Change Your Image
![](https://images-na.ssl-images-amazon.com/images/M/MV5BMjQ4MTY5NzU2M15BMl5BanBnXkFtZTgwNDc5NTgwMTI@._V1_SY100_SX100_.jpg)
sendbriceemail
Reviews
Who Killed Garrett Phillips? (2019)
Why did the storytellers choose not to include more of the story?
First, this is an interesting watch. It keeps your attention. However, it focuses 90% of its time on a man accused of murdering a 12-year-old boy, but leaves so many questions. Too many.
The boy's mother dated the accused for a year & even lived with him. Why are we never told what about Nick Hillary led her to believe he killed her child? Although she did not participate in the documentary, her family members did and surely she was interviewed by police and possible testified in the trial to explain how the deceased and the accused did not get along. All we are told that the 12 year-old hated Hillary because he wouldn't let him watch enough TV or go outside and play enough. What does that mean? Did the kid not like having a strict father figure around, or was Hillary so much different with this boy than he was his own kids in front of the cameras? They never explain why not letting a kid watch TV or play outside whenever they want would indicate that person might be the type who would end up killing the child. Going from this documentary alone, it certainly does not look like the prosecution had a case at all other than Hillary's vehicle being seen going the same direction as the boy at about the same time. They said he was captured on two more cameras on his way home, but no one ever mentions anything about Hillary's vehicle being spotted on either camera. So what was it? Wouldn't one suspect Hillary would've shown up on the same camera if he was going to the same place as the boy?
At the same time, it bothered me throughout the documentary regarding how little there was about the child who was murdered. I also was taken aback by how little the accused seemed to think about this child who lost his life.
Overall, it is an interesting documentary, but there are so many holes the documentarians completely ignore, leaving the viewer wondering why such important information would be missing. Why did the mother think he would be capable of killing her child? Did she ever see a violent side to him? What exactly was his relationship with the child like? How did he act towards she and her family after they broke up? Were there problems with him? These are the things of you were wonders about while watching this story about a woman who is made to believe that her ex boyfriend could have just barged into her apartment and killed the child for no logical reason. What would make someone believe such a thing about someone they knew? There's just too much information missing, which made me constantly wonder how much other information from the trial the documentarians just didn't bother telling us.
I sincerely hope Hillary was innocent of these charges and Ken live a fruitful life. I also hope whoever did do this is caught. The documentarians focusing on the ex-boyfriend cop seemed to go nowhere and almost results in character assassination, even though he is a creepy dude. What are the first suggestions early in the program is that people believed that other kids might've been involved. My first thought was the choking game. The boy was suffocated and they said a bra was nearby his body, but that's all it was said. Where was the bra was it unusual that it would be wherever it was? Was there ever any testing to see if that was around the child's neck? What did the autopsy determine caused the strangulation? We never find out. Could it have been boys taking turns hanging themselves for a rush? Sadly, this is something that happens. Maybe the other boys took off? They didn't really go into this topic at all other than a mention or two by interviewees, so I am assuming there must've not been any evidence that that could've been what happened.
Yellowjackets: Storytelling (2023)
I probably gave too many stars
The first season was near perfect. The second season, while still containing moments of greatness, just seemed to continually fall flat, despite flawless acting by everyone in the cast. It's like the writers didn't have a plan for the season beyond where it would go, so the execution just seemed shoddy.
Examples: How many of us thought Lottie's explanation for how Travis died was so ridiculous that she must be lying? And then, when Natalie suddenly fell into Lottie's cult, how many assumed it was an act because she saw through the lie and was out for revenge? Nope! Just bad writing led us to imagine a better story was taking place. And even though it took nearly two seasons to see the hunting ritual begin, it seemed so haphazardly done. "We can't eat Lottie, so we'll very quickly decide to let the woods decide in the form of a deck of cards!" And then to see just how bloodthirsty and crazy they all became for a friend of theirs just didn't ring true, even if we know they're hungry. Also, what's up with the dripping sound? Never really explained. Don't get me started on how Taissa's wife and kid appear to be forgotten altogether.
In this season finale (which I gave seven stars because I'm still a fan of the show & the fire at the end signals new possibilities for the '90s timeline with Coach Ben, although I have no idea where the current timeline is headed other than Misty dealing with the horror of killing who she falsely believed was her best friend) was subpar at best with more unbelievable things happening. So, they're going to have Lottie committed. Wait, no, they're not, but only Van and Taissa know this! And after drawing cards, they just fall back to old habits and plan to kill one of their own, when they had literally decided to have Lottie locked up for suggesting just this in the first place? And then for Nat to die in such a dumb, clumsy fashion? I guess the writers basically killed the character to put her out of her misery after what they'd done to her this season.
Highlights of the episode almost nearly all come thanks to Jeff and Walter. Is Walter a serial killer?? (Still curious, if Walter lured the cops there, why did we have to see them follow Jeff's car to the campground? And the way the rookie cop was so quickly convinced to sell out his dead partner was a little too hokey as well.)
I don't know if the writers care to read fan reviews, but if one is, I will use this opportunity to plead with them to do better for S3. Please. You have an AMAZING cast, a great story and started telling it wonderfully. Consider S2 a stumble and please start giving your talented cast better quality to perform.
Mind Over Murder (2022)
This is a great, creative and touching documentary
I live in Nebraska, not very far from Beatrice. I have never liked Beatrice, something about the place always seemed kind of creepy to me. I remember when this murder happened and when the six suspects were put on trials. I also remember when they were exonerated and the controversy over how the county was going to repay them. Beyond that I never followed the case that closely. This documentary does a terrific job of showing all sides, a lot of facts, and letting the people involved speak for themselves. A lot of people have complained about the play involved. However, I think it gave a nice touch.