Murder Inc: how my failed attempt to make a Zodiac Killer film took me to the dark heart of the true crime industry

Working as a documentary filmmaker can be an all-consuming experience, especially when it comes to the true-crime genre. The 2010s saw a surge in popularity for these types of films and shows, with titles like "The Jinx" and "Making a Murderer" captivating audiences worldwide. As I began my own journey into making documentaries, I found myself drawn to the puzzle-solving aspect of true crime - the way clues fit together to reveal a narrative, no matter how complex or unsolved.

My first foray into adapting a true-crime book was The Zodiac Killer Cover-Up by Lyndon Lafferty. Published in 2005, the memoir details Lafferty's decades-long quest to catch the infamous Bay Area serial killer, who claimed five victims between the late 1960s and early 1970s. As I pursued the rights to adapt this book into a film, my imagination ran wild - I pictured a series of tense close-ups reenacting Lafferty's fateful rest stop encounter, followed by a montage of news footage and crime scene images.

However, reality soon set in. The more research I did on the case, the more I realized that piecing together the evidence would be a daunting task. With six different accounts of the killer's height alone, it was hard to discern which theory was true. True-crime documentaries often rely on speculation and conjecture, but this only seemed to further muddy the waters.

The industry's reliance on sensationalism and formulaic storytelling is also a concern. Shows like "Monster: The Jeffrey Dahmer Story" and "Don't F**k With Cats" use graphic reenactments to engage viewers, while also questioning their appeal. Are we voyeuristically indulging in the suffering of others, or simply trying to make sense of the world? It's these complex questions that I sought to explore through my own project.

In the end, The Zodiac Killer Project remained unrealized - a film beat by beat, documented in real-time over footage of everyday Vallejo scenes. While it was an elegy for a failed project, it also became an attempt to grapple with the true-crime genre as a whole. By examining my own complicity in its creation and consumption, I hoped to spark a necessary conversation about ethics and responsibility.

As I look back on my journey into making documentaries, it's clear that true crime has become an integral part of our popular culture. Whether we acknowledge it or not, the industry is here to stay - and as long as it continues to shape the documentary landscape, its influence will be felt far beyond its sensational headlines.

"The greatest glory in living lies not in never falling, but in rising every time we fall."

I think true-crime documentaries can be super captivating, but also kinda messed up. Like, how do you separate fact from fiction? And what's the line between being fascinated by a case and actually exploiting it for views? I'm not sure there's an easy answer, but it's def something to consider when making or watching these types of shows...

i mean, have you guys ever stopped to think about how true crime documentaries are just glorifying the suffering of innocent people's loved ones? like, we're always talking about how they just want justice for their family members but what about the families themselves? don't they deserve closure? it's like we're putting a spotlight on this one person's trauma and exploiting it for our own entertainment

and another thing, why do true crime shows have to be so formulaic? "oh, this person was suspicious, let's reenact the whole thing!" give me a break. can't they just focus on telling a real story without sensationalizing every single detail? it's like we're more interested in being shocked than actually learning something.

i also want to talk about how true crime documentaries often rely on speculation and conjecture. i mean, come on, folks, we're not detectives, we don't have all the facts! but that doesn't stop us from making assumptions and passing them off as "the truth". it's like, can't we just be honest about what we don't know?

anyway, i guess my point is... or rather, the industry's point is... that true crime documentaries have become a big part of our popular culture. and while that might seem interesting on paper, it's actually pretty problematic in real life. so let's all just take a step back and think about what we're really consuming here

I totally feel you on this one! True-crime documentaries can be super captivating but they also come with a ton of responsibility. It's like, we're basically piecing together fragments of someone else's life and death to try to make sense of it all, which is pretty heavy. And don't even get me started on the sensationalism and formulaic storytelling - it's like, what's the end goal here? Are we just trying to attract viewers or actually tell an honest story?

I also love how you mention questioning our own complicity in consuming true-crime content. Like, are we genuinely interested in learning about these cases or are we just voyeuro-ly indulging? It's a tricky line to walk and I think it's awesome that you're having those conversations in your project.

Anyway, the industry is definitely here to stay and it's interesting to see how it'll continue to evolve. Maybe we'll see more emphasis on nuanced storytelling and less on sensationalism?

I totally feel you on this one! True crime documentaries can be so captivating, but at what cost? It's like we're all morbidly curious about the darker side of human nature . And don't even get me started on how it affects our perception of reality - it's like a never-ending puzzle that's always missing a piece . I mean, have you seen those shows where they try to recreate crime scenes? It's like they're asking us to relive the trauma all over again . And what about the rights of the victims' families? Do we really need to sensationalize their suffering for the sake of entertainment?

omg i totally feel u about this true crime docos can be so consumeing lol! i think what bothers me most is how sensationalized they get sometimes. like, dont f**k with cats was so wild but also kinda cringeworthy at the same time and then theres these shows that just rehash the same old theories over and over again. it's like, can't we just have a nuanced discussion about it without all the theatrics? anywayz i think its cool u took on the project even tho it didnt work out. maybe next time u'll get it right

I feel like true-crime documentaries are getting way too caught up in being all dramatic and sensational. Like, do we really need to reenact every single detail of a crime scene? It's already super disturbing enough just watching the news, no need for Hollywood-style reenactments too. And it's also kinda weird how they always gotta be so formulaic - like, "Oh yeah, let's put all these shocking twists and turns in here to keep viewers hooked!" But at the same time, you can tell there's some real investigation going on behind the scenes, trying to get to the bottom of these mysteries. It's just weird how sometimes it feels like they're getting more attention than the actual truth itself

omg I feel you!! true-crime documentaries can be so fascinating but also super problematic like how do we separate fact from fiction? and don't even get me started on the ethics of reenacting real-life crimes it's like, what's the point of entertainment if it comes at someone's suffering? anyway I love that you're speaking out about this stuff and trying to have a conversation about responsibility

true-crime docos are all about entertainment over truth

The true-crime genre is getting out of control! All these documentaries and shows are just rehashing old cases and sensationalizing them for views I mean, can't we move on to something else? It's like we're all just voyeurs watching a trainwreck from the comfort of our couches And don't even get me started on those graphic reenactments... it's just too much! I'm not saying there aren't important stories being told, but we need to do better than just stirring up drama and fear. We need to have real conversations about ethics and responsibility, like the filmmaker mentioned. It's time for a change in the industry, if you ask me...

I totally get why true-crime documentaries are so captivating. I mean, who doesn't wanna solve a puzzle that's been unsolved for years? But at the same time, it can be kinda disturbing to watch all those graphic reenactments and news clips... like, we're basically getting a glimpse into someone else's nightmare . And don't even get me started on how hard it is to separate fact from fiction in these cases - six different accounts of the Zodiac Killer's height? That's just crazy talk! As much as I love a good whodunit, I think we need to be more mindful of how these documentaries are made and what we're getting out of them .

The true-crime genre is like a dark mirror held up to humanity, reflecting our deepest desires for meaning and control in the face of chaos . We're drawn to it because it's a puzzle we can't solve, but at what cost? The more I think about it, the more I realize that true-crime documentaries are less about uncovering the truth and more about satisfying our own morbid curiosity .

It's like we're all voyeurs in this twisted game of cat and mouse, where the killer is us - our fascination with the unknown, our need for thrills and spills . And at the heart of it all is the question: what drives us to consume such disturbing content? Is it a desire to feel safe by gazing into the abyss, or are we simply addicted to the rush of adrenaline that comes with it ?

I think about my own project, The Zodiac Killer Project, and how it became an exercise in grappling with these very questions . Was I complicit in perpetuating a formulaic narrative, or was I trying to subvert it? The more I reflect on it, the more I realize that true-crime documentaries are both a reflection of our society's darkest impulses and a catalyst for necessary conversations about ethics and responsibility .

The industry may be here to stay, but that doesn't mean we have to indulge in its most exploitative tendencies . Maybe it's time for us to take a step back and ask ourselves: what are we really getting out of this true-crime craze?

The True-Crime Conundrum: A Reflection on Ethics & Responsibility
I think what's really concerning about the true-crime genre is how it can blur the lines between fact and fiction. When we're so invested in piecing together puzzles, it's easy to overlook the complexities of real-life cases. The reliance on sensationalism and formulaic storytelling can also be pretty alienating - I mean, have you ever watched a documentary that just spells everything out for you? It's like, hello, where's the nuance?

I think what's really interesting is how true-crime has become this huge part of our popular culture. We're so fascinated by these stories because they tap into our darker impulses - we want to know why people do terrible things and how we can prevent it from happening again. But at the same time, I worry that we're also becoming desensitized to the human cost of these crimes.

One thing that's always bugged me about true-crime documentaries is how they often focus on the 'monster' or the perpetrator rather than the victim(s). Like, yes, we need to know what happened, but let's not forget that there are real people behind those headlines. It's all about balance, you know? You can't just sensationalize a case without acknowledging the human impact.

I guess my own experience with The Zodiac Killer Cover-Up taught me that even when we think we're doing something noble - like shedding light on an unsolved mystery - we need to be aware of our own biases and complicity. True crime is a tricky beast, but I think it's one that's here to stay... for better or worse

I'm so done with the true-crime genre . I mean, don't get me wrong, I love a good mystery, but all these documentaries and shows just seem to exploit people's curiosity about violence and suffering. And can we talk about how messed up it is that some of these stories are more about the perpetrator than the victims? It's like we're more interested in knowing who did it rather than why they did it .

And don't even get me started on the sensationalism . I've seen shows with graphic reenactments that make you squirm in your seat, but is that really what we want to be consuming? It feels like true-crime documentaries are more about entertainment value than actual justice or closure for the families involved.

I think it's time we had a bigger conversation about why we're so drawn to this stuff and how we can consume it in a way that's respectful and responsible .