Are there any true crime movies or TV shows you’re longing to see Sarah or me tackle? Shows you think we’d love (but have yet to check out) or docs you want to torture us with?
Well, welcome to Best Evidence’s first ever True Crime Forcening, where you can make it happen. (We’re borrowing a page from the Extra Hot Great podcast’s forcening tradition here, so go listen to that fine property too!) So here’s how it works: Suggest TV or movie properties in the comments below, ideally with a target (Sarah or Eve) in mind. We’ll edit out any that are either inaccessible or that we’ve already watched, and put it into poll that we’ll run next week. Our eventual reviews will be a paid-subscriber-only bonus, so you know what that means…
So, start suggesting some Forcenings, and may the best (or worst) show win.
PS We also ask that you skip any with animal-related violence, as it will anger our pets. Ha ha, that’s not why…but that’s our one shared trigger, and we appreciate your understanding.
Have you guys already done "Love Fraud"? I can't remember!
(That was one that seemed so up my alley, but, and I swear this is true, it had some kind of sedative affect on me, and I would fall asleep in the middle of every episode, no matter what time of day I was watching it.)
Crazy Love doc about Burt Pugach and Linda Riss. It’s one I always recommend to people and tell them not look up any details before watching. It’s best gone into cold.
Sarah, you know what I’m gonna pick: Escaping the NXIVM Cult. The girl playing Allison Mack looks and sounds EXACTLY like her. It’s kind of freaky. Kudos to the casting director on that one, but the casting of Bonnie with an American-accented actor with the worst bob ever is something I would take as an insult if I were Bonnie.
Also, I’ve read all the traditionally-published NXIVM memoirs (Oxenberg’s, Edmonson’s, and most of Toni Natalie’s, which is sort of a prequel) plus listened to both NXIVM podcasts, so I’m thinking maybe I need to pitch you at this point?
I propose episodes of City Confidential that profile a crime from your home (or adopted home) state. There's "Betrayal by the Bay" for San Francisco, "The Art of Murder" for New York City, "The Mayor and the Mob" for Atlantic City, and "Crimes of Passion" for Elkhart, Indiana.
Here’s an obvious one: The Murders at White House Farm. And, Tread (not so obvious). There is a (vet involved) dog euthanasia in White House Farm. I ff’d through the quick scene, and you will know when it’s coming. I also have the stuff with animals trigger. Too bad I can’t force you to listen to a podcast - isn’t anyone taking a road trip?!
Class Action Park? Though it may be true crime adjacent...SDB - did you ever go? Part of my childhood was in Morristown NJ, though we moved away before Action Park opened.
I am a few days late but under the category of Pod noms, I will suggest Phoebe Reads a Mystery: Jane Eyre. This is a suggestion for either or both of y’all. I never would have thought to categorize Jane Eyre as a mystery. And perhaps the search for fair use material to read got very thin very fast and this explains the categorization. BUT! I do like thinking of Jane Eyre this way. She does operate a bit like Miss Marple as a guest in that large mysterious house, restrained by the social conventions of the time but still in pursuit of some truth. I’d love to have your take on this one. And perhaps who would be good to write/direct/star in a visual reimagining of this story.
Another pod nom: Tom Brown’s Body by Texas Monthly and Skip Hollandsworth. A formidable writer switching to podcast medium: could be interesting just for that reason.
Ooh I've got one! Unfolding Florence, an Australian doc about a fabric designer and her untimely end. It impressed me hugely at the time I saw but I would like to know how it holds up.
It's Time For A True-Crime Forcening
Have you guys already done "Love Fraud"? I can't remember!
(That was one that seemed so up my alley, but, and I swear this is true, it had some kind of sedative affect on me, and I would fall asleep in the middle of every episode, no matter what time of day I was watching it.)
for Sarah:
House of Secrets
Evil Kin: Season 3, Episode 10 (Investigation Discovery)
Crazy Love doc about Burt Pugach and Linda Riss. It’s one I always recommend to people and tell them not look up any details before watching. It’s best gone into cold.
Sarah, you know what I’m gonna pick: Escaping the NXIVM Cult. The girl playing Allison Mack looks and sounds EXACTLY like her. It’s kind of freaky. Kudos to the casting director on that one, but the casting of Bonnie with an American-accented actor with the worst bob ever is something I would take as an insult if I were Bonnie.
Also, I’ve read all the traditionally-published NXIVM memoirs (Oxenberg’s, Edmonson’s, and most of Toni Natalie’s, which is sort of a prequel) plus listened to both NXIVM podcasts, so I’m thinking maybe I need to pitch you at this point?
I propose episodes of City Confidential that profile a crime from your home (or adopted home) state. There's "Betrayal by the Bay" for San Francisco, "The Art of Murder" for New York City, "The Mayor and the Mob" for Atlantic City, and "Crimes of Passion" for Elkhart, Indiana.
Here’s an obvious one: The Murders at White House Farm. And, Tread (not so obvious). There is a (vet involved) dog euthanasia in White House Farm. I ff’d through the quick scene, and you will know when it’s coming. I also have the stuff with animals trigger. Too bad I can’t force you to listen to a podcast - isn’t anyone taking a road trip?!
Have you seen There Are No Fakes? It spun my head a bit, but I was glad I watched by the end.
Class Action Park? Though it may be true crime adjacent...SDB - did you ever go? Part of my childhood was in Morristown NJ, though we moved away before Action Park opened.
I am a simple woman who just wants more old Hollywood true crime, more in general than just for you.
I am a few days late but under the category of Pod noms, I will suggest Phoebe Reads a Mystery: Jane Eyre. This is a suggestion for either or both of y’all. I never would have thought to categorize Jane Eyre as a mystery. And perhaps the search for fair use material to read got very thin very fast and this explains the categorization. BUT! I do like thinking of Jane Eyre this way. She does operate a bit like Miss Marple as a guest in that large mysterious house, restrained by the social conventions of the time but still in pursuit of some truth. I’d love to have your take on this one. And perhaps who would be good to write/direct/star in a visual reimagining of this story.
Another pod nom: Tom Brown’s Body by Texas Monthly and Skip Hollandsworth. A formidable writer switching to podcast medium: could be interesting just for that reason.
Ooh I've got one! Unfolding Florence, an Australian doc about a fabric designer and her untimely end. It impressed me hugely at the time I saw but I would like to know how it holds up.