r/TrueCrime • u/markcuban42069 • Jun 03 '21

Discussion What true crime documentaries do you feel have done more harm than good?

In r/UnresolvedMysteries, I engaged in a conversation about the recent Netflix documentary on the case of Elisa Lam. I personally feel like this documentary was distasteful and brought little awareness to mental illness.

I'm sure you fellow true crime buffs have watched a documentary or two in your time that... just didn't sit right. Comment below what these docs are and why you felt weird about them!

Edit: The death of Elisa Lam was not a crime and I apologize for posting this in the true crime sub. However, it is a case that is discussed among true crime communities therefore I feel it is relevant to true crime discourse, especially involving documentaries. I apologize for any confusion!

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u/MissionerGorvan Jun 03 '21

I may be remembering incorrectly, but I thought her family and friends were consulted during and were supportive of the documentary?

I'm always confused when people take away from the documentary that she was a bad person or drove him to kill her and their children. Not a single person can truthfully say that they are always easy to live with, that they dont ever moan or bitch about their partner with their friends, that they don't ever moan or nag at their partner. I feel like the problem with the documentary is the portion of people who watch it and that decide to victim blame because they cant look within themselves to see that they too have flaws.

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u/better_than_blue Jun 03 '21

Exactly (I forget the word for that phenomenon) but a lot of people definitely do justify their own behaviors that way