37 reviews
- Dark_Forces
- Oct 17, 2022
- Permalink
This is a chilling exposé of a sociopath at work. In every frame of this absorbing documentary you cannot help but question the real motives of everything Peter Madsen says and does. Of course, hindsight is a wonderful thing and you really feel empathy for the cast of characters caught up in his web of deceit.
The producers and director do a great job weaving the characters (effectively innocent bystanders) to the main plot. The director also manages to ratchet up the tension as we get nearer and nearer to the already known, but still feared, denouement.
This is a great piece of documentary work by the same producers who gave us the equally absorbing Amanda Knox story.
The producers and director do a great job weaving the characters (effectively innocent bystanders) to the main plot. The director also manages to ratchet up the tension as we get nearer and nearer to the already known, but still feared, denouement.
This is a great piece of documentary work by the same producers who gave us the equally absorbing Amanda Knox story.
- fergal-952-215154
- Oct 1, 2022
- Permalink
- philstrachan
- Oct 1, 2022
- Permalink
This is not the first time that I see a crime show or documentary about the "submarine murder" done by Peter Madsen.
The dramatization in the 5-part "The Investigation", made me first aware of the events that happened. And I should say that it is far superior to this documentary that is just released by Netflix.
This documentary misses a lot of the events that were instrumental in the complete story. Events like either the extremely difficult task to lift the boat from the seabed or the mindboggling search for the body-parts using blood hounds from another country were not even covered in this documentary. And it is exactly these unlikely events that make this murder case unique.
I therefore recommend that you instead watch the above-mentioned crime show "The Investigation". You will be way more informed of what really happened.
All-in-all, I could therefore not really be surprised by this newly released documentary on Netflix. Although it is a decent documentary, I got the impression that during the last 30 minutes much "filler-material" was used to get to a 1.5 hour target duration. Especially the scenes of a woman with curly red hair - a volunteer that worked for Madsen - were totally out-of-place. She was suggesting that it must have been her that was the original target of Madsen, thereby putting all focus on herself instead of the real victim. I found that a bit disrespectful.
I should note that this documentary peeked my interest more towards the space-race between Madsen's rocket company and the neigbouring "Copenhagen Suborbitals". The story between those two companies was the most interesting of the complete documentary.
In the end I would rate this documentary with 5.6 stars, which I round up to 6 stars.
The dramatization in the 5-part "The Investigation", made me first aware of the events that happened. And I should say that it is far superior to this documentary that is just released by Netflix.
This documentary misses a lot of the events that were instrumental in the complete story. Events like either the extremely difficult task to lift the boat from the seabed or the mindboggling search for the body-parts using blood hounds from another country were not even covered in this documentary. And it is exactly these unlikely events that make this murder case unique.
I therefore recommend that you instead watch the above-mentioned crime show "The Investigation". You will be way more informed of what really happened.
All-in-all, I could therefore not really be surprised by this newly released documentary on Netflix. Although it is a decent documentary, I got the impression that during the last 30 minutes much "filler-material" was used to get to a 1.5 hour target duration. Especially the scenes of a woman with curly red hair - a volunteer that worked for Madsen - were totally out-of-place. She was suggesting that it must have been her that was the original target of Madsen, thereby putting all focus on herself instead of the real victim. I found that a bit disrespectful.
I should note that this documentary peeked my interest more towards the space-race between Madsen's rocket company and the neigbouring "Copenhagen Suborbitals". The story between those two companies was the most interesting of the complete documentary.
In the end I would rate this documentary with 5.6 stars, which I round up to 6 stars.
- Erik_Surewaard
- Sep 29, 2022
- Permalink
- mctiernan34
- Feb 10, 2023
- Permalink
This documentary is about the people around peter madsen and how they react to the murder. It's very interesting seeing people trying to just figure themselves out about how could I be together with a person who was this awful, but they didn't know. It kind of a awesome documentary on that level.
You can see the intens reaction ,the bargaining the not believing it. I think it's an awesome documentary on that level on a technical level does not really special things happening, but it's just an awesome thing that this documentary was made in the middle of it happening and they didn't even know it was gonna become a murder documentary
Peter Madsen an interesting character because we can't see how he's kind of weird, but it's only in hindsight that it becomes terrifying.
It is on Netflix and it's totally worth a watch.
You can see the intens reaction ,the bargaining the not believing it. I think it's an awesome documentary on that level on a technical level does not really special things happening, but it's just an awesome thing that this documentary was made in the middle of it happening and they didn't even know it was gonna become a murder documentary
Peter Madsen an interesting character because we can't see how he's kind of weird, but it's only in hindsight that it becomes terrifying.
It is on Netflix and it's totally worth a watch.
Another Netflix true crime documentary, this time with a feature-length running time of an hour and a half. Even that feels a bit padded towards the end. Apparently there were some problems with consent which meant this was withdraw from viewing for a while and re-released with one of the participants' face obscured, which is a little distracting. However, it's still as engrossing as most true crime stories. The real hook is, of course, that a documentary film crew just happened to be filming the participants even before the murder took place, so we get to see Peter Madsen as an 'ordinary', pre-crime figure, one who bears all the trademarks of psychopathy.
- Leofwine_draca
- Jul 19, 2023
- Permalink
"Into the Deep" is basically a documentary about someone filming a documentary only to find out that the subject of their documentary is not at all what they seem. It's a true story, and as it unfolded in the film, I realized I had vague memories of reading about the events in the news but never heard how it all played out. The way this documentary is structured and paced, incrementally revealing more and more about what happened, kept me enthralled but simultaneously disturbed. Whoever cut this thing together knew just where to place some of the most bizarrely incriminating film footage that was shot when everyone thought they were just making a nice little film about an eccentric inventor with dreams of glory, as opposed to unwittingly documenting a narrative that is more suited to a Hitchcock film or maybe a Stephen King novel.
- statchmo-317-162086
- Apr 11, 2023
- Permalink
I'd never heard of this incident before, but had the film recommended to me so I went in blind, without reading reviews or searching for the story on the web.
But it turns out there was no need for me to do that at all: there *was* no mystery; the murder of the title is solved in the first 15 minutes, and then it's all just interviews and flashbacks to previous interviews that don't increase our understanding or add anything meaningful or new. There is no progression from one point to anywhere else, so it's actually all just very repetitive and boring.
On top of that, there just seems to be something *off* about the people involved: if someone had told me it was a mockumentary (or part mockumentary), I would have believed them, because everyone's talking seems stilted and... rehearsed? I don't know if that's because most of the people are Danish and so needed to clarify and self-translate their own thoughts into English before speaking, but it really reminded me of the 'Catfish' film from years ago, in which some parts had to have been recreated and acted out after the fact.
Something feels false, anyway, and we never get beneath the surface of anyone in the film, or ever feel that we've gotten to the heart of anything important and true, so the final judgement has to be that this is an interesting murder case turned into a very dull, amateurishly-made and largely pointless documentary.
But it turns out there was no need for me to do that at all: there *was* no mystery; the murder of the title is solved in the first 15 minutes, and then it's all just interviews and flashbacks to previous interviews that don't increase our understanding or add anything meaningful or new. There is no progression from one point to anywhere else, so it's actually all just very repetitive and boring.
On top of that, there just seems to be something *off* about the people involved: if someone had told me it was a mockumentary (or part mockumentary), I would have believed them, because everyone's talking seems stilted and... rehearsed? I don't know if that's because most of the people are Danish and so needed to clarify and self-translate their own thoughts into English before speaking, but it really reminded me of the 'Catfish' film from years ago, in which some parts had to have been recreated and acted out after the fact.
Something feels false, anyway, and we never get beneath the surface of anyone in the film, or ever feel that we've gotten to the heart of anything important and true, so the final judgement has to be that this is an interesting murder case turned into a very dull, amateurishly-made and largely pointless documentary.
- MogwaiMovieReviews
- Oct 6, 2022
- Permalink
I thought this was a fabulous documentary. No it wasn't your typical who done it crime documentary but that's the point! This film maker stumbles into a psychopaths world unknowingly, yeah its personal and not only police facts but that's what's so heartbreaking about it all! I can't imagine how Emma watched the rushes back and cut this into a film without losing her mind. Such a wild story and that final shot, sheeshh! I literally feel sick after finishing watching this, I now need to go watch some trash tv so I can sleep tonight. Well done team, a very well made film from a very different perspective.
- annaosetroff
- Mar 4, 2023
- Permalink
- fmartin-21394
- Jan 17, 2023
- Permalink
- ruthdean-47049
- Oct 12, 2022
- Permalink
I was broadly familiar with this murder, having been aware of it at the time it occurred. I wasn't aware of this documentary but someone mentioned it was on Netflix and worth watching, so I did.
Its an amazing coincidence (or not? - when did he know he would commit a crime, was he leaving easter eggs for the audience - it is weird) that there was a film crew in tow following Madsen right up until the day of the murder.
It was good in the sense that it showed how creepy Madsen was, hiding in plain sight, basically telling people what he was and what he was going to do, and no one noticed. It also showed the impact of his crime on all his interns and collaborators, who had recognised he was eccentric but had trust in him in terms of delivery of their project.
I understand that some of the people in the film were not happy about the final product and some voices and faces may have been changed using AI. I am really confused about that, the woman whose face is supposedly different just looks like she has a soft filter on, so I am not sure if her face is completely different or that slight blurriness is the effect. I'd actually be half tempted to google her to find out what she looks like to understand the nature of the special effect they have used, which probably defeats the object of them altering her appearance.
What was lacking was information about Kim Wall, there was barely anything, not even really proper photos, she is the victim, I would like to know a bit more about her. Also we never saw what the inside of the submarine was like.
Also, though some might not agree, for completion, I would like to know what they think happened on that submarine, a timeline of events, but there was nothing. He clearly just planned to get any female on there and kill them, and he basically told the girl who may have been his intended victim, that he had a plan, I would like to know, what happened. Did he drug her to incapacitate her? I don't know and when it comes to keeping safe from evil, it is useful to understand their methods. The actual event was not much of a feature of this documentary, it was just before and then briefly after and some reporting of the court case.
I feel like this documentary prompts more questions than it answers for a viewer who broadly knew of the murder but doesn't know all the details.
Its an amazing coincidence (or not? - when did he know he would commit a crime, was he leaving easter eggs for the audience - it is weird) that there was a film crew in tow following Madsen right up until the day of the murder.
It was good in the sense that it showed how creepy Madsen was, hiding in plain sight, basically telling people what he was and what he was going to do, and no one noticed. It also showed the impact of his crime on all his interns and collaborators, who had recognised he was eccentric but had trust in him in terms of delivery of their project.
I understand that some of the people in the film were not happy about the final product and some voices and faces may have been changed using AI. I am really confused about that, the woman whose face is supposedly different just looks like she has a soft filter on, so I am not sure if her face is completely different or that slight blurriness is the effect. I'd actually be half tempted to google her to find out what she looks like to understand the nature of the special effect they have used, which probably defeats the object of them altering her appearance.
What was lacking was information about Kim Wall, there was barely anything, not even really proper photos, she is the victim, I would like to know a bit more about her. Also we never saw what the inside of the submarine was like.
Also, though some might not agree, for completion, I would like to know what they think happened on that submarine, a timeline of events, but there was nothing. He clearly just planned to get any female on there and kill them, and he basically told the girl who may have been his intended victim, that he had a plan, I would like to know, what happened. Did he drug her to incapacitate her? I don't know and when it comes to keeping safe from evil, it is useful to understand their methods. The actual event was not much of a feature of this documentary, it was just before and then briefly after and some reporting of the court case.
I feel like this documentary prompts more questions than it answers for a viewer who broadly knew of the murder but doesn't know all the details.
- helenroberts-99744
- Dec 30, 2023
- Permalink
This docufilm was very poorly directed and portrayed. It was all over the place and the constant timeline changes did nothing to improve the viewing experience. It actually confused the the entire story and I'm not sure why that direction was chosen. The 90 min runtime dragged on and felt much longer. It's a generous 5/10 from me. This docufilm was very poorly directed and portrayed. It was all over the place and the constant timeline changes did nothing to improve the viewing experience. It actually confused the the entire story and I'm not sure why that direction was chosen. The 90 min runtime dragged on and felt much longer.
- Top_Dawg_Critic
- Oct 5, 2022
- Permalink
All I want to give is a warning for viewers who are bothered by real unsettling violence, and grotesque violence against women resulting in death. There were a few facts in this documentary that have sort of haunted me, not shown on screen, but explained. Extremely unsettling things I wish I didn't know about. They have come back in my mind a few times since watching it, giving me a movie-esque vision before my eyes that I quickly have to distract myself from. I wish I never knew. The documentary gives no indication of what it is leading up to. So when these unsettling facts are revealed it is shocking and left me very bothered. I did not expect it, so I am letting others know.
- lauramaeflower
- Nov 21, 2023
- Permalink
If one doesn't know anything of this happening in 2017, this production is just a compilation of discussions of no real interest. It is inconsequentially put together, thus the viewer is seeing scenes before and after the fact, all jumbled up. It would have been of better use with a proper beginning and what happened and how it ends. If I didn't know this event really happened, I would have stopped watching it almost immediately. What the viewer gets is what he or she deserves for watching yet another Netflix documentary of no value at all. It is not even worth having to type at least 600 characters to say so.
- pietclausen
- Oct 30, 2022
- Permalink
I had never heard of this story beforehand, but it was a really well put together documentary. It literally takes you down the road from a seemingly eccentric guy who's actually done a "TED Talks" episode on his adventures, to a well and truly snapped person. There are a few characters who recall in hindsight some startlingly strange conversations and text messages on the days leading up to the event and there is guilt felt from a few, but there's no way in hell they could have imagined in their wildest dreams that this crime would go down. I cannot imagine how scared the reporter Kim Wall must have felt when the s#*t hit the fan.
I never write reviews. Can't be arsed. But this has left me feeling angry so feel compelled. This story could have been told so differently and I am so surprised this has been made by a female director. It's as if there's no victim of this crime. The only heartache shown is of those who were Peter's friends, all of which feel sorry for themselves and at having lost Peter as their leader. All are completely unlikable for it. None of them show any remorse that they may have been able to stop this from happening in the first place. Are they all that thick that they couldn't spot the clues? Emma even ends the film with a rant she filmed from Peter that said enough. If I was related to Kim Wall in any way I would be fuming. Really poor judgement and telling of what is a fascinating story.
- nathancarey-44664
- Dec 2, 2022
- Permalink
- danielstorm1993
- Feb 21, 2023
- Permalink
Something about this 'documentary' seems really fake. The people seem like actors reading an exaggerated script, some of the camera angles seem staged and one of the people's faces I am convinced is deep faked. They did say this particular person were played by an actor to protect the actual person...but together with my other examples, I think this is a mockumentary.
The subject is interesting and it had potential as a great documentary but the production makes me distrust that it's a real story. But my heart goes out to any of the victims and their families for the crime and subsequent publicity it has caused.
The subject is interesting and it had potential as a great documentary but the production makes me distrust that it's a real story. But my heart goes out to any of the victims and their families for the crime and subsequent publicity it has caused.
- phoebecward
- Nov 26, 2022
- Permalink
- mark-49466
- Oct 3, 2022
- Permalink