You can always count on Netflix for a good dose of true-crime docuseries. Since Making A Murderer became a hit in 2015, the streaming giant has been regularly pumping quality true-crime content. The Confession Tapes, Conversations with a Killer: Ted Bundy, Don’t F*ck With The Cats are just a notable few in the Netflix trove of true-crime gems.
Recently, we witnessed Tiger King: Murder, Mayhem and Madness flood our screens with countless TV reviews and memes after its release. That’s not entirely surprising considering the series was ranked the most popular title on Netflix for two consecutive weeks. And Top Ten in Singapore today.
For the unacquainted, though, Tiger King zeroes in on the personal life of Joseph Maldonado-Passage (otherwise known as Joe Exotic). From his eccentric habit of keeping felines in his backyard, to his marriage with two men, to his conviction for murder-for-hire and animal abuse. At present, Exotic, aged 56, is serving a 22-year jail sentence with no parole in sight. If you’ve yet to catch it, now is probably a good time. And lest Tiger King leaves you with a post drama withdrawal syndrome after, here are five other true-crime docuseries you can dive into.
Tell Me Who I Am
Have you ever wondered what if you woke up one day and lost your memory entirely? This is premise for Netflix’s Tell Me Who I Am. It follows 18-year-old Alex Lewis, who fell into a coma after a motorcycle accident, and then wakes up not remembering anything. Only with the help of his twin brother, Marcus, does Alex start to piece his life back together. There’s a twist in the story though. Without giving too much away, let’s just say that the truth can be heartbreaking.
Watch the trailer here.
The Pharmacist
In 1999, Dan Schneider, a small-town pharmacist, lost his son to a drug-related shooting incident. Since the authorities were inadequate in providing him with answers, Schneider made it his mission to find and bring his son’s killer to justice. His pursuit, however, led him towards something bigger – an opioid epidemic that devastates his community, and hurts a troubling number of young, seemingly healthy individuals like his son.
Watch the trailer here.
The Staircase
Netflix’s The Staircase centres on novelist Michael Peterson, who was convicted of murdering his wife, Kathleen. It seemed like an accident. She was found dead at the bottom of the stairs of their home, and he pleaded not guilty. The series delves into 16 years of investigation, testimonies and trials that eventually decided that he was responsible for her death.
But what do you think? Is this another classic case of a flawed forensic and judicial system? Or did Peterson do it?
Watch the trailer here.
Unabomber: In His Own Words
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As the title suggests, this true-crime docuseries take us through an interview with Ted Kaczynski (aka The Unabomber). In just four episodes, viewers get into the hows and whys Kaczynski left his career as a Mathematics professor to become a terrorist throughout the late ’70s to the late ’90s.
A point to note: these episodes work in a way that assumes the viewer has background knowledge about Kaczynski. As such, we recommend reading more about him before diving into the show.
Watch the trailer here.
The Disappearance of Madeleine McCann
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You’ve probably seen this all over the news. You’ve probably also seen it on Brit football players’ pre-game T-shirts, which were printed with her face and name. In 2007, three-year-old Madeleine McCann was abducted in plain sight from a resort in Portugal. For almost a decade, British and Portuguese authorities and the McCann family’s private investigators went on a search for Madeleine. She was, unfortunately, nowhere to be found. Not even her remains.
If you’re expecting to find the answers from this series, don’t. The Disappearance of Madeleine McCann very much presents the torturous and arduous process of finding a missing person. And how the McCanns were placed under so much scrutiny by the justice system and the media – even accused of orchestrating the disappearance of their own daughter. Which family would do such a thing, right? What’s your take on this?
Watch the trailer here.
Other honourable mentions: Who Killed Malcolm X, The Mind of Aaron Hernandez, Wormwood, Evil Genius, The Devil Next Door, The Keepers, The Trials of Gabriel Fernandez, Wild Wild Country and The Alcàsser Murder