Welcome to Dread Central Unearthed 2024, where we’re sharing our favorite films, moments, kills, scares, and more from this year in horror. Today, Tyler Doupé is sharing the top 10 true crime documentaries of 2024.
Our society’s collective fascination with true crime programming only continues to grow. Watching the criminal mind profiled from a safe distance is intriguing because it allows law-abiding citizens to see the world from an unfamiliar perspective. It’s also gratifying to watch people advocate for the voiceless and bring evildoers to justice. Our growing interest in content of this ilk has led to an uptick in programming chronicling compelling criminal cases. With so much content released this year, it was difficult to narrow down the most noteworthy offerings to just ten. But we have risen to the occasion and now present to you Dread Central’s top 10 picks for the best true crime documentaries for 2024.
10. They Called Him Mostly Harmless (dir. Patricia E. Gillespie)
This Max original true crime documentary devolves into a flame war between social media moderators and loses some of its efficacy in the process. But the core story is absolutely riveting. And even though it’s distracting, the infighting chronicled within serves as a commentary on Internet sleuth culture and what drives these people to do what they do. The central mystery regarding the subject of the documentary’s identity had my husband and me on the edge of our seats for the duration. It’s fascinating to think that in the era of social media and smartphones, a person can still effectively erase their digital footprint and fade into obscurity.
They Call Him Mostly Harmless follows the search for answers when an unidentified hiker’s emaciated remains are discovered in a tent in Florida.
9. American Murder: Laci Peterson (dir. Skye Borgman)
Few cases have gripped the nation like the Laci Peterson murder. The violent ordeal dominated the news cycle for quite some time. While it might seem like we already know the major points of the case, this docu-series provides a compelling look at the evidence and the victim’s legacy. More importantly, the convicted killer who murdered Laci doesn’t steal the spotlight away from the victim.
This true crime documentary series chronicles the untimely murder of a young, pregnant woman in the prime of her life and her husband’s bizarre behavior both before and after her death.
8. Bitconned (dir. Bryan Storkel)
As technology advances, scammers are quick to adapt and tweak their methodology. This Netflix original documentary recalls a case where three people used cryptocurrency to bilk investors out of millions of dollars. The film outlines the rise and fall of Centra Tech. The outfit was a bogus crypto company that managed to secure millions in investments. They did all this with fake information, fraudulent, claims, and phony apps and websites. Ray Trapani, the ringleader behind Centra Tech, is smug and grating but his story is nothing short of fascinating.
Bitconned chronicles the ins and outs of a legendary scam that saw three guys making a fortune in ill begotten gains by taking advantage of the unsuspecting.
7. Dancing for the Devil (dir. Derek Doneen)
I have always been fascinated by cults. The idea that almost anyone might be susceptible to such an organization under the right (or perhaps wrong is a better word choice) circumstances terrifies me. Dancing for the Devil recalls allegations of predatory practices by 7M Films (a talent management company), with a focus on the organization’s founder, Robert Israel Shinn. Shinn stands accused of various forms of abuse and exploitation as he managed social media influencers and reportedly required large donations to his church.
The documentary series outlines the allegations against 7M Films head honcho Robert Israel Shinn while giving those impacted by his greed and misconduct a chance to tell their stories.
6. Perfect Wife: The Mysterious Disappearance of Sherri Papini (dir. Michael Beach Nichols)
This Hulu original docu-series chronicles a true crime case that’s eerily similar to a certain David Fincher film. A marriage that looks perfect on the surface proves to be anything but. Sherri Papini’s kidnapping and eventual return are probed in depth in this riveting docu-series. As authorities dig into Sherri Papini’s kidnapping, they come away with more questions than answers. Even if you’re already familiar with the case, give this one a shot. The reporting within this program offers additional context and interviews that shed new light on a truly perplexing case.
5. Quiet on Set (dir. Mary Robertson and Emma Schwartz)
For many years, abuse in Hollywood went unchecked. People in positions of power leveraged their status to get away with predatory behavior. And they used their influence to silence anyone who tried to speak out. Quiet on Set blows the lid off what was happening behind the scenes at Nickelodeon during a pivotal time for the network, and reveals the dirty secrets of super-producer Dan Schneider. It’s heartbreaking to look back at the series I grew up watching and learn that many of them harbored dark secrets that badly traumatized and demoralized the young talent. As sad as the subject matter is, we need programming like this to hold people accountable for their despicable behavior and set the precedent that no one is above the law.
This Max original docu-series gives a voice to the survivors of a child predator who hid in plain sight, producing YA content for millennials.
4. How to Rob a Bank (dirs. Seth Porges and Stephen Robert Morse)
This documentary chronicles one of the most fascinating crime sprees in recent history. It unfolds in the Pacific Northwest, which makes the case even more compelling for me as a Portland native. If Point Break were a true story chronicled in documentary form, it would look an awful lot like How to Rob a Bank. The proceedings feel almost like narrative fiction with fast-paced editing and reenactments that pull the viewer into the action. What makes this doc stand out from the pack is the notion that the conman at the center of the story is just as colorful and flamboyant outside of his criminal endeavors as he is when he’s pulling off a high-stakes heist.
How to Rob a Bank chronicles the rise and fall of a Seattle-based grifter who repeatedly took local banks for staggering sums of money in the ‘90s.
3. Cold Case: Who Killed JonBenet Ramsey (dir. Joe Berlinger)
The JonBenet Ramsey case is one that we’ve seen play out in the headlines. But so much of what the news media reported during the investigation was patently untrue. Cold Case: Who Killed JonBenet Ramsey chronicles the murder of six-year-old JonBenét Ramsey and the media circus that followed. This informative documentary series separates fact from fiction and calls out the Boulder, CO Police Department for shady and deceptive investigation tactics that had John and Patsy Ramsey living under suspicion for years. It’s fascinating to hear John tell his side of the story and see it corroborated by both law enforcement officials and members of the media.
2. American Nightmare (dirs. Bernadette Higgins and Felicity Morris)
American Nightmare chronicles the aftermath of a ham-fisted kidnapping where authorities doubt the credibility of the victims. American Nightmare might have been better titled Insult to Injury. It recalls a harrowing home invasion and kidnapping that forever changed Aaron Quinn and Denise Huskins’ lives. When Aaron telephoned police to report that Denise had been kidnapped, the authorities accused the couple of faking the ordeal. They further labeled Denise a real-life Gone Girl. This jarring case shows how dangerous confirmation bias can be. It also proves that truth is sometimes even stranger than fiction.
1.The Truth About Jim (dir. Skye Borgman)
This docu-series chronicles the life and death of a man who may well have gotten away with murder. Over and over again. I cannot understate the profound impact that The Truth About Jim had on me. I’ve never felt so close to pure evil. The proceedings play out through the perspective of Sierra Barter, the step-granddaughter of Jim Mordecai. Mordecai is now deceased, but Barter believes he may have been the Santa Rosa hitchhiker killer. This is an unprecedented look at the case that uncovers what may have been trophies collected by the suspected killer.
Additionally, the documentary offers anecdotes from family members who suffered abuse at his hand. Watching the details of the case unfold from Sierra’s perspective brings the audience into the fold. Watching her investigate, rather than a filmmaker or journalist raises the stakes of this Max original.
Categorized:Editorials
