Paradise Lost: The Child Murders at Robin Hood Hills (1996)

User Rating:

8.4/10   

Directors:

Joe Berlinger
Bruce Sinofsky

Release Date:

10 June 1996 (USA)

Genre:

Documentary | Crime

Tagline:

It's frightening to think they did it. It's terrifying to think they didn't.

Plot:

A horrific triple child murder leads to an indictment and trial of three nonconformist boys based on questionable evidence.

Plot Keywords:

Dead Children | Justice | Satanism | Murder | Prejudice

Awards:

Won Primetime Emmy. Another 4 wins & 5 nominations

Cast

Joe Berlinger	...	Himself (voice)
Bruce Sinofsky	...	Himself (voice)
Jessie Miskelly	...	Himself
Jason Baldwin	...	Himself
Damien Wayne Echols	...	Himself
Christopher Byers	...	Himself (archive footage)
Steven Branch	...	Himself (archive footage)
Michael Moore	...	Himself (archive footage)
Jessie Miskelly Sr.	...	Himself
Pam Echols	...	Herself
Joe Hutchinson	...	Himself
Domini Teer	...	Herself
John Mark Byers	...	Himself
Melissa Byers	...	Herself
Terry Hobbs	...	Himself

Also Known As:

America Undercover: Paradise Lost - The Child Murders at Robin Hood Woods (USA) (series title)
Murder in West Memphis (USA) (working title)

Runtime:

150 min

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

1.37 : 1

Sound Mix:

Stereo

Filming Locations:

West Memphis, Arkansas, USA

Company:

Home Box Office (HBO)

Trivia:

Filmmakers Joe Berlinger and Bruce Sinofsky spent 79 days over a 10-month period filming in the actual Arkansas locales.

Movie Connections:

Version of Paradise Lost 2: Revelations (2000) (TV)

Soundtrack:

The Call of Ktulu

disturbing documentary

I remember watching this documentary when it appeared on HBO and being completly disgusted. This was a witch hunt. The trial of these boys was based more on their look and taste in music more than actual hard evidence. I grew up around this area and I know exactly what it's like to be a noncormist..you're automatically accused of being a satanist and associated with murders just because you look and think a certain way. Now I can't honestly sit here and say that these boys didn't do it..because I don't know..it's possible..and my heart tells me they didn't..but ya know i'd look like an ass if the evidence came up that they did. What disgusted me was the trial..and the assassination of the boys . There was no real concrete facts..just their lifestyle of music and fashion. The second one focused more on the father of the murdered children..all evidence pointed at him and away from the boys..just my opinion. This is a disturbing look at corrupted justice in the Bible belt.