The Cheshire Murders

I'm not sure what the theory behind this doc was supposed to be (as in, why was this made other than a rehashing of the facts)... I'm so jaded after watching so many documentaries that I believed that it was going to be a turn of events and the husband was going to have something to do with it, but no... It's just a straight retelling of a horrible horrible crime—nothing but the facts, ma'am. Was it to show that the Cheshire police were so inept that they should be held accountable? Was it to advocate for right-to-die laws? Who knows. Neither was presented with enough impact to make the viewer feel like that was their intention. The narrative was all over the place and all I got from this doc was a feeling of hopelessness.

I personally believe that the death penalty is wrong but when you watch a documentary like this it's hard to argue that point as the two beasts that committed these crimes are the lowest of the low .

This documentary is about a brutal home invasion in Cheshire, Connecticut in 2007. In the quiet suburb of Cheshire, Connecticut, Jennifer Petit and her two young daughters were killed in a horrific home invasion; husband and father William Petit was the only one who escaped alive.

It's difficult to rate a documentary like this for entertainment purposes because nobody should be entertained by what they are seeing here . The details are horrific but the film makers do hold back for the viewers and families sake .

The film could have been much more informative If the Cheshire police had not refused to take part or there were cameras in the court but because these aren't available the film makers rely mainly on family footage and press coverage and its far too long a film to be just filled with these scenes . It would have been easier to watch if it could have been cut by half an hour at least .

The main thing I got out of this film is how the family dealt with their tragedy. It's truly amazing how they seemed to cope. I'm pretty sure it would have finished me.

This seems quite underrated - perhaps people are so moved by the horror of the crime they don't appreciate the filmmakers who presented a thorough and detailed account of what happened, and why.

Fascinating insights into the incident itself and backgrounds of the monsters responsible, including conversations with their families. All too clearly is it brought to life what went on in that house, the ramifications for the wider community and ultimately all of us. A shocking story, one you're not likely to forget. Detailed as it is, never does it treat the subject without its due gravity; this is a portrait of evil in all its ugliness, also sensitive examination of the ripple effects when those from our more familiar middle class world are plunged unexpectedly into its depths.

On July 22, 2007, William Petit was a successful doctor, living the dream with his wife and two daughters in the Connecticut town of Cheshire, population circa 29,000. By the following night he was lying in a hospital bed battered and beaten. Far, far worse, he was a widower, the lives of his wife and both daughters snuffed out by two lowlifes whose crime was as shocking as any we have come to see in this at times cruel world. Even his home had been burned out, and the psychological trauma he and his immediate family suffered does not bear thinking about.

This HBO documentary begins with the aftermath of the crime and ends with the trial of Joshua Komisarjevsky; both men were sentenced to death. It contains some unpleasant footage but no autopsy photos or reconstructions. Remarkably it manages to cover the case from all angles speaking to the father of Jennifer Hawke-Petit, the daughter and both brothers of killer Steven Hayes, and the youthful girlfriend of his partner-in-crime along with the defense attorneys of both men and the prosecution. The latter's love interest spoke candidly; she said Komisarjevsky liked to tie her up. In this day and age there is nothing shocking about this revelation, but tying up an 11 year old girl, raping her and setting her on fire is no sane person's idea of kinky sex.

The family of Hayes have mixed feelings, his young daughter Alicia feels sorry for him while his brothers believe he should be executed. Although Hayes is the older man, there is little doubt that Komisarjevsky has earned himself a hotter spot in Hell; he was said always to have had a preference for young girls; one contributor to this film said he told Komisarjevsky he was a paedophile; if he were not then, he is now. At the penalty phase of his trial, the claim was made that he was sexually abused as a child; this claim appears to be true, but it mitigates how? More interestingly, Komisarjevsky is said to have a photographic memory and to be a talented artist, the drawings displayed here are certainly evidence of such talent; it's just a pity he had to squander it.

It seems unlikely now that either man will be executed. Not mentioned here is the fact that Hayes has boasted of committing many other murders, but this may simply be bravado.

There is a lot more in this documentary, and some people may find it too much for their sensibilities, but it is a remarkable work that deserves a wide audience.

Any typical Forensic Files episode is an order of magnitude more interesting, at less than a quarter of the running length. This doc doesn't add anything to what we already find out in the 1st 5 minutes, nothing surprising or new, and takes 2 hrs not doing that. As such, not clear why this was made, just looks like an something originating on a list of pitches that a documentary film maker would make to HBO so they can pick up a pay check