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American Murder: The Family Next Door
Crime · Documentary · 2020
Using raw, firsthand footage, this documentary examines the disappearance of Shanann Watts and her children, and the terrible events that followed.
Movie details
American Murder: The Family Next Door
2020 Crime · Documentary 1h 23m
Critical arithmetic
The consensus, allegedly.
Scores change. Arguments endure.
IMDb
7.2 / 10
37.5K votes
Rotten Tomatoes
87 %
Tomatometer
Metacritic
67 / 100
Metascore
TMDB
7.3 / 10
Community rating
External scores via OMDb · CC BY-NC 4.0. Values normalized for display; availability varies by title.
Using raw, firsthand footage, this documentary examines the disappearance of Shanann Watts and her children, and the terrible events that followed.
CriticWise case file
What this film says about your taste.
Not a recommendation score. A measure of how closely the film’s taste signals resemble yours.
The archetype split
Who fights over American Murder: The Family Next Door?
For the defence
The Auteur Devotee
“You watch the director, not the movie.”
Read their case For the prosecution
The Popcorn Loyalist
“Big screen, big feelings, no apologies.”
Read their objectionThe split comes from the same five-axis model used by the test, not audience ratings or review sentiment.
Taste neighbourhood
Nearby on the taste map.
TMDB supplies the candidates. CriticWise reorders them by craft, strangeness, prestige, emotion, and pace.
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An Oscar nominated documentary about a middle-class American family who is torn apart when the father Arnold and son Jesse are accused of sexually abusing numerous children. Director Jarecki interviews people from different sides of this tragic story and raises the question of whether they were rightfully tried when they claim they were innocent and there was never any evidence against them.
The Thin Blue Line
Crime · 1988
An unorthodox investigation into the wrongful conviction of Randall Dale Adams for the 1976 murder of Dallas police officer Robert Wood. Using stylized reenactments and interviews with key figures, conflicting testimonies and evidence are presented to argue that Adams was framed by a corrupt justice system, ultimately leading to his exoneration.
Ted Bundy: Mind of a Monster
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New exclusive access and never before heard testimony gives a unique insight into the mind of America's most notorious serial killer, Ted Bundy. Breathtaking archive from the time and the voice of Bundy himself, reveals the monster inside the man.
Aileen: Queen of the Serial Killers
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Aileen Wuornos remains a rarity: a female serial killer. From childhood abuse to death-row revelations, this documentary revisits her life and crimes.
Lover, Stalker, Killer
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My Father, the BTK Killer
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Raised by a man leading a monstrous double life, the daughter of the BTK serial killer shares her chilling story.
Where it lives
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Names above the title
The people responsible.
Cast & crew
Directed by
Jenny Popplewell
Chris Watts
Self
Shanann Watts
Self
C
Celeste 'CC' Watts
Self - Chris & Shanann's Daughter (archive footage)
B
Bella Watts
Self - Chris & Shanann's Daughter (archive footage)
N
Nickole Atkinson
Self - Shanann's Friend (archive footage)
F
Frank Rzucek
Self - Shanann's Dad (archive footage)
S
Sandi Rzucek
Self - Shanann's Mom (archive footage)
Court is in session
Put American Murder: The Family Next Door on trial.
Two incompatible taste archetypes. One film. Read the arguments, then issue a completely binding cultural ruling.
The prosecution The Popcorn Loyalist
“Technique in search of a pulse.”
Immaculate construction is still construction. The film may be too busy proving its craft to feel alive.