Fred & Rose West: A British Horror Story

I've been eagerly waiting for a solid documentary about Fred and Rose West, especially since their story is one of the darkest and most complex in British true crime history. Having nearly read all the major books on the case, I came into this series with high expectations for a detailed and thorough exploration. Unfortunately, while it does cover the basics, it doesn't dig nearly deep enough into the twisted dynamics, the psychological aspects, or the wider context of their crimes.

There's so much more to this horrible story that's been overlooked or only lightly touched upon here. I agree with the other reviewers, that this series feels like a surface-level retelling rather than an in-depth investigation. It misses the chance to fully unpack the chilling details and the impact on the victims and their families.

For those new to the case, it might serve as an introduction, but for anyone who's already familiar with the extensive research available, it's a bit disappointing. I was hoping for a more gripping and comprehensive documentary that truly does justice to such a grim chapter in British crime history.

I agree with the reviewers who found this documentary lacking in depth. I did find the recently released police interview recordings fascinating, but the rest of the documentary seemed like an overview that in spots was a little hard to follow without more context. For example, I would have liked to know more about the Wests' backgrounds (including Fred's first wife and child); the backgrounds of the victims whose relatives weren't interviewed; what became of the Wests' children immediately after the arrests and in the years afterward; and what became of the house. And why didn't they ask the "appropriate person" why she lied on the stand? Overall, given the available material, this could have been much, much better.

Netflix's Fred and Rose West: A British Horror Story aims to revisit one of Britain's most notorious serial killer cases, but ultimately falls short by omitting key details that could have provided a more comprehensive understanding of the crimes.

The three-part series does offer some compelling elements, such as previously unseen police footage and interviews with journalists and investigators. However, it largely fails to delve into the psychological dynamics between Fred and Rose West, their backgrounds, and the systemic failures that allowed their crimes to continue unchecked for decades. The documentary touches on the discovery of nine bodies at their Gloucester home and briefly mentions the abuse of their children, but it doesn't explore the full extent of their depravity or the impact on the victims' families.

Critics have pointed out that the series feels superficial and voyeuristic, lacking in-depth analysis or new information. For instance, it doesn't adequately address the role of Janet Leach, the "appropriate adult" during Fred's police interviews, who later testified about Rose's involvement in the murders. Additionally, the documentary doesn't explore the possibility of other victims, despite Fred's claims of having killed more than the confirmed number.

While the series may serve as an introduction for those unfamiliar with the case, it misses the opportunity to provide a deeper, more insightful examination of the Wests' crimes and their lasting impact. By focusing primarily on the sensational aspects, the documentary overlooks the complexities and nuances that could have offered a more meaningful narrative.

In conclusion, Fred and Rose West: A British Horror Story presents a chilling tale but ultimately lacks the depth and detail necessary to fully comprehend the horror and implications of the Wests' actions.

They had everything to make this a perfect documentary on a silver platter

They had visuals, the recordings, the law enforcement and journalists involved, first account witnesses - the victims, victims families, previous tenants, even the West's own children. Yet they still fell so flat when it came to telling the story of such a complex case.

To tell this story, you NEED to go back to the beginning and go through the events that led to them getting caught. Yet so many facts and details were completely glazed over or ignored. A solid timeline wasn't even established. A breakdown of their family structure wasn't given, just that they had kids together and a part. It's so disappointing how lazy the storytelling was. They had THREE episodes and spent majority of it yapping about the more minor details.

PSA: Morbid podcast does a 4 episode deep dive into this case that's really thorough. Puts this to absolute shame.

The documentary feels rushed and that it needed another three episodes at least.

Key events such as Fred's brain injury, Rose's relationship with her father, more background on Rena and Ann McFall, the possibility that other victims such as Mary Bastholm may exist are all missed. Whilst some victims are given some coverage and family interviews conducted, an episode giving background on each victim would have emphasised the person behind the victim.

The new footage is interesting but seems to be the whole purpose behind the documentary rather than an attempt to add further context to the events being described.

Ironically Howard Sounes' (contributor and producer) own podcast contained much more information on this subject than contained in this documentary.

Frankly there have been channel 5 documentaries that are more detailed and informative.