grievousangel09

Picked randomly on Netflix i found the content directly relating to each incident quit fascinating. Problem is the film comes off amateurish due to the fact that the documentarian(s) find it necessary to insert themselves with filmed commentary, including the two of them bumbling around on location attempting to identify murder sites and rather pretentiously speculating on the case circumstances and the killers motives. Most superfluous and unnecessary are the occasional, random personal reaction shots during interviews or in hotels rooms while conducting research. Wish i could give more positive feedback. The filmmaker's just seem to be stretching this a bit, most likely due limited resources on the chosen subjects.

As someone with a slight knowledge of the actual details of the Tate/LaBianca murders, there is much to learn from this documentary. And the writer and narrator have apparently studied the events and those involved quite thoroughly. In fact they almost provide more background on the murder victims than Manson and his "family." Some of it seems non essential so you must have patience for the actual murder events to properly unfold. Also, as was said by another reviewer, the very beginning seems to be nothing more than an opportunity for the narrator to sell his tour business and himself. Throughout the rest he guides us to various locations in California in relation to Manson and the murders, during which he provides a substantial amount of anecdotal, personal commentary. Luckily for him he is amiable enough but i did find myself wishing for a more properly produced documentary for which the budget obviously would not allow. Or maybe it was intentionally written that way. Regardless, there were plenty of genuinely creepy moments on location and enough information to keep me interested.

Everyone tries WAY too hard. Even the contestants, who act like celebrities in their own right. Which i'm sure can be blamed on the producers. All of the subtleties of Brett, Charles, Richard and the other revolving talents is lost. And Michael Burger is a complete goof ball with none of the charm of Gene Rayburn. The questions are poorly written and everyone is just trying to upstage everyone else, starting with Judy Tenuta. Not to mention that god awful set! Ugh! If you grew up with and/or are a fan of the original Match Game(s), you have been warned. Even Match Game "90, without Gene, was descent compared to this garbage. What a waste.