This 3-episode true-crime documentary series on Netflix left me with so many burning questions.
Firstly, how is the upper echelon of the Vallejo PD and the FBI not penalized for being so ineffective in this case? Secondly, why was the (vague) connection between the kidnapper and the ex-fiancee not pursued further? And what was FBI Agent David Sesma's role in this entire fiasco?
I have watched Felicity Morris' previous documentary The Tinder Swindler. Her directing style befits this case and its proceedings to the T. The piece is structured in a smart, episodic way revealing key information at critical junctures, just like we're watching a procedural thriller. When it brought the Gone Girl references in, I wasn't prepared for what followed. Everything subverts your expectations, especially if you're getting to know about the case for the very first time (like I was!).
But what makes the makers' attempt stand apart is how they handle the emotional beats of the victims. The victims' stories get the bulk of the screen time, while not forgetting how the sheer incompetence of an entire PD made committing crimes easier for the serial stalker / kidnapper / rapist. The second episode carries the hard-hitting core, instantly making us feel for Denise and everything she had to endure. All the hugs in the world go out to her, alongside Misty (the only cop we must appreciate amid this whole mess) whose relentless efforts led to the perpetrator's capture.
Firstly, how is the upper echelon of the Vallejo PD and the FBI not penalized for being so ineffective in this case? Secondly, why was the (vague) connection between the kidnapper and the ex-fiancee not pursued further? And what was FBI Agent David Sesma's role in this entire fiasco?
I have watched Felicity Morris' previous documentary The Tinder Swindler. Her directing style befits this case and its proceedings to the T. The piece is structured in a smart, episodic way revealing key information at critical junctures, just like we're watching a procedural thriller. When it brought the Gone Girl references in, I wasn't prepared for what followed. Everything subverts your expectations, especially if you're getting to know about the case for the very first time (like I was!).
But what makes the makers' attempt stand apart is how they handle the emotional beats of the victims. The victims' stories get the bulk of the screen time, while not forgetting how the sheer incompetence of an entire PD made committing crimes easier for the serial stalker / kidnapper / rapist. The second episode carries the hard-hitting core, instantly making us feel for Denise and everything she had to endure. All the hugs in the world go out to her, alongside Misty (the only cop we must appreciate amid this whole mess) whose relentless efforts led to the perpetrator's capture.