Capsule Review: Most Americans who habitually follow the national news probably remember the story of Christopher Watts and the murder of his wife Shanann and two young children. While American Murder: The Family Next Door doesn’t necessarily cast new light on the story, it nonetheless offers a riveting and unique look at a mystery that unfolded live before our lives, the clues and motives buried in social media posts and text messages. Filmmaker Jenny Popplewell expertly pieces together body cam footage, interrogation recordings, and online material to craft a real-life murder story. She proves that crime documentaries don’t need narration or interviews to command attention, as American Murder surely does.

Review by Erik Samdahl. Erik is a marketing and technology executive by day, avid movie lover by night. He is a member of the Seattle Film Critics Society.