8.0 stars.
I'm coming from a place of unadulterated viewership. I never saw this "JCS" Youtube video they all talk about. So as I'm writing this review, I decided to check it out. The JCA Youtube channel gets millions of views for their true crime documentaries, however they aren't very prolific with the materials, posting a total of 20 videos over several years. I am guessing the makers of JCS hired to help with other documentaries (possibly this one) as a result of their success on Youtube (thus the possible reason they haven't posted a video in six months).
It's obvious that Netflix tends to reach a different audience than Youtube where true crime is concerned. I don't watch true crime videos on Youtube, or anywhere to be honest, but I see this has been popular for some time and I figured I'd check it out. True crime is overplayed on television, with so many channels that air nothing but this stuff 24/7. And when it comes to documentaries, again Youtube has some great stuff, but it's mostly amateur, and so if you want a real review of how this Netflix version could affect you, just read on.
Netflix did in fact nail this story about as good as any true crime documentary film could. How do I know? Well, it's been #1 for movies for several days. Comparing it to the Youtube version, I see some obvious differences. The Netflix version utilizes the tricks of the trade when it comes to evoking an emotional response. There is suspenseful music and excellent narration. The JCS version just spits out a lot of facts, but there is little emotion, just information, however it does present it in a very streamlined and interesting way. JCS succeeded in holding the audience's attention. In the end, it's really the narrative that sells itself.
I knew she had done it and I don't recall ever hearing about this crime on the news, because there are thousands of true crime stories similar to this. But what makes this documentary so much more riveting is the girl Jennifer, herself. She was a master actress in the story of her own life, burned into the police files as a seemingly innocent, yet troubled emotional wreck. It all culminated into a tangled no-win predicament. Something in this woman snapped. I suppose we can't blame the parents, but let's face it, they (at least her father) probably bullied her to the edge of madness. She should've just walked away. Why didn't she just walk away? She won so many piano contests, why not just be a piano teacher or something?
I'm coming from a place of unadulterated viewership. I never saw this "JCS" Youtube video they all talk about. So as I'm writing this review, I decided to check it out. The JCA Youtube channel gets millions of views for their true crime documentaries, however they aren't very prolific with the materials, posting a total of 20 videos over several years. I am guessing the makers of JCS hired to help with other documentaries (possibly this one) as a result of their success on Youtube (thus the possible reason they haven't posted a video in six months).
It's obvious that Netflix tends to reach a different audience than Youtube where true crime is concerned. I don't watch true crime videos on Youtube, or anywhere to be honest, but I see this has been popular for some time and I figured I'd check it out. True crime is overplayed on television, with so many channels that air nothing but this stuff 24/7. And when it comes to documentaries, again Youtube has some great stuff, but it's mostly amateur, and so if you want a real review of how this Netflix version could affect you, just read on.
Netflix did in fact nail this story about as good as any true crime documentary film could. How do I know? Well, it's been #1 for movies for several days. Comparing it to the Youtube version, I see some obvious differences. The Netflix version utilizes the tricks of the trade when it comes to evoking an emotional response. There is suspenseful music and excellent narration. The JCS version just spits out a lot of facts, but there is little emotion, just information, however it does present it in a very streamlined and interesting way. JCS succeeded in holding the audience's attention. In the end, it's really the narrative that sells itself.
I knew she had done it and I don't recall ever hearing about this crime on the news, because there are thousands of true crime stories similar to this. But what makes this documentary so much more riveting is the girl Jennifer, herself. She was a master actress in the story of her own life, burned into the police files as a seemingly innocent, yet troubled emotional wreck. It all culminated into a tangled no-win predicament. Something in this woman snapped. I suppose we can't blame the parents, but let's face it, they (at least her father) probably bullied her to the edge of madness. She should've just walked away. Why didn't she just walk away? She won so many piano contests, why not just be a piano teacher or something?