Analyzing the “Romanticization” of True Crime / Cold Case Media - Episode LXVII

TRIGGER WARNING: murder, kidnapping, physical assault, sexual assault, child abuse, and other intense topics will be discussed in this episode. CORRECTION: In this episode, I referenced Adnan Syed being released after originally serving life in prison for the murder of his ex-girlfriend Hae Min Lee, thanks to the popular true crime podcast Serial covering his case and raising doubts about his conviction which lead to a reopening of his case and eventual freedom. However, I could not remember the name of the podcast or the murder victim, and I incorrectly referred to Syed as a "black man." I would like to sincerely apologize to Syed, his family, and the Lee family for sharing false information and not doing enough research beforehand. SPOILERS for Joker: Folie a Deux and Trap will also be featured in this episode. There has been an over-abundance of true crime media in the last decade (documentaries, movies, and shows about serial killers, missing persons, etc.). Some of these have been guilty of romanticizing or Hollywoodizing the actions of the perpetrators or killers, disrespecting the real-life victims or family members involved with these cases (intentionally and unintentionally), and getting greenlit for the sole purpose of creating more “content” for the increasing number of streaming services. MADDE, newcomer RACHELLE, and I will be delving into said “content” and how the filmmakers behind these biographical cinematic stories can portray these horrific events in a more honest and respectful way. There are a few points in the episode where the audio peaks suddenly. I did my best to adjust the audio, but there will be some points where the audio suddenly gets really loud so I apologize for any issues towards your hearing but I hope you will still be able to enjoy listening to the episode. I would also like to recommend a newly released film on Netflix called Woman of the Hour, directed by Anna Kendrick and based on a horrifying true story about a serial killer's sudden appearence on a dating show, that my friends and I would've talked about if we had recorded after the movie was released.