Helter Skelter

It was a mish mash. Why repeat clips? Charles Manson's history has been recounted in other documentaries and I suspect many others skipped that episode. Boring!

The strength was the footage at the time of the murders. I know so much work was put into it but it needs more editing and less jumping around.

There is absolutely nothing new in the six part series that hasn't been rehashed ad nauseam. (I chose to give it 10 stars because the trove of TV footage, interviews, and previously unseen photos was enough to make it an intense viewing.)

Considering the glut of new information that came out in print during the 50th anniversary of the murders, I was disappointed that the series didn't probe some of the much more convincing theories.

We are left with the tired "Helter Skelter"-- a motive that has been laughed out of most investigative circles, and proven Bugliosi's "facts be damned" obsession with convicting Manson.

"Helter Skelter" will go into the history books as the accepted version of what happened in August of 1969. But for the small percentage of the population that refuse to take the media's word for it, it is not that simple. The more logical theories of drug burns and a very seedy Hollywood underbelly cannot compete with a real life boogeyman.

So Tex Watson, the man who did most of the damage, inflicted most of the stab wounds, and had a direct hand in seven murders will die in obscurity. And the victims will be remembered as wide eyed innocents, despite mountains of evidence to the contrary (Sebring and Frykowski were well known drug dealers. The Tate residence was Geound Zero for wild drug parties and pornographic films involving everyone from Mama Cass to Yuel Brenner). No one will know Jack Nickolson was among friends who removed damaging film reels in the living room loft while the bodies were still warm.

In the end, it's probably safer that we believe documentary series like "Helter Skelter". When we start peeling back the layers, the truth is far more terrifying than a 5' 2" failure and his group of degenerate hippies.

Great documentary that really tells the full story in one series, for a 35 y/o dude. Only problem is that Episode 1 doesn't chrnologically fit & then several scenes after (incl episode 1 scenes) are replayed several times to a "T" in 1-2 min stretches & almost makes you think you selected an episode you already watched.

I really loved the retrospective on his origins, especially the original footage from that time. many interviews with people who knew his mum and him when he was little. i cannot find much fault in this project. to me it was not in any way an attempt to justify his actions.. i loved it because it attempted to show the path he walked and painted a psychological picture that way.

& no, i would not "put the 'manson-story' to bed" .. reviewer jmihalchik-67031 mentioned some things that i find interesting & unsettling - & curbed my interest in his 5th paragraph. now we need another documentary going into that...

But obviously a sugar coated version of what really happened there and following with mansons trials and ridiculous "white privilege" type of sentencing LOL. stupid sick people are gonna do stupid sick things.. that is just how american society is and will never change. all that being said, interesting how 2020 america is basically fulfilling the manson prophecy.. hmm

and damn.. that rose ann mourehouse is smokin! id've joined a cult just to get in dem pants he he