Best of Similar Documentaries but Annoying Factors reduces the Score
Like others, this is one of the better documentaries on crime.
I like that they show actual footage, interview friends and family and take you for the ride on the investigation.
I've just watched an episode from Season 5 and noticed something that seems to be in every show.
These are the reasons I didn't score higher.
The overly and unnecessary dramatic music to amp up the tension. It's just not necessary and has become annoying. I now watch with low sound and subtitles. The actors who don't resemble their real life counterparts. A large family member who was portrayed by a petite actor. This was shameful. A maroon car that changed colour and model when they set the scene up for the forensics. If you can't find the right props to accurately portray the scene then look harder or don't show it. Replaying CCTV footage over and over and over. Then in slow motion and detectives that see something that's clearly not shown like a passenger. I came to the conclusion that the production of the footage is intentionally grained to make it seem as if the Detectives have super powers. A dark car on a dark night was spotted in broad day light and the officer noticed the rusty wheel which you could not see in the CCTV footage because it was too grainy. The car (actual surveillance) as crystal clear but went grainy when they reshowed it in slow motion. I just don't believe that all Walmarts, Costcos and other stores all use old VHS tapes or low level CCTV, what would be the point when you can't make anything out? The narrator is a drama queen. As soon as he spies a CCTV camera, the music goes up and the old 'could we have a eye witness to this horrible crime?' gets trotted out. It's the whole reason for the programme! And then announcing a find that will 'dramatically change the direction of the investigation', or offer 'a twist that no one saw coming'. Then it doesn't.
On the whole it's a great idea, great concept and good story spoiled by being overly produced and under acted. A shame really. If it was presented better and offered as a true documentary with better actors then it really would blow the competition away.
It's a 6 for could have been if they hadn't been sucked into reality hell.
I like that they show actual footage, interview friends and family and take you for the ride on the investigation.
I've just watched an episode from Season 5 and noticed something that seems to be in every show.
These are the reasons I didn't score higher.
The overly and unnecessary dramatic music to amp up the tension. It's just not necessary and has become annoying. I now watch with low sound and subtitles. The actors who don't resemble their real life counterparts. A large family member who was portrayed by a petite actor. This was shameful. A maroon car that changed colour and model when they set the scene up for the forensics. If you can't find the right props to accurately portray the scene then look harder or don't show it. Replaying CCTV footage over and over and over. Then in slow motion and detectives that see something that's clearly not shown like a passenger. I came to the conclusion that the production of the footage is intentionally grained to make it seem as if the Detectives have super powers. A dark car on a dark night was spotted in broad day light and the officer noticed the rusty wheel which you could not see in the CCTV footage because it was too grainy. The car (actual surveillance) as crystal clear but went grainy when they reshowed it in slow motion. I just don't believe that all Walmarts, Costcos and other stores all use old VHS tapes or low level CCTV, what would be the point when you can't make anything out? The narrator is a drama queen. As soon as he spies a CCTV camera, the music goes up and the old 'could we have a eye witness to this horrible crime?' gets trotted out. It's the whole reason for the programme! And then announcing a find that will 'dramatically change the direction of the investigation', or offer 'a twist that no one saw coming'. Then it doesn't.
On the whole it's a great idea, great concept and good story spoiled by being overly produced and under acted. A shame really. If it was presented better and offered as a true documentary with better actors then it really would blow the competition away.
It's a 6 for could have been if they hadn't been sucked into reality hell.
- andrewrye-06535
- Jun 12, 2022