THE WAR AND PEACE OF TIM O’BRIEN (2021, doc)

March 2, 2021

 Greetings again from the darkness. “We are all writing our ‘Maybe’ book.” So says National Book Award winner Tim O’Brien, the renowned war story author best known for his groundbreaking 1990 book, “The Things They Carried.” The book was based on his experiences in the Vietnam War, and Mr. O’Brien is the subject of this documentary profile by Aaron Matthews. Four years of filming (off and on) covers O’Brien’s journey in writing his next (perhaps last) book … his first since 2002.

O’Brien lives in Austin, Texas with his wife, Meredith, and their two sons, Timmy and Tad. The married couple look back to facing a fork in the road when Meredith wanted kids and Tim did not. He became a father for the first time at age 56, vowing to be a “decent” father. During those years, he did not write, and eventually it was Meredith that urged him to return to the keyboard. She says, “An artist makes art, a writer should write.” And much of Matthews’ movie explores O’Brien’s writing struggles, and his admitted battle in balancing family and writing.

With his ever-present cigarette and stash of notes and ideas, O’Brien walks us through some of his thought-process. His sons have shown no interest in learning about his war years, his childhood, or much of anything else in regards to their dad. They are simply normal teenagers more focused on sports, friends, and screen time. Dad acknowledges this, and is inspired by the idea that after he’s gone, they will appreciate knowing what made Dad tick. He cringes at the thought of being remembered for the worst thing that ever happened to him (war), but knows he would have valued the effort from his own dad – despite what we learn from a segment where O’Brien and his brother and sister reminisce about their parents.

In addition to being an incredibly talented writer, Tim O’Brien is a deep thinker, and actually quite courageous to invite cameras into his inner sanctum. Death is often on his mind, and even 50+ years later, he’s still haunted by his war experience – even though he has forged a writing and speaking career from it. The proof of his internal demons is seen with O’Brien on his hands and knees scrubbing the kitchen floor in the wee hours of the morning. We see him labor over a few words just like he labors over a magic trick – a few of which we see. Just don’t ask him to play the trombone. O’Brien speaks to the futility of his writing, and how his words have no impact on whether more are sent into battle. He labels himself a “Preacher of Peace”, but we are never really confident he has found peace … perhaps acceptance is more fitting. “Dad’s Maybe Book” by Tim O’Brien was published in 2019.

Available VOD on March 2, 2021

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Posted by David Ferguson

BLACK HOLES: THE EDGE OF ALL WE KNOW (2021, doc)

March 2, 2021

 Greetings again from the darkness. When most of us need an item, we first check the Amazon website for price and availability. For Physicists and Astronomers, it’s not always so easy. We are informed that photographing a Black Hole would require a telescope the size of planet Earth. Even with my limited science knowledge, I was able to understand the impossibility of fulfilling such a request. Of course, there is a reason they are Physicists and yours truly reviews movies. These folks are pretty darn smart and they find a way to solve problems. Harvard University Physics Professor and documentarian Peter Galison manages to make accessible the work of some of the world’s brightest minds.

Thinking back to 2019, you likely recall seeing the Black Hole photograph. It was everywhere … online sites, social media, TV newscasts, and magazine covers. We knew it was a breakthrough, but most of us had no idea what went on behind the scenes to capture that image. Galison’s documentary fills us in. Going back to 2017, and starting in Mexico, the film explains the Event Horizon Telescope (EHT). With the goal of photographing a Black Hole, a network of observatories from around the globe will be coordinated to simultaneously capture data, and then that data will be compiled to determine if the image(s) is an accurate representation.

There are a couple of things we follow … related by topic but differing in objectives. A group including Stephen Hawking, Harvard Theoretical Physicist Andrew Strominger, British scientist Malcolm Perry, and Cambridge scholar Sasha Haco are observed hard at work on solving the mysteries of Black Holes. Specifically what they are pursuing is the Information Paradox, which states the universe cannot be defined by physical laws. This pursuit of this group of geniuses is shown in symmetry with the work of the EHT teams, where mostly we follow Shep Doeleman and the challenges his team faces in holding up their end of photographing Messier 87, a supergiant elliptical galaxy.

The EHT teams are located around the globe, including Chile, Spain, the South Pole, Hawaii, and Arizona. Obviously the technical aspects of these projects are beyond my capacity, however, it should be noted that the film is easy enough to follow for us non-geniuses while also including some geeky detail for the advanced among us. What really stands out and makes the film fun to watch is the passion shown by these scientists. At the conference where the teams are gathered, these folks are giddy as they anticipate the results of their work and the compilation of data. Their excitement makes it clear what an enormous accomplishment the image is for all involved.

Sadly, Stephen Hawking passed away in 2018, so the clips we see are some of the last images of his final work. If you are curious as to how his work with Strominger, Perry, and Haco ended up, you may track down their final paper, “Black Hole Entropy and Soft Hair” … but I’m sure most of you have already read it. To add a touch of entertainment value, director Galison includes beautiful music from YoYo Ma as well as “Over the Rainbow” by Israel Kamakawiwo’ole. Overall, this is the perfect blend for novices and scientists who are interested in the fascinating topic of Black Holes and how the experts go about chipping away at the mystique and limits of knowledge.

Available VOD on March 2, 2021

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SEX, DRUGS & BICYCLES (2021, doc)

February 25, 2021

 Greetings again from the darkness.  For anyone who still believes documentaries are dry and boring, the cure is this latest from Jonathan Blank, a filmmaker who returns to Holland 25 years after his first documentary, SEX, DRUGS & DEMOCRACY (1994). Entertaining and informative is a terrific blend as Mr. Blank uses interviews, statistics, and animation to contrast the Dutch way of life with that of the good ol’ USA.

Tall and happy … the description of Holland’s citizens. And why wouldn’t they be happy?  The Netherlands are known for picturesque windmills, fields of tulips, and of course, legalized drugs and prostitution! Director Blank digs in to find out more, and what he teaches us, in an often humorous manner, is that Holland and USA are quite different in many ways, yet similar in some others. While Americans are known for devoting excessive hours to work and forgoing vacation, the Dutch are paid for 13 months, while actually only working 11. Yet hate crimes and a blight on history are shared traits.

The number of topics touched on here can seem overwhelming, though Blank’s structure of the “Top 10” things to know about Holland definitely helps. We get insight from locals, including a Senator, sexologists, educators, pot farmers, and other citizens. The topics include a national healthcare system, climate change, free speech, social tolerance, and renewable energy vs fossil fuels. There is even an “Animal Rights” political party.

Is Holland a Utopia? A regulated sex worker industry, pot smoking in coffee houses, and double-paid vacation might lead you to think so. However, Blank also talks about the high taxes, a history of slavery, modern day holiday parades that feature blackface, and hate crimes. The progressive social aspects of the culture include a healthcare system that covers gender-reassignment surgery and open acceptance of the LBGTQ community – except where it’s not. It turns out that even in the world’s happiest country, there are closed-minded and nasty people.

In a country of 17 million people where the admitted national pastime is “complaining”, it turns out there is much to admire, yet also an existence of many of the same problems faced elsewhere. Heck, the Dutch use the f-word as frequently as any Quentin Tarantino character, and their dependency on fossil fuels is a known hot topic. Director Blank has succeeded in presenting an entertaining and informative look at an admired culture … warts and all.

The film will air on PBS on February 26, 2021, and also on various streaming platforms.

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Posted by David Ferguson

MORE THAN MIYAGI: THE PAT MORITA STORY (2021, doc)

February 4, 2021

 Greetings again from the darkness. Mr. Miyagi not only taught Daniel-san how to stand up for himself in THE KARATE KID (1984), but his “wax on, wax off” entered our  lexicon as his philosophy educated us on how seemingly unrelated pieces of life can fit together. Pat Morita embraced the iconic role of Mr. Miyagi, and also appeared in the three sequels. Filmmaker Kevin Derek is here to tell us the rest of the man’s story.

Using a straightforward and traditional biographical profile structure, Mr. Derek takes us through the life of Pat Morita. We see photographs of him as a young boy who spent many childhood years immobilized – held captive in a body cast after extensive spinal surgery. Once healed, he joined his family in one of the internment camps during WWII.

At age 30, Mr. Morita’s professional goal as a stand-up comedian was to appear on The Ed Sullivan Show sporting one of the more politically incorrect nicknames, “The Hip Nip”. Though he never played ‘Sullivan’, his career turned out just fine thanks to support from Red Foxx. Laura Marr, Lenny Bruce’s mother, became Morita’s agent, and not only did his stand-up career take off, but he also secured his early acting gigs.

It was his “Happy Days” role as Arnold that took him mainstream. Many of the leads from the cast provide memories of working with Morita. Ron Howard doesn’t appear, but Marion Ross, Anson Williams, Danny Most, and Henry Winkler all do. They speak fondly of Morita and call him a “sweet guy.” Although Morita’s first shot at leading his own series (“Mr. T and Tina”) didn’t succeed, he was securing regular acting gigs. Of course, it was being cast as Mr. Miyagi in THE KARATE KID that made him a star.

Fellow ‘KK’ cast members Ralph Macchio, William Zabka, and Martin Kove all tell stories about working with Morita, and more importantly rave about what a generous and kind soul he was … referring to him as a “lovely man.” So you might be wondering, where’s the story? Well it’s Morita’s personal demons that may surprise. He died in 2005 at age 73, but he spent most of his life as an alcoholic – often working while inebriated. His wife Evelyn is interviewed here, but his daughters did not participate.

Much is made of his being born and raised in America, but spending his career bouncing from Japanese to Chinese roles, and masking the inner turmoil. We see clips from his wedding at Elvis Presley’s Las Vegas mansion, and his personal assistant also provides insight into working with him. One of the lowest points of his career is retold by Henry Winkler and Evelyn as they remember his struggles with alcoholism during a televised “Happy Days” reunion. It’s painful to hear.

Kevin Derek also directed THE REAL MIYAGI (2015), which was a profile of Fumio Demura, often recognized as the greatest karate master of a generation. Demura was also Morita’s stunt double in THE KARATE KID. Here, Derek simply allows Morita’s story to unfold – the ups and downs. Only a few actors get to create such an iconic character as Miyagi, and Morita actually played him in four films. His star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame is shown, and the current day successful spinoff “Kobra Kai” is discussed, yet we are left with a feeling of sadness for a man who accomplished so much, while never achieving his own inner-peace.

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Posted by David Ferguson

TRIBES ON THE EDGE (2021, doc)

February 1, 2021

 Greetings again from the darkness. From certain angles, we see the striking resemblance to her grandfather, world renowned researcher, explorer, and oceanographer Jacques Cousteau. Celine Cousteau builds on her family legacy by documenting her journey to Brazil in an effort to provide exposure to the plight of indigenous communities in the rain forests along the Amazon … each tribe in a battle for survival. Ms. Cousteau also explains how this issue is crucial to the world, not just those grasping to the long traditions of jungle life.

We get to watch as her crew assembles and gets taken by boat deep into the Amazon region. In the process, we learn there are approximately 10,000 known indigenous people living in the area she visits, plus an estimated 2000 that have never had “outside” contact. These tribes go back many generations, and Cousteau educates us by taking us along on her mission to these communities. Most striking is the prevalence of malaria and hepatitis within the tribes, when neither disease existed in these communities for hundreds of years. She discusses the conspiracy theory that the government is systematically exterminating these people via “white medicine” in order to gain access to the protected land – land that is brimming with resources, especially oil, minerals, and fish.

The Cousteau team spends much of their time in the Rio Novo section of Vale do Javari which allows us to get a feel for how this tribe lives and the challenges they face. These challenges range from snake bites to lack of medical supplies, and of course the constant threats of political maneuverings. Cousteau also educates us about FUNAI and SESAI, two agencies charged with protecting indigenous people in the demarcated land areas. Neither seems capable of doing so.

A brief segment covers Sydney Possuelo, a Brazilian explorer and tireless activist for the protection of Brazil’s isolated indigenous people. Cousteau’s point is clear – these are the caretakers of the rain forest, and have been for many years. Their existence is threatened, and we should care because of the interconnection to all people. As the Amazon rain forests are destroyed, so is the oxygen and water that sustain us.

Premiers February 2, 2021 on VOD, including iTunes, Amazon, Vudu, Google Play and YouTube.

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Posted by David Ferguson

THE LADY AND THE DALE (2021, docuseries)

January 30, 2021

 Greetings again from the darkness. Unlike our first glimpse of the shark in JAWS, we don’t have to wait long. A 1974 episode of “The Price is Right” gives us an upfront look at a 3-wheeled car known as The Dale. If you expect the fuel-efficient auto oddity to be the featured attraction of this four-part docuseries from directors Nick Cammilleri and Zackary Drucker, then you are in for quite a ride. While the history of the Dale is chronicled, this is actually the fascinating story of Elizabeth Carmichael, and how she achieved fame and notoriety – the highest highs and the lowest lows of the American Dream.

What makes her story fascinating? For starters, ‘she’ was born Jerry Dean Michael, a con man who claimed to grow up a poor farm boy in Jasonville, Indiana. Per classmates interviewed here, Jerry was neither poor, nor a farmer, but rather a middle class kid whose family ultimately relocated to Detroit, where he later joined the Army. The lies, cons, and fraud come lickety-split … so fast we can barely keep up as we blitz through his scams and his failed marriages, with at least two with kids he never saw. Not once. Lest you think this is over-hype, we also gets bits and pieces from the actual FBI file opened on Jerry Michael.

Always on the move … usually running from the law … Jerry spent time as a vacuum salesman, and then ran a small newspaper, which led to printing counterfeit money. He was often a fugitive and ran through as many names as he did jobs and homes. By 1966, Jerry Michael began presenting himself as Elizabeth Carmichael, and instructing his kids to refer to him as “mother”. Shockingly, his wife, Victoria, went along with this, and became “Aunt Victoria.” It’s an understatement to label this family and life as unconventional.

Candi Michael, one of Jerry’s daughters, is interviewed throughout the four episodes, and provides clear recaps of the many stages of her life. And what a crazy life it was. She explains, matter-of-factly, that her father became her mother, and the kids were trained to immediately stop what they were doing and hop in the car, so the family could instantly escape the latest brush with the law. The family zig-zagged across the country, never in one place very long, but often either in California or the Deep South.

The first episode, “Soldier of Fortune” is loaded with background information, and takes us through Elizabeth’s “self-transition”, as she gave herself hormone shots obtained from veterinarians. We also hear from Susan Stryker, a trans historian, who provides perspective and commentary through all episodes. The episode concludes detailing how, in the midst of a national gas crisis, Elizabeth became enamored with Dale Clifft’s new, fuel-efficient, 3-wheeled vehicle. She opened a business in Los Angeles called 20th Century Motor Car Company, and had visions of dollar signs dancing in her head.

Episode 2, “Caveat Emptor: Buyer Beware” opens with Rudyard Kipling’s poem, “If”, and those words go a long way towards describing how Elizabeth Carmichael was approaching life and viewing herself. Of course, her thinking was twisted enough to allow her to become a marketing phenomenon in the automotive industry and she positioned her car company (with no cars to sell, mind you) as competing head to head with the Big 3 American car makers: GM, Chrysler, and Ford. What’s amazing is that Elizabeth was so good at making folks believe, that deposits came flooding in for the ‘option’ to buy a car once they rolled off the production line.

It’s at this point that we begin hearing from some of the engineers and staff that worked for her, and it’s quite obvious that this was a giant shell game. Sure, some of the employees trusted her and were striving to build the car, but being paid on Fridays with stacks of cash should have been a warning sign. This is also the time when local media began to show interest. The key local reporter was Dick Carlson (father of Tucker Carlson) and he’s interviewed for the film, explaining how they sensed the ruse, and kept digging. Things took a turn for Elizabeth on December 31, 1974 when Japanese investors arrived to watch a disastrous test drive of the Dale. After getting close to what Candi called a “normal” life, the family high-tailed it to Texas to escape California regulations (and the law).

“The Guilty Fleeth” for Episode 3 opens with Elizabeth stating, “If I can stay out of jail, I can run for President.” Normally this type of person would be impossible to understand, but we’ve had four years of exposure to something similar, so comprehension comes much easier. We see clips from news reports and hear audio recordings of Elizabeth talking. In California, folks lined up for refunds after the media reports created doubt, and the FBI tracked her down. Not long after, she faced conspiracy charges and was exposed as a man (she had not had the second surgery). This meant serving time in a men’s prison, where she was beaten. The 9 month trial was all over TV and it’s not surprising to learn that Elizabeth acted as her own attorney … before jumping bail and fleeing yet again.

Episode 4, “Celestial Bridge”, covers Elizabeth’s final years in Austin, Texas, running a flower business … right up until an 1989 episode of “Unsolved Mysteries” ended up exposing her again, and having her extradited to California to serve an 18 month jail sentence. This final episode also devotes a good deal of time to the history of transsexuals, including Rene Richards, and comes full circle as we see a bright yellow Dale car on display at the Peterson Automotive Museum. Produced by Mark and Jay Duplass, this docuseries uses stop-action animation, archival footage and photos, and interviews from those who were there to detail the bizarre life of a fascinating person. It also ties in the aspect of a close-knit family in spite of all the obstacles faced for so many years. You may have seen a 3-wheeled car, but you’ve never known a life lived like Jerry/Elizabeth.

The Four-Part Docuseries premieres January 31 on HBO and HBO MAX

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Posted by David Ferguson

MLK/FBI (2021, doc)

January 14, 2021

 Greetings again from the darkness. “Free at last.” Martin Luther King, Jr’s speech at the 1963 March on Washington is partially shown, yet documentarian Sam Pollard’s film proves that MLK was never really free, and still isn’t, even 50 plus years after his death. Based on David J Garrow’s 2015 book, “The FBI and Martin Luther King, Jr: From “Solo” to Memphis”, the film looks at FBI documents detailing what can only be described as FBI Director J Edgar Hoover’s crusade to destroy the man some viewed as “the moral leader of our nation”, and others viewed as “the most dangerous Negro in America”.

Most anyone who has a general knowledge of US history in the 1960’s is aware that Hoover was focused on knocking the revered MLK off his pedestal. What the new documents and the film show is that Hoover was not a free-wheeling rogue (at least as far as King was concerned), but rather a tool of the informed administrations he served. Phone taps, surveillance, and undercover agents were all utilized and authorized in the campaign to discredit King’s credibility and expose him as morally compromised. The extra-marital affairs are no revelation, but the letter sent encouraging King to kill himself, along with the audio tape recordings of consensual affairs comprise what former FBI Director James Comey labels, “the darkest part of bureau history”.

Rather than the usual talking heads, the film plays the interviews over the non-stop archival footage and photographs. Those we hear from include diplomat and activist Andrew Young, King speechwriter Clarence B Jones, Yale historian Beverly Gage, retired FBI agent Charles Knox, and author David Garrow. The film goes back to 1956 when King was a Montgomery, Alabama preacher and takes us through his assassination in 1968 Memphis … a 13 year non-violent movement for Civil Rights, Voting Rights, and Poverty.

We learn that Hoover and William Sullivan (Head of FBI Intelligence) first thought that King’s downfall would be his connection to communism via his advisor Stanley Levison. When that failed, they decided to expose King’s non-monogamous activities which they felt would surely cause him to lose followers. The connection between King and the LBJ administration seemed strong right up until it wasn’t – due to King criticizing the money going to the Vietnam War, rather than to solve poverty in this country. Mahalia Jackson’s beautiful singing over the opening credits leads us right into the quandary of whether releasing the secret recordings and documents is a further invasion of privacy, or is it reasonable historical research? Pollard wisely doesn’t play any of the recordings during the film. More FBI documents and recordings are scheduled for release in 2027, and that same question will be pertinent then as well. Surely by now we’ve learned that people can accomplish great things, while themselves being imperfect.

Available January 15, 2020 Video on Demand (VOD)

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Posted by David Ferguson

EVERYBODY FLIES (2021, doc)

January 14, 2021

 Greetings again from the darkness. Do you know where cabin air comes from on the commercial planes you fly for vacation or business? Most of us don’t. We simply take the airlines’ word that the air is filtered and safe. Or at least we did before the pandemic motivated us to question air quality everywhere. Former British Airways Captain Tristan Loraine has spent most of two decades researching and compiling information on the cabin air he and so many flight crews … and passengers … breathe on a regular basis.

Loraine is not diving into whether COVID is being spread between folks on a flight, but rather his focus is on TCP (Tricresyl Phosphate), a chemical present in the oil used in jet engines. Without proper filtration (HEPA filters are not sufficient) and maintenance, TCP can leak into cabin air and cause varying degrees of health issues. Catastrophic events are rare and typically identified early, but the real concern is the long-term impact of being exposed to slow leakage causing contaminated air.

The comparison to “Big Tobacco” is made here, and it seems to fit as airlines and manufacturers all say there is nothing to worry about. This stance seems to fly in the face of documented cases of varying illnesses reported by crew members over the years … plus the numerous times where passengers and crews were overtaken by odor and toxic fumes that put them in immediate danger. When the toxicologist points out that a defense of “no evidence” showing danger is meaningless when no tests are run or data collected, the real concern kicks in.

Tristan Loraine and co-director Beth Moran (a former USAF Thunderbirds pilot) present testimony, research, and documentation to justify focused attention on the risk of bleeding air from the engines. They contrast this method with that of Boeing’s 787 which utilizes compressors. What’s shocking is that this has been a known, and overlooked issue since the 1950’s, and the hope is that the film can spur some true action for the safety of those why fly. No narrator is utilized in the film, but the information is systematically presented … it’s not meant to be entertaining, but rather informative. And that it is.

VOD January 15, 2021

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Posted by David Ferguson

SOME KIND OF HEAVEN (2021, doc)

January 13, 2021

 Greetings again from the darkness. The Villages of Florida is a massive master-planned retirement community. It’s similar in development to Del Webb’s Sun City, but roughly 5 times the size. We learn that there are 20,000 single folks among the residents of The Villages, and it’s described as “Disneyland for retirees”. Director Lance Oppenheim (his first feature length documentary) peaks behind the façade of paradise.

“You come here to live. You don’t come here to die.” One of the residents makes that statement, and there is much to back it up. Golf courses, tennis courts, swimming pools, recreation centers, social activities, concerts, churches, shopping, and it seems there’s always a party to be found. However, rather than explore the seniors who are embracing this pre-fab lifestyle, director Oppenheim focuses on four individuals whose situations wouldn’t be considered success stories.

Anne and Reggie are about to celebrate 47 years of marriage. But is there reason to celebrate? While Anne fine-tunes her pickleball skills, Reggie self-treats his declining mental acuity with drugs and solitary spirituality. Dennis is the party boy. He’s an 81 year old ‘teenager’ living in his van down by The Villages as he searches for a companion with money – one who will open her villa and treat him like the king he views himself as. Barbara is homesick for Boston. She moved to The Villages with her husband, and he died not long after their arrival. Out of money, she’s working full time in the community office – carrying a sullen look that implies depression and loneliness.

Anne looks to a counselor for help, while Reggie fights drug charges by representing himself in a court of law to a judge who doesn’t appreciate rudeness. Dennis is a self-described “handyman” who can’t work venetian blinds, and is smarmy in his pickup methods. Barbara watches video of her wedding on her iPad while eating lunch with her dog, and only shows signs of life when the Parrot Head Margarita man is kind enough to converse with her. While we are getting to know these four, Oppenheim shows off the fabulous community with a golf cart bridge over the freeway, its manicured lawns, swaying palm trees, and engaged citizenry.

The Villages were originally developed by Harold Schwartz, and he makes a brief appearance here thanks to an old video clip. With more than 100,000 residents, is it the sterile environment that masks sadness as presented by Oppenheim, or does it provide an environment for folks to live out their final years by staying active, learning new activities, and socializing? By choosing these four as his focus, there is little doubt the filmmaker is making a statement about his stance, but a better approach would have included insight from “the other side” of the argument. Otherwise, why are there so many “Frogs” – those there till the croak?

Available January 15, 2021 on Video on Demand

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Posted by David Ferguson

NIGHT STALKER: THE HUNT FOR A SERIAL KILLER (2021, docuseries)

January 13, 2021

 Greetings again from the darkness. Crime dramas are one of the most popular television series types these days, and Netflix is proving to be exceptional at producing crime docuseries – a short run series (2-8 episodes) based on real life crimes. This latest is the most haunting yet, as it focuses on a 1985 crime spree in California by one of the most notorious serial killers in history.

Tiller Russell (Producer BERNIE, 2011) directs all four episodes, which provides the continuity needed in this type of project. Each of the episodes are titled: Devil in the City of Angels, Anyone Could Be Next, Lock. Your. Doors., and Manhunt. Additionally, director Russell uses the date and number of days for story structure … beginning with March 17, 1985 as “Day 1” (although the police later learned this sick individual had already been at work for months). This was 1985 and Los Angeles was at its most glamorous, while also experiencing a heat wave.

The first three episodes play like a whodunit and detailed police procedural. We meet the two lead detectives: Gil Carrillo, who was the youngest detective in the Los Angeles County Sheriff’s office, and his partner, Frank Salerno, the legendary detective who was worshipped for tracking down the Hillside Strangler (actually two cousins) in 1977. Both Carrillo and Salerno sit for interviews and recall much of what went in to the case – the detective work, the many mistakes, and the luck (both good and bad). In addition, there are interviews with surviving victims, family members, and journalists to go with the significant archival footage and photographs. Rather than a high-level overview of history, this is an in-depth dive into a tough-to-solve case that had the citizens of an entire state on edge.

As Carrillo and Salerno go back over the case and tell their stories, they are re-living the frustrations of the time. There were so many loose puzzle pieces and, initially, they weren’t sure the pieces were connected. In stark contrast to most serial killer cases, there was no pattern – no consistency in the race, age, or location of the victims. In addition, the crime scenes were only similar in that no fingerprints were discovered. Even the choice of weapons varied. In other words, it was a detective’s worst nightmare.

It’s fascinating to watch as the detectives discuss how footprints were the connective piece that made them realize they were dealing with one very sick individual. The crimes committed – murder, sexual abuse, burglary, etc – were increasingly brutal, and we see many of the crime scene photographs. Even more gut-wrenching are the recollections of surviving victims and family members. It’s mind-boggling how some of these folks survived such vicious attacks.

We also hear from some of the journalists who followed the story at the time, including one who broke the cardinal rule and became part of the story. It’s the humanity of this story that sticks with us, as there is certainly no attempt to glorify this psychopath or his reign of terror. Maps are utilized to help us visualize the haphazard nature of the attacks, and we hear about the multitude of jurisdictions in the area that were not initially sharing details on crimes. It wasn’t until July 20 – Day 125 that the detectives made a specific crime public, which caused the media to create monikers, including “the Walk-in Murderer”, before settling on “Night Stalker”. With no apparent motive or pattern, shock waves of fear flooded the local communities. Episode three recaps the crimes and victims, including one near Detective Carrillo’s home and another in San Francisco. This drives a particularly galling segment featuring San Francisco’s mayor at the time, Diane Feinstein (now a U.S. Senator). Feinstein made a huge gaffe that infuriated the detectives. She released much of their evidence during a TV press conference, possibly jeopardizing the case.

It’s not until the fourth and final episode that we understand how things came together and police were able to close in on the suspect. A tip from Skid Row and a rare break with fingerprints led to the release of a mug shot. With help from the community, the suspect was ultimately captured, and things got even weirder for the trial (3 ½ years later). Richard Ramirez was charged with dozens of crimes with victims ranging from age 6 to 82. In the courtroom, he flashed his palm with a pentagram and yelled, “Hail, Satan”, even while attracting his own following of groupies. Detective Salerno recalls thinking that the Hillside Strangler was a “once in a lifetime case”, and then as things started to come together on the Night Stalker, he thought, “Here we go again.”

The series features haunting, lasting images and a horror that most of us can’t even imagine. Richard Ramirez is the face and embodiment of pure evil, the likes of which we can’t fathom. He created fear and destroyed lives in unspeakable ways before being apprehended and sentenced to death row. Writer Philip Carlo later interviewed Ramirez, and some of those recordings are heard throughout the series. Dedicated Law Enforcement officers like Carrillo and Salerno are remarkable people committed to ensuring most of us can sleep well at night, and that the evil work of psychopaths is stopped as quickly as possible. Even though I vividly remember the time of the Night Stalker, this series will stick with me for a while. It’s not for the faint of heart, but it’s exceptionally well done.

Premiering January 13, 2021 on Netflix

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