In West Memphis, Arkansas in 1993, three eight-year-old boys were murdered. They were stripped naked, hog-tied with their own shoelaces and dumped into a drainage ditch. Their wounds led prosecutors to suspect the murders were a part of a satanic ritual, leading them to three teenage outcasts, Damien Echols, Jessie Misskelley Jr and Jason Baldwin. Their 1994 trial captured the attention of an entire nation screaming for blood - until the documentary ‘Paradise Lost’, released after their conviction, brought to light facts suggesting the boys were innocent and the entire trial was simply a witch-hunt in a case so high profile it would launch the political careers of all those involved.
‘West of Memphis’ follows the trials and tribulations of Echols' wife (whom he met and married while in prison) to prove the mens' innocence and bring about true justice. With the help of many high-profile celebrities, including Peal Jam frontman Eddie Vedder and Academy Award winning director Peter Jackson and his wife Fran, the West Memphis three’s 18-year struggle is documented through one-on-one interviews, police interrogation tapes and the findings of private investigators and forensic experts. Its bittersweet conclusion will leave you questioning the justice system, politicians and simply how you personally view other people.
WEST OF MEMPHIS - TRAILER
No story is more compelling than the miscarriage and search for justice. The sheer magnitude of this case, the people involved and the horrific nature of the crime is nothing compared to what’s in store when the real killer is discovered.
Not even Hollywood could make up a tale such as this, combining a love story in the middle of it all. ‘West of Memphis’ has everything, including a heartbreaking yet inspiring ending.
The overwhelming and conflicting emotions felt by the end of this film are enough to floor even the most cynical of hearts. Suffice it to say this is a must see, simply because it has to be.
WARNING: This film depicts graphic crime screen footage and photographs. The nature of the crime itself can be very distressing.