I had recently heard about this serial killing case on a recent podcast and had recalled seeing the title on Amazon Prime. So I checked it out.
This is how you know how awful the producers of this documentary were in putting this film together. From the beginning of this film they played clips, over and over again, from an audio diary this murderer had created in 1991, apparently before the killings (that we know of) were committed . I get it. They wanted us to hear a serial killer speaking, in his own voice, so we would understand how ordinary he sounded discussing his philosophy of life. Unfortunately, this useless plot device kept getting replayed. To what purpose? It would be like watching a documentary on Charles Manson, only to be subjected to having to hear all his music throughout the documentary.
On top of that, it is literally infuriating to see some of these 'farm employees' and friends fawn over what a good guy Pickton was, at times. Did we really need to see the stuffed animal (minus the voicebox) that Pickton gave to a friend's daughter? Or to see some of these women blatantly cover up what were obviously some of their own roles? One woman, in particular, who lied about a murder scene she had seen, led to 11 more victims dying over the next 2 years. And yet, she goes free, because she finally told the truth at the trial. And she behaves in this documentary as if she has absolutely no sense of shame.
It is also very apparent, from what we are being told, that Vancouver law enforcement totally bungled this, but the documentary makers present no resolution or sense of accountability for any of it. There were a couple of people that sincerely seemed like they were trying to get to the root of what was happening, but it was equally clear that many others were trying to blame other circumstances for the failure of their investigation.
Worst of all is that this documentary, instead of focusing on the victims and their plight, seem more intent on celebrating the killer. I did not want to hear his folksy philosophy of life, ad nauseum, or hear the accounts of how kind he was to others.
This is one of those films that does not enlighten, but just leaves you with a feeling of bleakness and sadness.
This is how you know how awful the producers of this documentary were in putting this film together. From the beginning of this film they played clips, over and over again, from an audio diary this murderer had created in 1991, apparently before the killings (that we know of) were committed . I get it. They wanted us to hear a serial killer speaking, in his own voice, so we would understand how ordinary he sounded discussing his philosophy of life. Unfortunately, this useless plot device kept getting replayed. To what purpose? It would be like watching a documentary on Charles Manson, only to be subjected to having to hear all his music throughout the documentary.
On top of that, it is literally infuriating to see some of these 'farm employees' and friends fawn over what a good guy Pickton was, at times. Did we really need to see the stuffed animal (minus the voicebox) that Pickton gave to a friend's daughter? Or to see some of these women blatantly cover up what were obviously some of their own roles? One woman, in particular, who lied about a murder scene she had seen, led to 11 more victims dying over the next 2 years. And yet, she goes free, because she finally told the truth at the trial. And she behaves in this documentary as if she has absolutely no sense of shame.
It is also very apparent, from what we are being told, that Vancouver law enforcement totally bungled this, but the documentary makers present no resolution or sense of accountability for any of it. There were a couple of people that sincerely seemed like they were trying to get to the root of what was happening, but it was equally clear that many others were trying to blame other circumstances for the failure of their investigation.
Worst of all is that this documentary, instead of focusing on the victims and their plight, seem more intent on celebrating the killer. I did not want to hear his folksy philosophy of life, ad nauseum, or hear the accounts of how kind he was to others.
This is one of those films that does not enlighten, but just leaves you with a feeling of bleakness and sadness.