What, one could argue, could possibly be added to story of the West Memphis Three which wasn't covered in the Paradise Lost Trilogy? After finally watching West of Memphis, this viewer can emphatically state, "TONS!"
It is important to note that I think West of Memphis and the Paradise Lost films cannot and should not be compared. Both are excellent. The Paradise Lost films are more about a horrific crime and an unfolding story - did they do it or did they not? Especially in the first film, it is impossible not to be moved by the pain of the families of the murdered children. West of Memphis obviously recounts the crime, but comes from a stance that the WM3 are innocent and how justice might be achieved for them.
Like many of you, I watched Paradise Lost the first time it aired on HBO. I remember seeing film-makers Berlinger & Sinofsky on the Today show in advance, telling that they went to film the trial because they were both parents of young children and they wanted to find answers as to how children could so brutally kill other children. They said they came away with a story other than the one they went to film - indeed they did.
Also like many of you, I bought vhs copies, then later dvd copies of the Paradise Lost movies, joined the Free the WM3 site, bought the t-shirts, read the books, etc. This case wouldn't let go. What West of Memphis delves into is all of the new evidence findings (yes, addressed somewhat in Paradise Lost II), and delving into it in great depth. West of Memphis goes into much greater detail of what the missed evidence was, where it was found and it answers a really big question of where was all the blood from the injuries on the bodies of the little boys? If the kill site was different, how could killer/killers transport victims from a kill site to a dump site without anyone seeing? And what about the serrated knife that magically appeared in the lake behind Jason's home? For me so many of the evidentiary questions were finally answered - except the "who did it?" Although the film makes a very strong case for the guilt of Terry Hobbs as the killer of the boys, likely we will never know - the state of Arkansas' prosecutorial representatives make it pretty clear this case is closed as far as Arkansas is concerned.
West of Memphis also goes into more detail about who the WM3 are as adult men. There are more interviews with them in this film than likely were allowed by the prisons in the Paradise Lost films. Especially the interviews with Jesse Misskelly in the extras of WOM moved me tremendously. This film also shows the phalanx of high profile lawyers required and brought on board (thanks to the support from a lot of people, including some generous famous folks with some pretty deep pockets) to argue and advocate for these guys.
For me West of Memphis and the Paradise Lost films are integral parts of the same piece - not just because they are dealing with the same case, but because they each tell a different, critical part of this story from completely different vantage points. That being said, they are both stand-alone films, each excellent.
Ever doubt the power of film and its ability to bring about change? Imagine where the WM3 would be without that first Paradise Lost film. Damien would likely already have been executed by now, a footnote on the evening news. Jason and Jesse would be lost in the penal system, remembered only by their families. Instead these films forced the rest of us to make a personal choice to either get involved and speak up or just look away. West of Memphis showed what could happen when a bright light is shown on something dark and ugly and what could be done when we speak up. Although I hate they had to invoke the Alford plea to get out, I am just so glad that Damien, Jason and Jesse ARE out.
The first time I went to Memphis, TN, I crossed the bridge over the Mississippi and found myself in sad, poor West Memphis, Arkansas. Memphis, TN with its museums, culture and bright lights must have seemed a universe away to those young men back in 1993. Today, they can go anywhere!
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The best documentary on the West Memphis Three.
The best documentary on the West Memphis Three. Think of it as a potent encapsulation of the Paradise Lost films without losing any of the case’s nineteen year history. The most disturbing aspect of the film is the partial resolution we are offered and the knowledge that allegedly, the guilty still walk free. Blu Ray Review (1 Disc) ☆☆☆☆☆ No features despite what the cover might say.
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- Reviewed in the United States on August 20, 2013
- Reviewed in the United States on December 5, 2023
Top reviews from other countries
- SindriReviewed in the United Kingdom on June 19, 2013
"Lyrical, philosophical, humane and informative..."
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