Review: True crime takes center stage in 'American Murder Mystery'

Posted Tuesday, September 18, 2018 at 11:53 AM Central

by John Couture

I admit it. I'm a sucker for true crime content. Whether it's news stories, TV specials or even podcasts, if there are grisly details out there about a true crime, I'm intrigued. Add in an unsolved element and I am completely hooked. I think it has to do with the inherent curiosity in all of us, but I gobble up this content not only to become more knowledgeable about the crime but convinced that I might, in some way, be able to help solve the mystery.

Enter An American Murder Mystery and you know that I'm interested.

Investigation Discovery (ID) is a television network that provides documentary-type narratives of true crimes. Basically, it's like crack to people like me. As an off-shoot of the Discovery channel, they do a great job of producing content that is both informative and entertaining to reach a broad audience.

Over the last few years, they have put out a number of episodes under a loose heading of An American Murder Mystery and Lionsgate has gathered them all together in this first installment from ID. The crimes included are some of the biggest unsolved murders in our country's history including JonBenét Ramsey, Casey Anthony and Natalie Wood.

Some of the crimes are bigger than others and as such, the programs are split into several parts such as the three-part story on JonBenét Ramsey. Other crimes are covered in a single episode and it really gives the crimes some weight as they collection is viewed in the ordered presented in the An American Murder Mystery DVD.

Naturally, you don't have to watch them in the order of the set, but I found their order to be interesting. There's an almost a grisly theme that starts to emerge as you watch them in order in which the underlying psychosis for committing these crimes gets darker.

Some of the crimes are still technically unsolved such as JonBenét Ramsey, while others leave you with a bad taste in your mouth such as Casey Anthony's vignette. Of course, each crime has its main suspects and no matter what the outcome, the ID shows do an excellent job of relating the facts without trying to prejudice your opinion.

Even the bizarre cases in which we know what happened such as Scott Peterson, the program provides context along the way to help you get an understanding of the events surrounding the crime in case you didn't live through it. This is extremely helpful for the special on Natalie Wood in which many viewers are probably too young to remember her mysterious death. I was merely a babe when she died, but I felt the program presented the facts fairly and allowed the viewer to make their own conclusions.

At the end of the day, if you're a true crime buff like me, then you'll appreciate this handy collection that covers some of most sensational American murders. Even as well-versed as I thought I was for many of these cases, I found out plenty of new details and information about each murder.

An American Murder Mystery will make a great addition to any true crime fan's library and is now available on DVD.