WEST OF MEMPHIS
One inescapable fact becomes obvious when viewing West of Memphis: your judgement of the West Memphis Three – the trio of young adults convicted of murdering three young boys in 1993 in a so-called ‘satanic ritual’ – is no more set than freshly laid concrete.
This documentary exerts its will over you. It fills you with hatred and contempt towards the three accused and then slowly tears your judgement apart, piece by piece, until you realise that there were not just three innocent children that were the victims of this horrific crime, but six.
Visually, the film is stunning. With sweeping shots and breathtaking angles that point unmistakably to the hands of award-winning director Sir Peter Jackson, they frame the overwhelming sadness that pervades the movie.
An undeniably powerful piece. (CD) *****
