Der Fall Nathan Carman

A well put together and interesting true crime story. I had never heard of this case before and so every new twist was shocking. Documenters did a good job of splicing archive footage, interviews, and news clips. The interviews were relevant and both sides were heard from equally. Definitely suspicious.

An interesting documentary! I had never heard of the Carman case before, which is probably why it held my attention more than it did for others who found it slow. The runtime is just right, not overstretched, and it's easy to get through in one sitting. Definitely a good pick if you're unfamiliar with the case and want a straightforward true-crime deep dive.

Nathan Carman is rescued at sea after a fishing trip with his mother, Linda - who mysteriously vanishes. Years earlier, his wealthy grandfather, John Chakalos, was shot dead in his bed, with Nathan reportedly the last person to see him alive. Diagnosed autistic, Nathan's awkwardness and the suspicious circumstances combine to make a story as chilling as it is baffling.

An intriguing 90-minute documentary explores the two deaths and explains why Nathan was suspected of being involved in both. It details the family dynamic, but primarily focuses on Nathan. We learn that he was diagnosed with autism aged just four. Very early on, you can see that Nathan is neurodiverse; in interviews he is withdrawn and uncomfortable, and his quirks were seen as a sign of guilt.

It's a well-made documentary, skilfully assembled. The footage and interviews are plentiful, helping to tell the story and piece it together. The pictures of Nathan, I would suggest, tell their own story. Strong arguments are made on both sides: the defence emphasises that Nathan was funded by his grandfather and idolised by his mother, while the prosecution suggest he was motivated by inheriting a small fortune.

It's crazy to think that the investigation lasted six years; innocent or guilty, Nathan would have been in limbo for a very long time, not helped by his mental health.

It's well paced, even though it's ninety minutes long, it moves by nicely, and at no point will you find yourself losing concentration or getting bored. You're swayed from one side of the argument to the other throughout, I guarantee your opinion will move as you watch (if you don't know the outcome).

I must congratulate Netflix for dropping a documentary like this at this time of year - it proves if you sift through all of the Christmas films, you can find a hidden gem.

8/10.

Police officers with their 'years of experience' and 'indicators' is just code for not understanding autism. If ever a documentary is a perfect display for why police is bad at their jobs. No actual detective work done, just hunches based on preconceived notions of how emotions should be displayed. Incompetence is overflowing.

This is why autistic people need protection, because a lot of neurotypicals are unwilling to accept differences.

Thought it was pretty good. Then I realized it had fake backdrops when interviewing people, and the furniture they sat on was telling of their narrative. Pretty common for most "docs" these days. Anthing fake, discredits the whole production. You're not a documentation, you're a film producer. Stopped caring what they thought they were doing when they fictionalized a location. Be about facts and facts only.