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The Chris Watts Story

Original title: Chris Watts: Confessions of a Killer
  • TV Movie
  • 2020
  • TV-14
  • 1h 30m
IMDb RATING
5.9/10
775
YOUR RATING
The Chris Watts Story (2020)
CrimeDrama

When Chris Watts stoically yet smirkingly pleaded to television cameras for the safe return of his missing pregnant wife Shanann and their two young daughters, dark secrets loomed just benea... Read allWhen Chris Watts stoically yet smirkingly pleaded to television cameras for the safe return of his missing pregnant wife Shanann and their two young daughters, dark secrets loomed just beneath the surface.When Chris Watts stoically yet smirkingly pleaded to television cameras for the safe return of his missing pregnant wife Shanann and their two young daughters, dark secrets loomed just beneath the surface.

  • Director
    • Michael Nankin
  • Writer
    • Barbara Marshall
  • Stars
    • Ashley Williams
    • Brooke Smith
    • Chloe Van Landschoot
  • See production info at IMDbPro
  • IMDb RATING
    5.9/10
    775
    YOUR RATING
    • Director
      • Michael Nankin
    • Writer
      • Barbara Marshall
    • Stars
      • Ashley Williams
      • Brooke Smith
      • Chloe Van Landschoot
    • 16User reviews
    • 2Critic reviews
  • See production info at IMDbPro
  • See production info at IMDbPro
    • Awards
      • 3 nominations total

    Photos6

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    Top cast18

    Edit
    Ashley Williams
    Ashley Williams
    • Shanann Watts
    Brooke Smith
    Brooke Smith
    • Tammy Lee
    Chloe Van Landschoot
    Chloe Van Landschoot
    • Nicole Kessinger
    April Telek
    April Telek
    • Amber
    Sean Kleier
    Sean Kleier
    • Chris Watts
    Reid Price
    Reid Price
    • Officer #2
    Nola Augustson
    Nola Augustson
    • Sandy
    Taylor Olson
    Taylor Olson
    • James
    Dan Willmott
    Dan Willmott
    • Eddy Watts (Dad)
    Sean Skerry
    Sean Skerry
    • Officer Coonrad
    Samuel Davison
    • Amber's Son
    • (as Sammy Davison)
    Kristopher Anderson
    Kristopher Anderson
    • Waiter (Thrive)
    Allison Basha
    Allison Basha
    • Angela
    Joshua Young
    Joshua Young
    • Phil
    Junior Moaku
    • Police Officer
    Dahlia Oldham
    Dahlia Oldham
    • Bella Watts
    Ellie McPhee
    • Ceecee Watts
    Don Bottomley
    • Line cook
    • (uncredited)
    • Director
      • Michael Nankin
    • Writer
      • Barbara Marshall
    • All cast & crew
    • Production, box office & more at IMDbPro

    User reviews16

    5.9775
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    Featured reviews

    6Ed-Shullivan

    Chris Watts: A coward of a man, an adulterer as a husband, and a callous murderous devil as a father

    This Lifetime film serves one purpose only and that is to illustrate how one man who was a husband, a father and an adulterer committed four (4) heinous murders. If the actual four (4) murders was not enough Chris Watts disposed of his entire families bodies as if they were garbage by burying them where he believed they never would be found. But like most adulterers and criminals, their cumulative lies to the people and family that surround them, the truth is rather easy to put the puzzle together for any good detectives.

    I understand why most people would not consider this Lifetime film to be "entertaining" as any father who would commit such heinous acts should automatically be put to death, no "Ifs", "Ands", or "Buts". This film rather satisfies the urge to understand how "any man" could murder his entire family and curiosity how he did it and in his mind the one question that needs to be answered is "WHY?"

    I will let the medical professionals and forensic criminal investigators provide us with that answer another day, but for now, I was satisfied to know the families bodies (what was left of them) were recovered a few days after their reported disappearance. Chris watts admitted to burying his pregnant wife and daughters at the place of his employment at Anadarko Petroleum, on August 16. He was fired on August 15, the day of his arrest. The girls' bodies were found hidden in oil tanks. Shanann and the unborn Nico were buried in a shallow grave nearby.

    As this is only a ninety (90) minute movie we really should not expect to glean too much factual information into the head of the murderer Chris Watts, but I would have preferred if the producers would have depicted this devil of a man as being soulless without a conscience, and instead the film almost normalizes these murders as just another entertaining made for TV film.

    I give it an IMDB rating of 6 out of 10 as it did answer some basic questions that were lingering about the Watts family murders.
    7phd_travel

    Straightforward depiction

    If you followed the headlines about this terrible tragedy you will recognise a lot of the story incorporated into this Lifetime movie. The happy social media of the young mother is contrasted with an affair the hubby had going on.

    The actor looks like the murderer and the actress Ashley Williams with her big smile from Hallmark movies looks like the unfortunate woman.

    The killing which is even more heinous than the Scott Peterson is recreated not too gruesomely but frustratingly there's no much insight into how he could kill his daughters even if he was in love with another woman.
    1sassystacyholmes-94347

    Typical... victim blaming and not factual evidence.

    The entire setup is from a man's perspective. Leading us to suspect the vitamins he was taking, this poor husband who's wife doted on him, doing everything to make him look like a good father, adequate husband and all round normal guy, were responsible for his actions. This guy killed his wife and children. There are women lining up to be his new wife. Does anyone see anything wrong with this? It's like a serial killer taking out a want add for body needed. Stop feeding this narcissistic, child killer's ego and have some respect for her family and friends. I marked this as no spoilers, saying it's not worth the money...isn't technically "spoiling" anything, is it?
    2tolsdorfw

    Ineffective

    Not quite sure who this movie is for. If you've followed the case closely, you will know far more than anything they showed in this movie. It doesn't add anything and pretty much reenacts information that you could get from countless documentaries and real life footage to which no movie could ever compare or plainly recreates them. What is the point of recreating an actual footage? You literally can go and watch the real thing.

    If it was for people who didn't know anything about the case, you're thrown into the end of the case and there is no mystery and no backstory. I'm sure that the only reason I cared about the characters was because I watched and read so much about this case. You know from the first seconds that there is a dead family and the husband is the perpetrator so you won't get sucked into the story. I guess I only watched it because I was curious how did they recreated the actual murder but again, if you have strong nerves, there is police interrogation tapes in which Chris is recalling every single gruesome detail which will send chills down your spine.

    As for production and actors, I really have no opinion. They did a good job for what they were hired to do. The main lead looks and acts like the person he portrays, same can be said about the actress that plays Shan'aan.

    Overall my main complain is that the movie is completely pointless as there is so much actual footage that the movie adds absolutely nothing to the story. It doesn't explore psychology of the characters at all. Just recreates things we already know and even that they screwed up in some parts.. I'll give it 2/10 because the actors were actually good.
    1Citygal92

    What is the point?

    I've been a visitor of IMDB for 13 years, and have never found a reason to join/comment as others have said what needs to be said...But this.. two years after a disgusting massacre occurs, so does this documentary. No reason, purpose, dignity or integrity. I do not recommend this to anyone, what is the point?? As someone who studies serial/heinous cases, this shouldn't have been made. The agenda behind this is to normalize it, when this happens daily. Think about it. Sending whoever reads this light and big love.

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    Storyline

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    • Trivia
      Dahlia Oldham's debut.

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    Details

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    • Release date
      • January 25, 2020 (United States)
    • Country of origin
      • United States
    • Language
      • English
    • Also known as
      • Chris Watts: Confessions of a Killer
    • Filming locations
      • Halifax, Nova Scotia, Canada
    • Production companies
      • Magic Rock Productions
      • Sony Pictures Television
    • See more company credits at IMDbPro

    Tech specs

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    • Runtime
      1 hour 30 minutes
    • Color
      • Color
    • Sound mix
      • Stereo
    • Aspect ratio
      • 16:9 HD

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