Ice Cold: Murder, Coffee and Jessica Wongso

Why did you call such a superficial work a documentary? No conversation was had with other friends at the same table, with other girls in the same WhatsApp group, or even with the husband of the victim. Why are random passersby talking in a documentary about a cyanide coffee case? Like "we made a bet on who would win the case and I won this car from that bet." What is that, why? You shouldn't call it a documentary if you're not going to get people involved to talk. We could get more information than that on the evening news. I was curious about the other 14 cases involving Jessica (which were, of course, also omitted from the documentary), so I googled their names. There's a 60-minute documentary that provides much more information than what's covered in this Netflix production. I mean why? Why would you do a more sloppy job when you had more budget, more reputation, and more opportunities at Netflix?

This film is very good at dissecting the intricacies of the Indonesian legal system and add laying there its flaws. While the Indonesian legal system is certainly unique within the world, it seems that this case is problematic for the reason that many other cases in the world are problematic - media attention. Sometimes I wonder if it would be a better system when you were accused, charged, tried of a crime in secret. That way if you were innocent no one would ever know that you had been accused of a crime, and if you are guilty then your trial has more of a chance to be a fair one without the glare of the media. Of course that system also would probably lead to abuses of power as well. This is an interesting documentary that plays more like a sensationalistic film.

"The (Indonesian) criminal justice system needs to be reformed." That was probably the truest statement made in this documentary, which could also summarize the entire movie.

Their "expert" witnesses were highly dubious to say the least. They literally brought in a physiognomist (a sort of pseudoscientist judging someone's character based on their facial features) to testify in court! I was flabbergasted! I will not reveal the verdict in my review, so as to avoid spoilers. I have my own suspicions and probably agreed with the outcome. But suffice to say the methods they used to reach that outcome were shockingly backwards and therefore I think the verdict should have been different.

Obviously there are many beautiful aspects of the diverse Indonesian culture and people, but after watching this documentary I will not be planning a trip there anytime soon. No place is perfect, certainly not my own country (United States). But this documentary revealed some serious and frightening flaws in their society. I think it's worth a look, especially if you have even a passing interest in Indonesia.

Why wasn't Hani, who was with Mirna and Jessica, interviewed at all?

I think this is crucial to address because she was in the middle of the emergency situation.

This film feels more like a YouTube documentary than something you'd expect on Netflix.

Asking random people on the street about the case makes it seem like the production team was trying too hard to stretch the content.

Additionally, Jessica Wongso, as the accused, barely gets a chance to speak, which makes the documentary even less valuable.

The film mostly rehashes past events without providing any new or meaningful information to the audience.

This documentary showcases to a global Netflix audience that the Indonesian justice system is still chaotic-if you have money, you have power.

Ungornately, this is a real live crime.

When I was watching it, I almost forgot that that happened for real.

It seemed to me that I was warching a B movie with a nad script and argument that nobody would believe. Unless you were a Indonesian Justice Member.

What a shame.

Everytime I see this kind of situation, I confirm the ideia that we have to much to evolve yet.

Here in Brazil we have these kind of justice as well.

The specialists that are more interested in look good in pictures than protect the truth.

Nobody cares about the other people as long as they can perform their futile show.