"The Staircase" | The Odyssey Online
Start writing a post
Arts Entertainment

4 Crime Documentaries That Will Make You Lose Your Faith In Humanity

If you're struggling to find something to watch, or are just looking to lose your faith in humanity, then this article is for you.

1208
4 Crime Documentaries That Will Make You Lose Your Faith In Humanity

Documentaries are usually seen by younger generations as boring, cold, and simply unsatisfying to watch. People have this misconception that documentaries are little more than those academic films we'd watch in math, science, and history class, but they couldn't be any more wrong! "Documentaries" encompass a myriad of subjects, and as such can be filmed for a plethora of reasons!

There are factual, informative ones more akin to something you'd see on National Geographic or the History Channel, but there's also investigative journalism that creates documentaries centered around uncovering the truth and revealing hidden villains.

After a week of Netflix binging, I now present you with the best documentaries I've found on Netflix.

"The Staircase"

In short, this documentary, which is broken up into several 50-minute episodes, follows the case of Mr. Michael Iver Peterson, a man accused of beating his wife to death. Throughout the documentary, you get to witness the ups and downs of Mr. Peterson's trials and tribulations. Without giving anything away, it's a roller coaster.

"Betting on Zero"

Not everyone frequents /r/antiMLM, but even my grandmother, who was entirely disinterested in watching ANY kind of documentary, found herself enthralled. It essentially exposes Herbalife for being a Pyramid Scheme, which I hope is a term you've heard at least once in your life. Bill Ackman, a hedge fund manager, does his best to expose Herbalife for the scam it is and the lives it has destroyed. It's truly heart-wrenching. While criminal charges are firmly charged against Herbalife are never seen through, pyramid schemes are a highly illegal business platform that you should really inform yourself of.

"Making a Murderer"

Out of any of these, you would've seen, I imagine that this would be the one you have seen. Unlike "The Staircase," this crime documentary follows the story of Steven Avery, a man who was wrongfully charged with rape in the mid-1980s. For 18 years, Mr. Avery sat inside prison, away from his wife, children, family, and friends. The DNA evidence that found the true rapist not only freed Mr. Avery, but it also helped prove that the county that had DELIBERATELY ignored better, more likely suspects in order to prosecute Avery. Two years after his release, he is once again charged of a criminal crime: the rape and murder of a woman named Teresa Halbach. This documentary really shook my previously steeled trust of Justice.

"The Witness"

"The Witness" is a breath of fresh air compared to the other crime documentaries on this list. In this one, the story is centered around the murder of a woman named Kitty Genovese, a woman who, reportedly, was beaten, raped, and murdered in front of 30 plus witnesses, all of whom did nothing to help her. Well, really it's about her brother, Bill Genovese, who has spent years trying to seek the truth surrounding her murder. It gives a lot of insight into just how devastating losing a loved one can be, and how it can really rearrange someone's life.

As I write this I become more and more convinced that I just have an addiction to crime documentaries. Hopefully, you decide to give at least one of these documentaries a chance. They're incredibly riveting and have brought me hours of entertainment. I highly recommend that you binge with a friend or family member because the content within these documentaries is juicy and so fun to discuss with others.

Report this Content
This article has not been reviewed by Odyssey HQ and solely reflects the ideas and opinions of the creator.
Student Life

5 Things To Do That Are Better Than Writing A Paper

Don't waste your time trying to write that paper when there are so many more interesting things you could be doing.

1811
computer keyboard
Unsplash

Writing a paper is never fun and is rarely rewarding. The writer's block, the page requirement, be specific, but don’t summarize, make sure you fixed any grammatical errors, did you even use spellcheck? and analyze, analyze, analyze.

Papers can be a major pain. They take up so much time and effort that by the end of the process you hate yourself and you hate the professor for making life so difficult. Questions of your existence start roaming in your mind. Am I even cut out for college if I can’t write a single paper? Am I even capable of taking care of myself if I lack the energy to open my laptop and start typing?

Keep Reading...Show less
Relationships

10 Reasons Why Sisters Are The Best

Who could be a better friend than your own sister?

1173
sisters
Taylor Hooper

I can barely remember back when I was the only child. Most would say it’s because it is extremely difficult to remember things as a toddler but I would say it's because I was bored until my sister came along. My mother always says how important the "sister bond" is and with every year that passes I realize how right she is. Instead of writing a novel about all of the wonderful things there are about having a sister I decided to list a few of them instead.

Keep Reading...Show less
Student Life

How To Adult

You're gonna make it after all.

2730
how to adult
Twitter

It is the time of our lives that we are beginning to enter the adult world and most of us, if not all of us, have no idea what we are doing. It's like starting a video game, but skipping the tutorial. We're all just running around aimlessly hoping we accidentally do something right that moves us along the right path. Now that graduation has just happened, or is right around the corner for some of us, it's time to start thinking about how we are going to take care of ourselves once we are on our own.

Keep Reading...Show less
Lifestyle

7 Signs You're A Starbucks Addict

I'll be the first one to admit I'm addicted to Starbucks.

1403
drinking coffee
Tumblr

If you’re anything like me, you love a good cup of coffee. My coffee always comes from Starbucks; I refuse to drink it from anywhere else. Over the years, it’s become one of my biggest addictions. So, if you are aware that you’re a Starbucks addict as well, or maybe you need to check to see if you’re an addict, here are seven ways to tell.

Keep Reading...Show less
people  in library
Photo by redcharlie on Unsplash

College involves a whirlwind of emotions, whether it’s from the stress of an assignment (or twenty), or from fighting with your roommate. It can be overwhelming at times and it’s important to take a step a back and calmly think things over. Maybe gain some perspective. The following aren’t foolproof tips and may not apply to you, but I was able to find success with them (hope you do too!)

Keep Reading...Show less

Subscribe to Our Newsletter

Facebook Comments