American Murder: The Family Next Door

Name: American Murder: The Family Next Door
Genre: Crime, Documentary
Released: September 30, 2020
Duration: 82 min
Rating: 67

2020

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Generally favorable reviews based on 5 Critic Reviews

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USER SCORE

Generally favorable reviews based on 26 Ratings

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7.7

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7.7	User Score Generally favorable reviews based on 26 Ratings

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Movie Details & Credits

Netflix | Release Date (Streaming): September 30, 2020 | Not Rated

Summary: In 2018, 34-year-old Shanann Watts and her two young daughters went missing in Frederick, Colorado. As heartbreaking details emerged, their story made headlines worldwide. Told entirely through archival footage that includes social media posts, law enforcement recordings, text messages and never-before-seen home videos, director JennyIn 2018, 34-year-old Shanann Watts and her two young daughters went missing in Frederick, Colorado. As heartbreaking details emerged, their story made headlines worldwide. Told entirely through archival footage that includes social media posts, law enforcement recordings, text messages and never-before-seen home videos, director Jenny Popplewell pieces together an immersive and truthful examination of a police investigation and a disintegrating marriage.… Expand

Director: Jenny Popplewell

Genre(s): Crime, Documentary

Rating: Not Rated

Runtime: 82 min

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Critic Reviews

Bilal Qureshi

Sep 30, 2020

Popplewell’s film presents the Watts story as more than a crime story. It is a thematic film about marriage and the deception of social media, as well as a piercing examination of domestic violence constructed with care and undeniable craft. Read full review

IndieWire Kate Erbland

Sep 28, 2020

An impeccably produced look at a heinous crime, Popplewell’s documentary meticulously weaves together a wealth of information . . . that it almost feels too readymade for the film treatment. Almost. Read full review

RogerEbert.com Brian Tallerico

Sep 28, 2020

The result is a film that feels deeply personal, and not always in a good way. It’s a film that can’t help but feel a little like an invasion of privacy. Read full review

The Playlist Chris Barsanti

Sep 28, 2020

As an experiment in format, “America Murder” is intriguing. Instead of bringing people in to give fresh commentary, we have only the artifacts left behind by a seemingly ordinary family in a seemingly ordinary suburb. But as a documentary, it makes for an incomplete picture, like trying to piece together the story of an ancient disaster based only on archaeological fragments. Read full review

The Film Stage Jared Mobarak

Sep 28, 2020

Maybe my criticism of American Murder is more a criticism of the genre itself and how its desire to shed light on crimes inherently exploits them regardless of intent. Popplewell’s film is an expertly researched prologue to a much-needed conversation it avoids. Read full review

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jojo1256

Mar 13, 2021

I knew this story. When I watched this I realized I didn't REALLY know the story. I was always looking for who or what caused him to do this. I sat in silence at the end and knew how wrong we are to do that. He and only he is responsible for his horrific actions. No one MADE him peopleI knew this story. When I watched this I realized I didn't REALLY know the story. I was always looking for who or what caused him to do this. I sat in silence at the end and knew how wrong we are to do that. He and only he is responsible for his horrific actions. No one MADE him people loved him. His wife, his children, his girlfriend, his wife's family and his own family. The issue is he only loved himself.… Expand