Sons Of Sam: A Descent Into Darkness (2021) Dir: Joshua Zemen
Letterboxd post:
This was a true crime documentary series that focused on a wider conspiracy that formed from the harrowing case of David Berkowitz, The Son Of Sam. The details and information given is enthralling, but the holes and the hidden evidence make this a murky tale.
It would be easy to be either swept up into the conspiracy or discard it as just that, but it seems the truth is somewhere between the two. Like those involved with the case at the time, it is hard to keep your head above the waves when wading through a cacophony of theories and evidence.
The storytelling here was quite divisive for me. Some of it was presented superbly, whereas other parts felt sloppy and rather reaching. The narration by actor Paul Giamatti was very well done, his ability to make the viewer truly invest in his words is very impressive.
I also had mixed feelings on how they presented Maury Terry, the investigative journalist and author for which this documentary follows. I understand they wanted to show the juxtaposition of opinions on his theories and life, but it seemed far more about him than the actual events he documented.
I also felt as though the series almost became a vehicle to sell the late author's book at times. Now, that isn't entirely bad, but it did become irritating towards the end. That said, I enjoyed the undeniably wild and unpredictable ride that the series takes you on.
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