Watch American Murder: The Family Next Door

American Murder: The Family Next Door is a true crime documentary film directed by Jenny Popplewell, which explores the tragic and brutal murder of Shanann Watts and her two young daughters, Celeste and Bella, in 2018. The documentary was released on Netflix on September 30, 2020. The movie relies heavily on social media posts, police body camera footage, and excerpts from TV news reports to tell the story of a seemingly perfect suburban family from Frederick, Colorado, whose life takes a dramatic turn when Shanann and her daughters go missing. The film is constructed entirely from publicly available information, and there are no interviews or new information presented in the film.

The documentary starts with actual footage of Shanann, as she shares her life with video updates to her friends, family, and YouTube followers. Shanann appears happy and content, expressing her love for her husband Chris Watts, who was a co-worker of hers in the oil fields of Colorado. Soon after, she discovers that she is pregnant with their third child, and the family is ecstatic about the new addition.

However, things start to unravel from there, as Shanann goes on a business trip to Arizona, and Chris becomes distant and unresponsive. When Shanann returns home, she discovers that Chris has been having an affair with a co-worker and wants a separation. Shanann is devastated, and her social media posts reveal her hurt and confusion about her husband's sudden change of heart.

Within days of Shanann and her daughters' disappearance, Chris Watts is arrested and charged with their murders. The documentary delves into the investigation and the crucial role that social media played in the case, as Shanann's posts helped the police piece together Chris Watts' motive and actions.

American Murder: The Family Next Door highlights the devastating effects of domestic violence and the tragic consequences that can result. The film is a gripping exploration of the Watts' family tragedy, and director Popplewell's approach is both sensitive and empathetic. She presents Shanann's life in a way that feels authentic and respectful of her memory, while also exposing the dark and abusive side of her relationship with Chris.

The documentary is also a damning critique of how social media can be used to present a carefully curated image of our lives, masking the pain and struggles that we may be experiencing behind the scenes. Shanann's posts, while uplifting and positive, also reveal the cracks in her marriage and the toll that it was taking on her mental health.

The film also touches on the gendered nature of domestic violence, as from the very outset, Chris is portrayed as a seemingly normal, ordinary man, who is suddenly driven to commit an unspeakable act of violence against his family. His calm demeanor and blank expression belie the horrific crime that he has committed, and the film makes an important statement about the hidden abuse that can occur in even the most apparently happy and prosperous of families.

In conclusion, American Murder: The Family Next Door is a powerful and heartbreaking documentary about a family tragedy that shocked the nation. It shines a light on the insidious nature of domestic violence, the danger of social media in creating an idealized version of our lives, and the devastating effects that these issues can have on families and communities. The film is a must-watch for anyone interested in true crime and the darker aspects of human nature.

American Murder: The Family Next Door is a 2020 documentary with a runtime of 1 hour and 22 minutes. It has received mostly positive reviews from critics and viewers, who have given it an IMDb score of 7.2 and a MetaScore of 67.