Featured art by Jericho Clemente.
As we age, we are slowly witnessing what horror actually looks like and realizing that there is something spookier than the paranormal forces and mythical beings that we typically see on television.
Give your Halloween a ghost- and monster-free night as we round up 8 unsettling real-life documentaries on Netflix that will bring out your inner sleuth and pique your curiosity while making your palms and feet sweat. Make sure to turn the lights down and prepare as you burrow under the covers.
Making a Murderer
A documentary series that was written and helmed by Laura Ricciardi and Moira Demos. It follows the long, grating story of Steven Avery, who was wrongfully imprisoned for trying to kill Penny Beerntsen and sexually assaulting her in 1985.
Avery was cleared of all charges in 2003. After his release, Avery sued Manitowoc County for $36 million, alleging negligence in the police and investigation. Then, in 2005, Avery became the focus of a new police investigation as the prime suspect in Halbach’s slaying.
The documentary series is unquestionably intriguing; it was like piecing together a puzzle. It was released in December 2015.
The Staircase
The award-winning director Jean-Xavier de Lestrade’s The Staircase recounts novelist Michael Peterson’s arrest, prosecution, and conviction for the suspicious death of his wife Kathleen Peterson in their North Carolina home, who was discovered bloodied and lifeless at the bottom of the staircase in 2001.
The series gave close attention to details by including a variety of real footage in each of its 13 episodes, giving the impression that you are in the actual situation. The series also included access for interview and camera teams from the accused’s extended family, the defense lawyers, and the courtroom.
You’ll be left with a crucial issue after seeing this miniseries: Is this man actually responsible for the horrible murder, or was he just another victim of skewed and manipulated evidence? Even when the solution is still hazy, the judgment rests with you.
Evil Genius: The True Story of America’s Most Diabolical Bank Heist
A short but shocking four-episode documentary with creepy characters and unbelievably bizarre cases. Evil Genius is about the Eire pizza bomber case, that happened in Pennsylvania on 2003.
The collar bomb that killed pizza deliveryman, Brian Wells served as the documentary’s jumping-off point. As the investigation developed, the bomb’s mystery also revealed itself. As you watch this documentary, you’ll be left wondering: Was Wells compelled to rob the bank, or was he complicit in the scheme?
The documentary was directed by Barbara Schroeder and Trey Borzillieri, released in May 2018.
Don’t F**k with Cats: Hunting an Internet Killer
I won’t be surprised if you think this is the most bizarre true crime you’ve ever heard. For one, dwelling on this cat-and-mouse chase docu series created and directed by Mark Lewis for an extended period of time is unwise.
The documentary will begin with a strange-looking man named Luke Magnotta begins posting horrifying cat-murder films on the Internet, which then went viral in 2012. Internet users then have their own missions and have gathered collaborative effort to work together in order to find the killer.
In light of the foregoing, viewers of this film have regarded it as disturbing yet engaging to watch due to the action’s nonstop pace, which will keep you glued for the entire three episodes.
The Raincoat Killer: Chasing the Predator in Korea
A gruesome true crime documentary series about pursuing a serial killer and sex offender in South Korea in 2003. The three-part series focused on the hammer-wielding murderer, Yoo Young-Chul.
This unsettling series is not suitable for individuals with weak stomachs. It was directed by Rob Sixsmith and was released in October 2021.
Conversations with a Killer: Ted Bundy Tapes
Before watching the four episodes of Conversations with a Killer: The Ted Bundy Tapes, from the Emmy Award-winning filmmaker Joe Berlinger, make absolutely sure your mind is in a decent place.
This documentary follows the confession of one of the most notorious serial killers that rose to global infamy, Ted Bundy, detailing the murder of 30 women that will horribly stick to your bones. It divulges recorded tapes of roughly 100 hours of audio interviews with the imprisoned Bundy.
The Keepers
A fearlessly done documentary, which is about survival, institutional abuse, and justice system within a murder mystery documentary. It is not the usual documentary that deals with “who is the murderer and what he did” type of documentary but it is about victims that seek justice.
The Keepers is a seven-episode American documentary about the unsolved murder of a nun in Baltimore in 1969. Catherine Cesnik is a school teacher and nun who was murdered, and the perpetrator has yet to be identified. With its mind-blowing twists and ending, it is surely one of the best documentaries ever made.
The documentary was directed by Ryan White, released in May 2017.
American Murder: The Family Next Door
This Jenny Popplewell documentary opens with a mystery before a tragedy—it is anguish about who is responsible for Shanann Watts and her children’s disappearance. Everything in this murder documentary is filmed, which makes it all the more intriguing. The fact that Shannon was active online and recorded every happenings in her life made it even easier to piece everything together.
The film gives you a hint with its meticulous buildup for the revelation, but it does not provide you a hint as to what and how you should feel afterwards.
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