Crime Scene: The Vanishing at the Cecil Hotel

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Season 1
  • Network: Netflix
  • Series Premiere Date: Feb 10, 2021
Metascore
51

Mixed or average reviews - based on 10 Critic Reviews

Critic score distribution:
  1. Positive: 3 out of 10
  2. Mixed: 7 out of 10
  3. Negative: 0 out of 10

Critic Reviews

  1. Decider
    Reviewed by: Joel Keller
    Feb 10, 2021
    70
    The scripted visuals here fill things in quite well because Berlinger keeps them weird and odd, like the hotel itself. ... Considering the complexities of the Lam case, plus the Cecil Hotel’s history, no one can claim that Crime Scene: The Vanishing At The Cecil Hotel is padded out. We’re actually wondering how they’ll cover everything in 4 episodes.
  2. RogerEbert.com
    Reviewed by: Brian Tallerico
    Feb 10, 2021
    63
    There are times when “Crime Scene” leans too much into that mindset of salacious true crime obsessives, but I believe it’s for the greater good in the end, illustrating how many of the conspiracy theories around Elisa Lam were misguided at best.
  3. Consequence
    Reviewed by: Lauren J. Coates
    Feb 8, 2021
    91
    Sophisticated, gripping, and full of perspectives usually absent in the genre, Crime Scene: The Vanishing at the Cecil Hotel is an expertly-paced mystery and a thought-provoking discussion on classism, mental health, and the ethics of true crime. It’s also remarkably cinematic in terms of aesthetics, thriving with atmospheric visuals and clever pacing that create a murky, engrossing atmosphere. You’ll finish it in one sitting.

Awards & Rankings

70
#70 Most Discussed TV Season of 2021

User Reviews

All reviews »
User Score
4.2

Mixed or average reviews- based on 13 Ratings

User score distribution:
  1. Positive: 3 out of 13
  2. Mixed: 4 out of 13
  3. Negative: 6 out of 13
  1. geewah
    Feb 17, 2021
    3
    What a poor doco-series this is.
    Adds nothing new on the subject and could of been an 1 hour production at best.
    The only takeaway from this    What a poor doco-series this is.
    Adds nothing new on the subject and could of been an 1 hour production at best.
    The only takeaway from this is what a bunch of losers amateur/web sleuths are.    … Full Review »
  2. KonkeyDong84
    Feb 15, 2021
    4
    This review contains spoilers, click full review link to view. At four episodes, this is a "true crime" documentary that does not respect the time of its viewers. The Cecil Hotel has a long and notorious history for atrocities occurring within its walls, but it wasn't until Elisa Lam was found dead there that it gained global recognition due to the general eeriness of the video footage of her before her death which became public amongst YouTube superstition/conspiracy channels.

    The main problem with this documentary is the impact that it had on those directly and indirectly involved are just not intriguing enough to warrant the run time. Especially in the end **SPOILERS** that the case behind her death was solved my court records all along. Another issue that I feel many viewers will have with the film (as I did) is the predominance of these so-called Web-Sleuths trying to solve the mystery of her "murder". At one time, these individuals may have been charming, if not naive, but in the age of QAnon, it is hard to stomach anyone trying to make fact out of speculation.

    With all of this being said, the film-makers do deserve credit by not feeding into the conspiracy narratives surrounding the case and actually respect the loss of this young woman.    … Full Review »
  3. chadimus
    Feb 14, 2021
    2
    Four long hours of backstory and long pointless detours just to tell you that an adult woman didn't take her meds caused her own death. FirstFour long hours of backstory and long pointless detours just to tell you that an adult woman didn't take her meds caused her own death. First two episodes keep you guessing and engaged, but then they pad out the series with a full episode devoted to conspiracy theories posited by internet death groupies. Finally to deliver the conclusion that nothing sinister happened to her at all. Tragic story, but when they get to the conclusion I realized what a waste of hours it had been. Even the title is a lie: there is NO CRIME involved here. Accidental death.… Full Review »
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