You cannot go into this film with a hard opinion. The first story that is presented makes you laugh because you are so so glad these sickos are in prison until they die. But as the film progresses you start to see all of the different backgrounds, all of the different crimes committed by these teenagers and you start to think. One inmate said it best. The trauma he endured via his parents must have been due to their own horrible childhoods and he gained an understanding of them that he didn't have at 15. That doesn't mean he's innocent and deserves a second chance. But our US justice system is based on REHABILITATION and i personally feel that we deserve to try and fix these broken children. To say that they should never be free again without even trying to make progress/closure with both the victims family and the killers family is sad. Maybe we can make a difference instead of throwing away the key. But then you hear another inmate clearly deny any involvement or guilt with his parents basically speaking for him make you feel that there is no hope for this guy. But this is what the film is about. Showing the differences between these criminals. One size does not fit all and that is the difficult part about how we structure our courts and jails. Excellent job this is a documentary I will absolutely visit again.
8 Reviews
Thought provoking but chilling
haphazard722 August 2014
Warning: Spoilers
I'm really not sure how to review this one.
It's hard- I'm not sure what the intent of the movie was. It certainly gave some insight into the history of many notable cases and gave some somewhat chilling insight into those locked up for their wrong doings.
Did it make me think that mandatory life sentences should be scrapped?
No! If anything, it makes me glad it's in place.
This was hard to watch in that some of the detail was graphic- and I'm sure there's always two sides to every story, but in this instance they've been found guilty of their crimes.
It's also hard to watch one inmate in particular as he sits there with his parents and they talk about how he is innocent and was led astray by the other offender. Really? The video that they both made pre and post the murder seemed pretty clear cut to me!
It's definitely a thought provoking documentary. But is chilling at the same time. I wonder what the victims family think of it?
It's hard- I'm not sure what the intent of the movie was. It certainly gave some insight into the history of many notable cases and gave some somewhat chilling insight into those locked up for their wrong doings.
Did it make me think that mandatory life sentences should be scrapped?
No! If anything, it makes me glad it's in place.
This was hard to watch in that some of the detail was graphic- and I'm sure there's always two sides to every story, but in this instance they've been found guilty of their crimes.
It's also hard to watch one inmate in particular as he sits there with his parents and they talk about how he is innocent and was led astray by the other offender. Really? The video that they both made pre and post the murder seemed pretty clear cut to me!
It's definitely a thought provoking documentary. But is chilling at the same time. I wonder what the victims family think of it?
Open mind is important - so is sense
pallurameg6 June 2015
The documentary was pretty standard. If you have common sense and watch the killers in each story, it's fairly obvious who was the "brains" or psychopath, and who actually has remorse. I know remorse doesn't matter to all, but it does to me. I'll let you draw your own conclusions, but it's there, and it's blatant. In one story (if you bother to look) one of the killers committed suicide in prison, while the other (the one who actually caused the deaths and is in the documentary) blatantly said he felt no remorse. Honestly, t can't feel much sympathy for many people who decide to take another life, regardless of age. There are a couple in this film, though, that I believe deserve a second chance...they also happen to be the ones not pandering for it.
Not sure what the point was
jason_leo9 August 2014
Warning: Spoilers
At the start of the movie it says stuff about kids not being fully responsible it then goes on to the stories. The first story touches briefly on the murder and shows both killers blaming each other but that's it. When you further look into it they stabbed her 29 times 9 of which were fatal.
If someone gets life without parole its usually for a good reason these guys thrill killed a beautiful girl for fun and infamy i found it disgusting to watch one of them sit there while his parents say he is such a great kind kid. nice parents. By the end of the movie you are left wondering why the director made the movie as it shows both sides of the fence but leaves out the point. people would say maybe that's for the viewer to decide but judging by the two psychos in the first story its way too easy
If someone gets life without parole its usually for a good reason these guys thrill killed a beautiful girl for fun and infamy i found it disgusting to watch one of them sit there while his parents say he is such a great kind kid. nice parents. By the end of the movie you are left wondering why the director made the movie as it shows both sides of the fence but leaves out the point. people would say maybe that's for the viewer to decide but judging by the two psychos in the first story its way too easy
Very brave documentary.
amheba26 August 2022
I watched this documentary right after I saw another about the murder that two 16 years old perpetrated. In this documentary they are interviewed only 6 years into their life sentences without parole. When I saw the first documentary I just wanted the kids to suffer really bad. But when I saw this one, I clearly saw that 1 of them wasn't the same person who committed the murder. He had completely changed into a mature man. And it made me wonder about the point in making him stay in prison for 60 years longer until he dies, because he's not the monster that committed the crime anymore. In a sense it seemed that one person was serving someone else's sentence. As much as I want the kid to rot in hell, that kid doesn't exist anymore.
Then you hear the shock of victims families when they learn that whoever killed their loved ones is gonna get out of prison and how unfair it seems to them when their lives have been broken beyond repair.
The brave thing about this documentary is that we all prefer to have an easy choice and think of good versus monsters. Unfortunately, or thankfully, I don't know, it seems that things usually aren't completely black or white. And this documentary is brave enough to show this uncomfortable truth.
Then you hear the shock of victims families when they learn that whoever killed their loved ones is gonna get out of prison and how unfair it seems to them when their lives have been broken beyond repair.
The brave thing about this documentary is that we all prefer to have an easy choice and think of good versus monsters. Unfortunately, or thankfully, I don't know, it seems that things usually aren't completely black or white. And this documentary is brave enough to show this uncomfortable truth.
Troubling but informative
SillyGayBoy23 November 2016
I have watched many jail shows and documentaries and I am walking away from this thinking this might actually be the best.
It shows various viewpoints of people who when they were young committed a murder. Some seem to feel a lot of guilt, some don't seem to. It shows the way they think about it, what they tried to do, how they tried to get away with it.
It raises questions about whether or not young people really understand consequences to their actions and if life without parole is actually right for them.
It also might just make people upset and mad. It depends what you take away from this. But to me it is an interesting psychological study.
It shows various viewpoints of people who when they were young committed a murder. Some seem to feel a lot of guilt, some don't seem to. It shows the way they think about it, what they tried to do, how they tried to get away with it.
It raises questions about whether or not young people really understand consequences to their actions and if life without parole is actually right for them.
It also might just make people upset and mad. It depends what you take away from this. But to me it is an interesting psychological study.
Great Documentary!!
dxtmfydp21 January 2022
Warning: Spoilers
Spoiler Alert 🚨
This documentary is one of the best I have seen, especially on this topic. I love how they show both the victim side as well as the perpetrator side and showing the families of both sides are affected by the crimes committed by these teens. Watching this, it is very clear which of the teen killers are feeling remorse for their crimes, which are taking steps to better themselves instead of wasting the lives they have that their victims will never have the chance at. I do think there are some who are just monsters and should never be allowed to walk among us, but most of these in this documentary are trying to do the best they can now. One of them, however, needs to step up and take responsibility for what he did. Needs to tell mommy and daddy to stop speaking for him and admit to himself, his parents, his victim, his victims families, and the world, what he did. Until he takes that first step, he will remain, at least in my mind, a monster who needs to stay in prison so he can't be enabled and oh poor me'd into hurting anyone ever again. I know mommy and daddy were trying to keep him from saying something that might hurt him in some appeal. But, I truly think they are only harming him by not letting him be honest with himself or anyone else and start atoning for his crime as it seems the others have been doing.
All of the stories are sad, but no matter the age, if you take a life, you must take responsibility
almedina2912 November 2014
Warning: Spoilers
The first story was disturbing. Those two young men killed a girl they went to school with and were friends with! At least one of them has admitted what he did and is dealing with it. The other is very obviously lying and guilty and he is still trying to say he didn't do it? The girl was stabbed over 90 times! These boys need to stay behind bars...no one should be trying to help them get out. They still get to talk to their family and loved ones...the girl they murdered is gone forever. ....the cases where the children were brutally abused are the only ones that deserve any kind of consideration. I have known people who lived through the same kind of abuse and they pretty much always have thoughts of killing their abusers to end the constant pain. They reached out for help and no one helped them, so they did what they thought they had to do to end the horrible abuse. The parents in the second story were, by no means, innocent victims.
See also
Awards | FAQ | User Ratings | External Reviews | Metacritic Reviews
