the books they read and the music they dig.
The prosecution, armed only with a conflicting confession, hearsay and circumstantial evidence decides to proceed. What follows is the exposing of police blunders, courtroom ineptitude and the hypocritical prejudices of a small town.
Paradise Lost is a comprehensive look at the trial and all the players involved, offering rare insight into one of the great miscarriages of justice from last century.
Sure they look like murderers...
Essential viewing, musically scored by the melancholy sorrow of Metallica, this is a powerful documentary that will fuel moral indignation and dismay concerned citizens everywhere. Going to great lengths to remain impartial, the filmmakers go out of their way to get all points of view onscreen.
Haunting, the film opens with actual footage of the bodies being found in the woods and the heinous images set up the deadly serious subject on display.
Unfolding at a painful rate you will squirm and writhe as the official story crumbles and the puzzle pieces refuse to fit neatly into the prosecutions case.
Not one drop of blood was found at the scene and the murderer displayed meticulous surgical precision when mutilating the penis. The bodies were perfectly clean, leaving no trace of physical evidence. The prosecutions case rests solely with an error riddled confession that was obviously coerced in the interrogtaion room. These are facts that certainly make me question.
Ensconced in discovering the boy’s guilt or innocence one thing becomes abundantly clear, it is impossible to convict beyond a reasonable doubt and that’s the point. Sure there is always a slim chance they did it, but a new trial is mandatory before justice can be served.
Suspect Damien Wayne Echols is articulate and composed, eccentric and “weird”, all the signs of a Satanist. After all that is what the victims families seem to think and the press jump at the chance to dub the crime as a satanic, cult-ritual killing.
Over the course of the documentary Damien opens up and at times plays into the image, which doesn’t help and blurs the lines for the sceptics. He is the only member that we see into enough to judge.
The somewhat slow witted Jessie, who’s hackneyed confession is the closest anyone gets to tangible proof, is easily dismissed. Confused and afraid Jason Baldwin keeps quiet most of the time.
The outpouring of grief, anger and rage by those on the outside, repercussions of the event are hard to watch, very personal and surprising moments are captured by the lens.
Mind-blowing, during the filming another more likely suspect arose and as killers sometimes do, seems to place himself into the case and in front of the camera at every opportunity.
While other victim’s parents are sullen, depressed and downright shattered one man seems to revel in reliving what happened to his son while his wife delights in describing the acts of violence she would inflict on the three if she got the chance.
Certainly not enough to convict anyone of anything, it is a peculiar and unique experience to feel that maybe our sympathies are misplaced. Demanding constant re-evaluation, we see how blind justice can be and how completely subjective opinions can sway critical decisions.
Eye opening and requiring endless procrastination and analysis once the final credits roll. Do not mistake this as a morbid curiosity, in a time where freedom and liberty are the backbone of a war on terror it is important to see that the ignoring personal liberties is not exclusive to Guantanamo Bay.
The DVD:
Transfer: 4:3 pan N Scan/Dolby Digital 2.0
Extras: The Australian double disc includes Paradise Lost 2:Revelations, the sequel that picks up 5 years later and is of the same high quality. A revealing Directors commentary, equally valuable additional scenes and footage and discussions are also attached.
To view the trailer click here.
For more info on the case click here
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Film & TV on DVD
The filmmakers realize the confronting nature of the subject thats why all the graphic scenes are out of the way in the first 5 minutes so you can focus on the aftermath.
Chilling is the right word, It is never nice to see predjudice and bias corrupt the legal system and societys bloodlust for revenge but this doco raises so many important issues that it must be seen.
Horrorphile
Well encapsulated JD.
Film & TV on DVD
Horrorphile
Film & TV on DVD
Glad you have seen and liked this one, its an important and rivetting story.
Thanks for the visit
Film & TV on DVD
Totally with you on the outrage and stupidity of the case. I too was left in awe that this could happen in real life and not a Spinal Tap version of it.
These are a pair of essential documentaries everyone should see.
Could I please BEG you to do your own review of them for two reasons.
1. The more people talk about them and draw attention to the case the better.
2. Selfishly, I would really love to read your own critique because I'm sure it would be an insightful read and I love seeing alterenate perspectives on them.
I'm glad you think i did the films justice, it was a hard review to write from an objective stand.