Content Warning: This article contains mentions of violent crimes, suicide, sexual violence, and violence against children.
True crime documentaries and docuseries have gained more popularity in recent years. However, there are plenty of compelling and interesting true crime stories that have flown under the radar despite being some of the most fascinating documentaries in the genre.
A few of these documentaries are not as dark as most, but simply expose some lesser-known but unusual crimes like wine counterfeiting. Others are difficult to watch but shed light on injustice perpetrated by both the criminals and the criminal justice system, as well as the continued fight for vindication for the victims.
Tickled (2016)
Tickled is a fantastic true crime documentary on Hulu in which New Zealand reporter David Farrier uncovers the out-of-the-mainstream world of competitive endurance tickling. Farrier follows videos of this strange phenomenon, which leads him to Jane O'Brien Media, and soon finds himself exposing the mistreatment of those featured in the videos.
Farrier speaks with multiple men featured in these tickling videos and they explain how Jane O'Brien Media has released personal information, manipulated them, and coerced them into silence after speaking out against the company. Viewers will be shocked to discover who is behind Jane O'Brien Media and at the center of this strange world.
The Sons Of Sam: A Descent Into Darkness (2021)
Netflix has no shortage of true crime documentaries and docuseries on its platform. However, The Sons of Sam was a series that didn't get as much traction as other big true crime hits. The series explores investigative journalist Maury Terry's theory that David Berkowitz did not act alone in the murder of six New Yorkers in 1977.
Terry put together discrepancies that pointed to Berkowitz not acting alone, like how there were eyewitnesses who described the Son of Sam with blue eyes and blond hair. With Terry's more than 20 years of research and evidence surrounding the case, he is convinced the Son of Sam killings were linked to a Satanic cult and that the police were turning a blind eye to the truth that there was more than one killer.
The Confession Killer (2019)
The Confession Killer will have viewers in shock about the case of Henry Lee Lucas, who confessed to over 200 murders. While Lucas' nonchalant attitude and childlike demeanor are understandably disturbing for viewers, it becomes clear in the documentary that the police have picked Lucas as an easy fix to any unsolved murder.
They provide him with his favorite food and drinks and treat him almost as a consultant. The police get so wrapped up in solving cases, that they ignore and turn a blind eye to discrepancies in Lucas' stories that stop the victims from getting justice.
Sour Grapes (2016)
Sour Grapes flew under the radar since it isn't typically what people think of when they hear about true crime. This documentary focuses on Rudy Kurniawan, a man who posed as a wealthy socialite and counterfeited expensive wine. Kurniawan would collect empty expensive wine bottles, refill them with cheaper wines, and forge labels in order to turn a huge profit.
When discrepancies with the years on the bottles were exposed, those who bought from Kurniawan began to realize they had been cheated. This doc is perfect for viewers who aren't into true crime stories that are extremely dark or disturbing. It is definitely a must-watch film for anyone looking for a more unique spin on the genre.
The Keepers (2017)
The Keepers is one of the most heartbreaking and best true-crime series on Netflix. It follows the 1969 unsolved murder of Catherine Cesnik, a nun working in Archbishop Keough High School. Interviews from Cesnik's family and her students at the school really show how much "Cathy" meant to everyone around her, and how painful it was to lose her so violently.
Cesnik's murder uncovers a dark past of Keough High School that all ties back to a man named Father Maskell and the higher-ranking church officials who seemingly covered up his crimes. Years after Sister Cathy's death, her former students and amateur local investigators kept the case alive and throughout the series, viewers get to witness their unrelenting fight for justice for Sister Cathy.
The Cheshire Murders (2013)
The Cheshire Murders follows the horrific murder of a family by two ex-convicts in the small town of Cheshire, Connecticut. The murder of Jennifer Hawke-Petit and her two daughters is heartbreaking, and this documentary handles the case with care. The documentary also discusses the debate around taking away the death penalty in Connecticut when those responsible received it for the murders.
One of the hardest and most shocking parts of this case is that the police were outside Hawke-Petit's home when these murders were taking place. The police stated that a half-hour passed between receiving a 911 call informing them that the Hawke-Petit family was being held hostage and the criminals fleeing the scene. After watching the documentary, the possibility of Jennifer Hawke-Petit and her daughters' lives being saved had the police stepped in sooner will weigh on viewers' minds.
Out Of Thin Air (2017)
Out of Thin Air is a documentary focused on what is referred to as the Reykjavik Confessions. Two Icelanders disappeared in 1974 and their bodies were never found. Despite this, the police endlessly interrogated and convicted six people for their murders. In the years that have passed since the disappearances, doubts have come to the surface regarding these convictions.
Viewers hear from those closest to the investigation about why there would even be any convictions in this case when there was practically no evidence. The documentary also raises many questions about the bizarre phenomenon of false confessions and how they often lead the justice system down the path of injustice.
There's Something Wrong With Aunt Diane (2011)
There's Something Wrong with Aunt Diane focuses on the 2009 Taconic State Parkway crash. Diane Schuler crashed into oncoming traffic, killing herself, her daughter, her three nieces, and the three passengers in an oncoming SUV. The entire accident is heartbreaking, but the documentary brings the family's doubts regarding the public perception and the police's conclusion of what happened to viewers.
The documentary features interviews from Diane's family who were shocked to find that Diane's toxicology report came back positive for high levels of THC and alcohol in her system at the time of the crash. Her family's perception of her as a flawless loving mother has them convinced that someone else had a role to play in this tragic accident.
Dear Zachary: A Letter To A Son About His Father (2008)
Dear Zachary was released in 2008, way before the burst of true crime popularity in recent years. After Andrew Bagby was murdered by his girlfriend Shirley Turner, Bagby's friend and filmmaker Kurt Kuenne began making the documentary for Bagby's son Zachary. Bagby was tragically killed before he was even aware that Turner was pregnant.
It's easy to see how those who knew Bagby loved him, and they want Zachary to know about his father. After being released on bail, Turner got partial custody of Zachary from Bagby's parents and killed herself and Zachary when he was thirteen months old. This case highlights the misconduct of Turner's psychiatrist and the issues surrounding Canada's bail and child custody laws that played a role in Zachary's death.
Tales Of The Grim Sleeper (2014)
Tales of the Grim Sleeper tells the story of the lesser-known serial killer Lonnie David Franklin Jr., dubbed the Grim Sleeper, who killed at least 10 people between 1985 and 2007 in Los Angeles, California. The fantastic feature-length documentary includes interviews of victims of the killer and their stories of survival are incredibly powerful.
The killer targeted Black women, so the film tackles the important discussion of whether or not Franklin Jr. would have been caught sooner if the victims were not Black. The film delves into the role that race plays in murder investigations and what priority they are given by the police depending on the victim's race. Those interviewed and the filmmaker Nick Broomfield try to fathom how this man was able to carry out so many murders over such a long period of time without being caught.