It was just a couple of weeks ago that HBO released the documentary “Mind Over Murder,” which told the story of six people who confessed to a killing they didn’t commit, and I told you it was maybe the most mind-blowing of all the true-crime series and films we’ve seen in the last few years.
Now comes another contender for that distinction. The Netflix documentary “Girl in the Picture” is an astonishing, horrific, fascinating and complex true-crime story that starts with a brutal act of murder in the late 20th century and winds its way well into the 2000s and 2010s. It’s arguably the most labyrinthian real-life crime story you’ll ever hear, and at times I felt a sense of perception whiplash just trying to keep up with all the stunning twists and turns, but thanks to the skilled work by acclaimed director Skye Borgman (“Abducted in Plain Sight”), the precise editing that shifts from time period to time period not as a gimmick but with purpose, and new interviews shedding light on various aspects of the case, we keep up with the story. Just be prepared to hear about an absolute monster of a human being who destroyed lives — as well as a number of brave and dedicated people who finally brought him to justice.
