A haunting true crime documentary, 'American Murder: The Family Next Door', has been hailed as superior to Netflix's current chart-topper 'The Crash'. The film, which chronicles the murder of Shanann Watts and her two young children, is now available to stream on Netflix.
'The Crash', which explores the case of Mackenzie Shirilla, has dominated Netflix charts with 27.6 million views in a single week from May 18 to May 24. It reached number one in Movies in 27 countries. However, viewers are now turning to 'American Murder: The Family Next Door' as their next binge-watch.
On Reddit, users recommended the documentary for its similar use of body cam footage and step-by-step investigation. One user commented: 'American Murder: The Family Next Door was definitely GOAT. Tops ‘The Crash’. So much text message conversations and analysis of social media posts.' Another said: 'I listen/watch a lot of true crime but American Murder almost finished me off, I am haunted by that years on from watching it.'
Released in 2020, the documentary holds an 87% score on Rotten Tomatoes. One reviewer stated: 'This documentary truly left me speechless. It perfectly captures how a single whim can destroy everything.' Another added: 'Powerful and heart-wrenching story with first-hand footage and a story that makes you want to go back and watch again to see the telltale signs.'
'American Murder: The Family Next Door' uses archival footage including police body cam, text messages, and home videos to tell the story of the disappearance of Shanann Watts and her children. The Netflix synopsis reads: 'Using raw, firsthand footage, this documentary examines the disappearance of Shanann Watts and her children, and the terrible events that followed.'
