The Lie: The Murder of Grace Millane

I've been really fascinated by the Grace Millane case ever since it happened. The thing about it that stuck with me the most is touched on very early in this documentary. We see a Google search of the safest countries to visit. Right there in the number two spot is New Zealand. Grace had just landed here from South America, a notoriously unsafe place where she encountered no problems, and then it was little old "safe" New Zealand that got her. It's incredibly sad.

Most documentaries have to have someone in the present explaining everything that happened at the time of the case. This documentary doesn't have to do that at all. There is so much CCTV footage, interview footage and court footage that it comfortably fills the run time. And all of it is fascinating.

The CCTV footage being matched up with his interview footage to show how he was lying was very well edited. And the courtroom footage showing the defense attorneys hating every minute of their life, having to say the things they were being paid to say was fascinating to watch.

It's all pretty upsetting and dark stuff. Be aware that this is not a light watch. It is a well made documentary though. 9/10.

I live in New Zealand and am a New Zealander so this was really sad that this happened in our country. I think so many us felt so shocked and angry such a tragedy could occur in a supposedly safe country. We clearly got a lot of work to do as Grace should have been safe here. This is a well made documentary that shows you the harsh reality of what unfolded at the evil hands of a predator. It is beyond shocking how he behaved, lied and tried to cover his tracks after killing Grace. Evil intent was definitely there and we see glimpses into such a disturbed person. Viewers are left asking what sort of upbringing or childhood did someone have to become a monster. Tough to watch but well made.

The case even though quickly solved, was quite saddening and also terrifying. These days I don't like watching documentaries as they keep dragging with flashbacks for people childhoods and how happy they were and all. This documentary gets straight to the point. They did make it seem like suspense in the beginning and then things quickly unravel. If this is first time you are hearing about grace than it's an interesting watch. I'm glad the investigators wasted no time. The interviews were so taken very calmly and no wiggle room for the perpetrator to get out jail. I'm glad the lawyers were also very thorough with the evidence. However, documentary Makes you wonder if a peaceful country like New Zealand is not safe than where else would you even go to travel solo.

This is a amazing documentary which shines the light on the darkness women encounter around the world. A beautiful soul extinguished by the actions of a cowardly maggot. This documentary is very thoughtful in its approach. It never sets out to tarnish the victim like the courts do, instead it shows how determined the justice system was when the world's spotlight was on them. The law enforcement gave their all with such brilliant investigation, all whilst the coward lied and kept lying, trying to tarnish Grace, but never succeeding due to the evidence that he supplied. Killers like this maggot never fail to suprise me with how inept their egos are and somehow still believe they are superior. Grace was taken from this world but was loved by family, friends and all who followed her journey. Her legacy will never be forgotten, whilst the coward rots in prison, his name will always be synonymous with his crime. Bravo to the director in her approach to this case. No woman should ever be a victim to any man's sick fantasy, and one day we can only hope there will be a future where crimes like this will never ever be a normalised hushed up secret.

At the outset, I want to acknowledge the tragedy at the heart of this documentary. It is an incredibly sad case, and my heart goes out to everyone involved. One positive aspect of the documentary is that it brings attention to the event, allowing viewers to learn from it.

Now, as for the documentary itself, I found it lacking. The storytelling is extremely dry-there is no real narrative flow. It's essentially a series of "this happened, then this happened," with little attempt to build tension or deeper engagement. The absence of music or any emotional cues further distances the viewer, making most of the experience feel like you're just watching extended CCTV footage. That said, the quality of the surveillance infrastructure in New Zealand is impressive, but it doesn't compensate for the lack of effective storytelling.