Crime Scene: The Vanishing at the Cecil Hotel

:

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

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User Reviews

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  1. SScholder1
    Feb 13, 2021
    5
    It's funny that the other reviews don't seem to understand what this was. This wasn't a show about this crime. It is a show about the nature of certain folks who have their own version of mental illness and obsess about a person and or a crime case that they have absolutely no connection to. No expertise. No more knowledge about a crime. Scene than any random common person who has a slightIt's funny that the other reviews don't seem to understand what this was. This wasn't a show about this crime. It is a show about the nature of certain folks who have their own version of mental illness and obsess about a person and or a crime case that they have absolutely no connection to. No expertise. No more knowledge about a crime. Scene than any random common person who has a slight or more. Interest in true crime.

    The sad issue here is that mental Illness is extremely difficult and imp. And a large group of individuals who are. Concerned with themselves and what helping solve a mystery does. Fo

    For their own lives and anyone who has never seen what bipolar disorder look like when medication stops has no concept of how serious it affects a person.    … Expand
  2. Randall0
    Feb 14, 2021
    1
    An interesting story ruined by conspiracy nutters. Needed to stay with the investigators and not “web sleuths” virtue signalling their dribble.
  3. 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 is what a bunch of losers amateur/web sleuths are.
  4. 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. 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.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. 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.… Expand
  5. Drose_
    Feb 12, 2021
    4
    Whilst entertaining enough, this documentary (?) series is about 3 episodes too long, and uses the age old trick of fleshing out sequences with people stating the obvious. The pacing is plodding, and leads to very little payoff seeing as the case is yet unsolved. In addition, the so called 'internet sleuths' detract from any sensible plot, and lead us into YouTube conspiracy territory. NotWhilst entertaining enough, this documentary (?) series is about 3 episodes too long, and uses the age old trick of fleshing out sequences with people stating the obvious. The pacing is plodding, and leads to very little payoff seeing as the case is yet unsolved. In addition, the so called 'internet sleuths' detract from any sensible plot, and lead us into YouTube conspiracy territory. Not what I was expecting, and I can't say I was pleasantly surprised.… Expand
  6. KonkeyDong84
    Feb 15, 2021
    4
    This review contains spoilers, click expand 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.    … Expand

Awards & Rankings

70
#70 Most Discussed TV Season of 2021

Critic Reviews

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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
  1. i
    Reviewed by: Emily Baker
    Dec 3, 2021
    40
    We’re served an uncomfortable, crude murder mystery. There are some redeeming qualities, though you have to pay rather close attention to notice them. Contributors are wide-ranging and forthcoming, especially the hotel manager Amy Price, who comes across as bewildered, defensive and excited to be on Netflix all at the same time.
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  2. 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.
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  3. The Guardian
    Reviewed by: Ellen E Jones
    Feb 10, 2021
    40
    The basic facts of Lam’s death are so upsetting, that Crime Scene’s various attempts to lighten the mood with historical detours and commentary from cutesy eccentrics such as the general manager with the Veronica Lake wave, feel, at best, in very poor taste. It is not spooky, it is just sad; desperately sad that a family have lost their beloved daughter and sad, too, that in Los Angeles, as in many other places around the world, the result of human beings in a mental health crisis is avoidable tragedy.
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