Mind Over Murder

There are a few things I don't like about it, but many that I do. It's artfully produced and certainly not a waste of time. At some point I think the town folk even mention that the series is bringing a lot of money to Beatrice, and are urged to cooperate as much as possible with the crew. In the end you get a story full of candor, contradiction and absurdity in equal parts.

Above all, it manages to humanize all the characters despite the extraordinary tale, which itself is quite a feat. Even when they disagree you find a way to relate to each of them. Seeing the same picture from different perspectives is important as you look to explore the key question posed throughout the series: What do you do when the truth you've believed for 35 years may actually be false? There are no easy answers for the individuals, much less for the community.

There are some reviews on here complaining about the length of this series, and that it could have been shorter. Stick with it until the end, because it all comes together in an explosive and emotional finale. Watching the family of Helen Wilson finally realize that the story they have been told was in fact wrong was just heart wrenching. The families of the victim and the families of the people falsely incarcerated for the crime come together by the end, and you can finally see generations of affected family members reach some sort of peace and closure. As a huge true crime fan, this one really hit the mark.

I have never reviewed before and am writing this positive review to counteract the effects of the premature negative reviews. This documentary was fascinating and horrifying. I really recommend giving it a chance. Most of the negative reviews I read, whatever their complaint, were written after only two or three episodes. Stick with it! This doc was thoughtfully constructed to reveal all the various elements of the story at the exact right time. Above all, I am thoroughly impressed with the director's success at getting so many meaningful interviews from all points of view at various stages of the project. What fabulous work!

Can't stand how ignorant that Burdette guy is. He should spend as much time in jail as these people had to. This guys clearly has no empathy whatsoever. Just protecting his image and lying to himself and the people around him. Should be ashamed.

Other than that pretty interesting documentary. It took some time to really take me in. But after two episodes it started to get twisted. Before that I didn't really care a lot.

Sad that this was possible. To just put people in that position by pressure.

It's annoying that the review needs a certain amount of words. I don't know what to say more. I recommend it if you don't know what to watch else and you're into true crime.

For the people that didn't understand why it was included then gave up before the final episode: you missed something that the rest of us would say was amazing.

Not the quality of the production itself, which seemed well done, but for the impact it had on the locals and particularly on the families involved, some of whom were in the audience.

I'll admit that I did wonder why they were spending any time on it, but it paid off spectacularly.

Most people would have realised that Burt had employed some fairly dodgy interviewing techniques by about episode 4, but seeing his reaction to both the documentary and what he had been told about the play was illuminating.