As a long-time documentary fanatic, I always find myself in the dark depths of Netflix's browse section in a desperate attempt to find something good. For those of us who love movies with dark themes, these 5 documentaries do an amazing job at keeping the audience's attention!
Don't watch these films if you're sensitive to graphic material!
1. Who Took Johnny
As a personal favorite of mine, this eighty-minute film discusses the 1982 disappearance of a young boy named Johnny Gosch and his mother's arduous journey to find him. This documentary dives into government conspiracy theories and will leave you on edge throughout the remainder of the film. If you search Gosch's name on Google, there's no death date listed...but is he actually dead? This is definitely one to check out, and will leave you researching his name for hours!
2. Interview With a Serial Killer
Despite this film's short duration of 45 minutes, it truly manages to grasp the sense of what it's like to interact with a real serial killer. This documentary interviews a man named Arthur Shawcross who murdered two children and eleven prostitutes. His lack of remorse is riveting and will keep your eyes locked on the screen from start to finish!
(Trigger warning for those who are sensitive to graphic material).
3. Fear of 13
Inmate Nick Yarris, 56, spent 22 years on death row for a crime he didn't commit. This interview-style documentary goes deep into Yarris's life in prison, how he spent his time, and how he managed to maintain his sanity while locked up and in solitary confinement. This one is definitely a tear jerker!
4. Jonestown: Nightmare in Paradise
For those who are interested in social psychology and mob mentality, this one's for you! Although this one is only available on YouTube, it's a surreal and mind-blowing film about Jim Jones. Jones, a cult leader of "the people's temple," created his own town in Guyana and successfully convinced hundreds of people to commit suicide. Taking place in 1978, this film shows real footage of Jim Jones's sermons, and includes interviews of survivors of Jonestown.
5. Audrie and Daisy
This film explains the dangers of online harassment and social media through the eyes of two sexual abuse victims, Audrie and Daisy. These girls's stories are heartbreaking, but shed light on the importance of self-love and perseverance despite their difficulties.
(Trigger warning to those who are sensitive to sexual abuse stories).
