Review of West of Memphis (2012) by Jerry L — 18 Mar 2013

If you are from Arkansas you know about this case, but no matter where you are from I recommend it because it is a very real horror story. An unthinkable murder is committed and then three people are convicted while the real killer goes free and hard DNA evidence is ignored.

A prosecution is created out of a confession from a mentally challenged teen and the wild imagination of a so called "occult expert". I found it fascinating and infuriating at the same time that a state could be so aggressively ignorant.

Its almost scarier than the murders themselves. This case has gained a lot of attention over the past 20yrs because it is so obviously a miscarriage of justice for political gain and to silence a terrified community.

It is really hard to watch at times, but if it in any way can help this from happening to anyone again its worth it. Hobbit and Lord of the Rings creator Peter Jackson felt so strongly about it for so long that he funded much of the defense and made this film.

Being from Arkansas the injustice is perhaps less shocking to me that it will be to others, but I guarantee you won't look at guilt or innocence the same way again.