The Speedway Murders

I was initially unsure about the narrative style in which the actors who portray the victims walk through and discuss the various theories themselves, however by the end I knew the directors had nailed it in a truly humanizing way.

This true crime docu-drama is unique not only in its narrative structure, but also in the quality of the production design, soundtrack, cinematography, use of colour, and tasteful, high quality reenactment scenes and dialogue.

The filmmakers clearly earned the trust of the various witnesses, police officers and family and friends of the victims as evidenced by the degree of openness and emotion demonstrated by them in the film.

By the end, I was in tears.

How can this have an 8.2 rating when all they're doing is showing a different scenario of the same scenes over and over and over again? The only reason I paid to watch it was because of the 8.2 rating. I am halfway through and giving this review because it's so frustrating. I want to stop watching it. They've given me virtually no information and just keep showing the same scenes with different dialogue over and over. Now to make this review I have another 150 characters to put in so, I'm just going to blather different words that don't make any sense and doesn't have anything to do with the review.

I wasn't aware of this tragic event, so watching it was both sad and interesting (in a strange way).

In 1978 four teenagers who all work together at a fast food restaurant are tragically killed. The story is told in a respectful manner, goes into detail and moves at a good pace. A few different scenarios of the evening are proposed. You will find yourself trying to pick the most likely scenario to crack the case.

The story has an interesting twist as actors play the victims who speak about the tragic night. This gives the documentary a slightly deeper insight. You feel sorrow for each teenager, their friends and family.

The world is a terrible place at times.

This is done in a unique way, it mixes interviews with all the key players (family, suspects, friends of suspects), with dramatisations giving voice to the victims - there are actors playing the four victims and talking to each other (in character, in the restaurant, as they clean up etc) about the case and the likelihood of each theory. At first I thought, "this is a bit cheesy, c'mon guys". But after a while I realised how good it is. So sad. Senseless. Giving the victims actual life, mixed in with family interviews makes it even sadder. The polite 17 yr old girl who kept a diary, looking forward to turning 18 soon. The guy wanting to make the basketball team. The other guy wanting some pocket money for xmas presents. Such a bloody waste by a cold blooded killer.

The Speedway Murders is a gripping and well-researched true crime documentary that masterfully explores the chilling 1978 Burger Chef murders. With a balanced mix of archival footage, expert interviews, and dramatic reenactments, the film keeps viewers engaged while shedding light on a decades-old mystery. The pacing is strong, building suspense without feeling exploitative, and the storytelling remains respectful to the victims. While some questions remain unanswered, the documentary does an excellent job of presenting the case and possible theories. A must-watch for true crime fans. 9/10 and god bless the victims and their families.