West of Memphis is an examination of a failure of justice in Arkansas. The documentary tells the hitherto unknown story behind an extraordinary and desperate fight to bring the truth to light. Told and made by those who lived it, the filmmakers’ unprecedented access to the inner workings of the defense, allows the film to show the investigation, research and appeals process in a way that has never been seen before; revealing shocking and disturbing new information about a case that still haunts the American South.
West of Memphis is a 2012 New Zealand-American documentary film directed and co-written by Amy J. Berg, produced by Peter Jackson and Damien Echols, and released in the US by Sony Pictures Classics to critical acclaim.
As with the Paradise Lost film and its two sequels, West of Memphis follows the events of the West Memphis Three, a case in which three teenagers (Jessie Misskelley, Damien Echols and Jason Baldwin) were arrested for the murders of three 8-year old children.[2]
The West Memphis Three were subsequently convicted of murder and remained in prison for more than 18 years. West of Memphis focuses on Terry Hobbs, stepfather of Stevie Branch, one of the victims of the 1993 crime, as a potential suspect due to physical evidence linking him to the crime, a history of violent behavior and his lack of an alibi for the time the murders were committed, as well as damaging statements made by his ex-wife, former neighbors, and most recently his own nephew, who claims Hobbs confessed to him. The film reveals that inexplicably Terry Hobbs was not interviewed by police at the time of the murders.
West of Memphis (2012)
Directed by: Amy Berg
Starring: Jason Baldwin, Damien Wayne Echols, Jessie Misskelley, Jamie Clark Ballard, Holly Ballard, Michael Baden, John Mark Byers, Lorri Davis, Heather Crawford, Karen Bruewer
Screenplay by: Amy Berg, Billy McMillin
Production Design by:
Cinematography by: Maryse Alberti, Ronan Killeen
Film Editing by: Billy McMillin
Music by: Nick Cave, Warren Ellis
MPAA Rating: R for disturbing violent content and some language.
Distributed by: Sony Pictures Classics
Release Date: December 28, 2012
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