Review of Dear Zachary: A Letter to a Son About His Father (2008) by Reece L — 24 Oct 2015

Dear Zachary is predicated upon a horrifying, devastating true story that points to the flawed nature of the judicial system and has (understandably) earned a reputation for reducing audience members to emotional wrecks; the fact that the film is a success is entirely due to the cumulative power of this story.

The film that conveys this story feels both extremely manipulative and grossly exploitative, utilizing a family tragedy and presenting it in the most maudlin, unrestrained, and vengeful way imaginable. Director Kurt Kuenne effectively communicates the emotional response he wants to elicit from his audience, but he does so through inappropriately cutesy flourishes, an overwhelming amount of sentimental music, and a whirlwind editing style that completely undercuts the film's emotional component, giving the finished project an uncomfortable, almost sleazy feel that the story doesn't deserve. Had someone gone about addressing this in a more restrained, understated way instead of opting for cheap sentiment, the harsh reveals would've been just as impactful and the work as a whole wouldn't feel nearly as unprincipled as it does.