Of the true crime documentaries I’ve reviewed on Netflix recently, I’ve found that the best are those that aim to express empathy and offer some semblance of healing to those affected by a criminal tragedy. last week, a toxic love story Poignantly provided a platform for wrongfully convicted Michelle Hadley to correct history and get her justice. latest netflix crime doc, idaho murders: college nightmarerespectfully does the same for the surviving families and friends of those lost in the shocking murder of four young college students in 2022.
Although it may initially seem like this is the last of the party streamer’s true crime docs – following a four-part Prime Video series, a night in idahoAnd the pitiful peacock characteristic, idaho student murders That, *checks notes,* used a TikTok journalist as a reliable source and came out while the case was still unfolding — this three-part docu-miniseries, produced by Berlinger and directed by Sky Borgman, strays from sensationalism or exploitation. Instead, it offers solace to the community of the small college town of Moscow, Idaho, which is affected by the shocking quadruple murder of 2022.
At 4 a.m. on November 13, 2022, University of Idaho students Madison Mogen, Kaylee Goncalves, Ethan Chapin and Zanna Kernodle were fatally stabbed at an off-campus house on King Road. The surviving roommates, Dylan Mortensen and Bethany Funke, called 911. Within the opening episode, modified footage from law enforcement takes viewers into the process and crime scene. All four were declared dead on the spot.
For months, law enforcement was said to be working like molasses to find any real clues about the killer. All they had was footage of a speeding white Elantra and a knife sheath. Meanwhile, there was an uproar on social media as heartless losers started harassing people connected to the situation and spreading false information. But investigators soon traced DNA evidence to 28-year-old Washington State University PhD student Brian Kohbarger.
Of every streamer iteration dealing with a crime story, Borgman is the best example of “slow and steady wins the race”. Other competing projects (not to discredit the friends and family who provided accounts on them) are rushed products that were released before Kohnberger’s conviction. Prime Video has renewed it for a second season to pick up what was left prematurely, while Peacock had to use a text statement to family members who knowingly agreed to live in Borgman. I can’t stop thinking about Peacock dropping an entire documentary on a TikTok journalist and thinking that was somehow acceptable. college nightmare Sources gain the upper hand as the definitive account through preference, Borgman getting the trust of key family and friends to document, access to bodycam footage, and talking head interviews that paint a picture, and more importantly, of who these children were and how short their lives were.
The documentary carefully reconstructs the timeline of the crime, the family’s reaction, the police’s handling of the situation and the manner in which innocent persons were falsely accused, and much of the information is taken directly from the source. The miniseries is very detailed and thoughtful in the struggle it takes for law enforcement to dismantle every part of the case and find the true culprit. In many cases, I would be angry at the police’s incompetence, but the reality is that Kohlbarger lacked a real digital footprint, and this hampered the investigation. Twenty FBI agents were investigating at one point. The straight procedural angle is quite strong, as it includes all direct witnesses, the Moscow police who were present that day, and other participating members who attempted to locate Kohnberger. If you’re also hearing about the murders for the first time, as I am, the doc is the best way to get an intimate perspective while maintaining simplicity. Admittedly, it’s one of my pet peeves when talking heads dramatize the definition of a word like “incel,” as you can tell the doc is trying to stretch himself to suit the 44-minute runtime per interview.
Although I appreciate the considered approach, college nightmare Serves as a tribute to the departed students. The doc shows countless footage of Madison, Kylie, Ethan, and Xana having fun, partying, and being carefree on TikTok, and gives a glimpse into who they were and how they were supposed to be. The testimony of each relative shows how young and enthusiastic they were. The details of the love shared by each member of the family with the victims and their priority towards justice are hair-raising. It’s such a sad and depressing case that as more details emerge about Kohlbarger, it becomes even more infuriating.
Despite being another Netflix true crime doc, college nightmare Finds value in giving his subjects space to express their complaints and seek healing. As the family meets the killer face to face, leading up to the sentencing, it’s really about the resilience of those affected by such unfathomable loss. Not just the immediate one but the entire small town. I wonder why I had tears in my eyes when a police officer shared his story about experiencing PTSD and subsequently seeking therapy. At the end of the day, Borgman presents a document that honors the innocent and powerfully immortalizes the ecstatic spirit of them all.
