If you're a fan of crime documentaries, Instadocs: Alex Murdaugh, Unconvicted is the perfect weekend watch. For those who’ve been following the case, you already know how it all played out. But if you’re new to the story, here’s a quick recap: In 2023, Alex Murdaugh — once a powerful and well-known attorney in South Carolina — was convicted of murdering his wife, Maggie, and their son, Paul. The case sent shockwaves across the country, with the dramatic trial captivating audiences nationwide. However, the allegations of jury interference were severe enough that they overturned his conviction. This led to many debates as to whether justice was truly served to his wife and son. And this is what the makers of the documentary try to show us. They examine the claims of courtroom misconduct and how some failures on the part of procedure rewrote the entire fate of the case that America had ever seen.
What makes Instadocs: Alex Murdaugh, Unconvicted different from many documentaries on murder you have seen so far is how well they have managed to create a sense of urgency. The main focus goes on the courtroom trial, as it was one of the main reasons why the case grabbed so much attention. It feels as if they have invited us to witness the case unfold first-hand rather than slowly make its way to the unfolding of the events that took place in reality. Yet even with all this, one of the main questions asked is: what happens to justice when the guilty walks away freely? Who will question the justice system?
The only issue one can see with Instadocs: Alex Murdaugh, Unconvicted is that the documentary has been made a bit too soon. The case is still ongoing, which means everything shown to us is in an “if “possibility with almost no certainty. This makes the final product feel highly incomplete, with theories that are being offered throughout its run time. While it did manage to embrace the uncertainty that comes with the case pretty well, yet somehow, as viewers, we would appreciate a story where answers have been delivered. For now, the reality is this: Alex Murdaugh continues to remain in prison due to separate financial crimes. However, the documentary focuses on the murder case reversal.
The pacing is fine. The makers have ensured not to rush with the case presentation. In fact, they have presented legal and journalistic viewpoints for the case, which makes things even better. This helps with the overall speed of the plot as nowhere do they rush, nor do they slow down, while also managing to present us with two viewpoints. If you are someone who is into such thrillers, Instadocs: Alex Murdaugh, Unconvicted is a great watch. Even with the ongoing status of the case, the coverage is great, which makes it an amazing plot to be watched and understood. They have managed to get into the details of whatever was present to them.
Final Score- [7/10]
Reviewed by - Neerja Ch
Follow @NeerjaCH on Twitter
Publisher at Midgard Times