Review of West of Memphis (2012) by Thomas W — 05 Jan 2013

The fourth and most-likely final documentary focusing on the brutal and horrific early 1990's crime that saw three Arkansas teenage loners/outsiders get charged and convicted of murdering three 8 year-old school boys.

Known as the West Memphis Three -- Damien Echols, Jason Baldwin and Jessie Misskelley Jr -- became scapegoats of an angry and scared populace AND of the Arkansas legal/justice system after proof of their innocence was quickly brushed away so that the tragic crime could be put aside allowing for the victim's families to heal.

The three Paradise Lost docs that have preceeded this one outlined the case rather thoroughly even if the second two weren't as good as the first (the second veers off to hypotheticals that does nothing more than point fingers with no true evidence to support its claims).

Director Amy Berg has let the evidence simmer and boil-over as many everyday citizens moved by what they had seen in those earlier films are joined with several Hollywood-ish celebrities (Johnny Depp) and musicians (Eddie Vedder, Natalie Maines, Henry Rollins).

Together ... they all decided to make a final plea to the state of Arkansas that justice has not been served. The film makes a very bad case for nearly all of Arkansas as it proves to be a rather backwoods locale set in their ways -- whether right or wrong.

While the first three documentaries focused solely on the three wrongly accused young men and the crime, West of Memphis sheds light on the efforts of those outside of the prison system who took the matter into their own hands to demand justice.

Even after watching the first three films, this one offers viewers something new ... and it is revolting that some quasi-certainty in guilt is known but nothing will be done about it. This final film ties up strings and loose ends and even turns into a somewhat surprising love story.

If you've seen the others or have heard of the West Memphis Three (not to be confused with the Central Park 5) and are curious -- I'd highly recommend this (although there are plenty of shots of horrible crime scene photos involving the young boys that might disturb some).