The Devil You Know

I guess there's a new edit out, and maybe that's the one I saw. I did notice some repeat info, but assumed it was where the commercial breaks would go. I'm not sure why everyone is upset about the "bias" of the docuseries. It's clear that the system and the war on drugs failed these people. I think the the reason people are upset about this "bias" is because it goes against the narrative they've been spoon fed since the Bush era. Systemic problems cause systemic issues, including but not limited to; drug addicts not able to afford rehab; families giving up on them; hopelessness; death and yes, even murder.

I actually thought having the two junkies in the docuseries was an interesting look into how addicts spiral. The hopelessness and the struggles. This docuseries might be a little slow for some people, but it's a good look into how these systemic problems drive people to murder and drug addiction.

What have making a murderer, the jinx and the staircase got in common? They are all compelling, must see multipart documentary series.On paper at least 'the devil you know' looks like it might follow in that fine tradition. With its intriguing premise of drugs, sex,satan and small town murder plus an endless parade of druggies,misfits,law enforcement officials willing to share their recollections, this series can't fail right? Wrong. What becomes apparent by episode three, is that director Patricia k Gillespie lacks a clear vision of what kind of documentary she wants to make. Instead of focusing on the details surrounding the crimes and the participants, she instead becomes preoccupied, for long periods of the running time, by one particular drug addled couple. What started out as a potentially exhilarating true crime epic, becomes a fly on the wall expose of small town drug use, that has more in common with ' the house I live in' or 'FIX : the story of an addicted city' , only not as interesting as either of those two films. You can't blame the director for wanting to paint a picture of the milieu in which the events took place, but by the time she has interviewed the millionth misfit who had minimal interaction with the film's protagnist, you have to resist the urge to switch it off and read the Wikipedia page relating to the case instead. Sporadically interesting but mostly tedious and with delusions of social importance that would make a social worker blush, the devil is definitely in the details here.

Just paid for and watched two-episodes and definitely a waste of time and money. I have long been a documentary freak and this documentary is for those that need to be told the same information over and over and over and over..see how annoying that is? Half way into the second episode they are retelling episode one!

Definitely an intriguing subject and the 'law enforcement officer's' in Winston Salem are a total joke, they truly let down the victims and the community in which they are tasked to protect.

Won't be watching anymore Vice 'documentaries'. Unfortunate waste of of everyone's time too; what an opportunity wasted.

This series is a mess. It jumps all over the place and is very repetitive. The "reporter" at the center of the film doesn't seem to grasp how real crime reporting works and can't even wrap his head around what hearsay is or how it relates to a criminal case. This could've been a great series. Instead it's a wasted effort.

I'm glad this series is on Hulu. Even though some things were dragged out. The documentary's are very foretelling and interesting to say the least.