American Manhunt: O.J. Simpson

Netflix's American Manhunt: The O. J. Simpson Case attempts to revisit one of the most infamous criminal cases in American history. While it does a solid job of laying out the details of the case, presents interesting insights, archival footage, and expert commentary, there is one major issue that makes it almost unbearable to watch: Carl Douglas.

Douglas's delivery is so over-the-top and obnoxious that it completely pulls you out of the experience. He could have simply told his story like a normal person, but instead, he chooses to dramatize everything, making his segments exhausting and difficult to sit through. Every time he appeared on screen, it felt like he was performing in a one-man show rather than contributing meaningful insight. His presence alone makes the series frustrating at times.

That being said, if you can tolerate Douglas's relentless theatrics and some slow moments, American Manhunt is still a good docuseries.

I enjoyed the way this was set up with commentary from many involved with the case at the time. Even Mark Fuhrman. I took away one star for including Carl Douglas. What an obnoxious tool...I don't know how the man sleeps at night. Ever want to punch someone through a screen? That's him.... Bill Thompson the lawyer/DNA guy was not much better.

They both seemed to revel in the fact that they got OJ out of a murder conviction. I don't know how anyone could feel good about that.

Really felt for Christopher Darden, what a likeable guy. You can see the pain he feels to this day over this case. Ultimately the documentary did what others didn't, put the focus on the actual victims. Not just Ron and Nicole, but the people whose lives this awful event caused so many others. The saddest part is how the LA police dept. Really ended up affecting this case because of the Rodney King beating. The OJ trial turned into a trial about race and it never should have been. Had it not been for that I think this would have all turned out differently. His lawyers should never have referred to as the Dream Team, they were awful humans that spun this thing in the wrong direction. So unfair to the families of Ron and Nicole.

It's a story we've all heard a million times by now, so it's nothing particularly groundbreaking. It was interesting to hear from some of the witnesses who never testified. As bad as human memory and eyewitness testimony is, it's still considered good evidence, and may have actually done something impactful in this case. The one thing this documentary did manage to do that I was impressed with was to find the only person in America who seems to still honestly believe OJ was innocent. I get that he has a business and he can't go around saying his former clients were guilty, but come on man. Of course OJ did it.

The Ezra Edelman series from 2016 was so good I couldn't help but compare the new Netflix series to that. I remember the day the verdict was read I was in Paris, CA at a Walmart watching the verdict being read and the shouts of joy from the people around me. It's hard to believe anyone actually believed he was not guilty at the time. Payback for Rodney King? Perhaps...

This series is very well produced and informative and there were a few things I had not heard before. I wish Marcia Clark was involved with this series besides file tape but I can understand not wanting to go through the story yet again.

This case is like a monster that just won't die. Even after Simpson's death in 2024, we have another production, in documentary form, of the events that took place back in 1994-95.

This documentary stands out, though. We get to hear from the actual people who were directly involved with the entire event. Most of the key players who are still alive today are interviewed and their candor is compelling.

Anyone who's familiar with this case (which I imagine is everyone over the age of 40). For those born in the 90's, check out this documentary and you'll get perspective straight from most of the key players who were involved.

I've watched just about everything ever produced about the OJ Simpson murder trial but this one put the final touches on everything. I recommend it because it's well produced, and raw. No narration, just the voices of those who lived it. And I actually got some new information that I was unaware of. I found myself shaking my head often. It was good enough for me to binge watch the entire series in one sitting. If you have any interest in this subject, watch it. It's a great study of an American tragedy, and a fall from grace.