‘A Friend, a Murderer’ (2026) Netflix Series Review - A Powerful Story Unevenly Told

A Friend, a Murderer is a chilling three-part documentary that, as the title suggests, focuses on the murder that has been committed not by strangers, but by people who are the closest to us. The series follows the story of a seventeen-year-old girl who went missing in Korsor. Being a small place, everyone gets into action to find where she is. Days get converted into months, but there is absolutely no trace of her. Even as the police get involved, nothing comes out as such. It is revealed to us where she was the previous night, with the question that still lingers: how and where did she disappear? She was also a part of a friend group that naturally comes into the center of attention as and when the investigation takes place further. One by one, as the investigation gets deeper, many other crimes surface in front of the people. Now, everyone is alert as well as shocked that a tight-knit community can also witness crimes so severe.

With the help of footage, videos, and interviews, we get to see the narrative unfold in front of us. However, I would say this documentary is not that well-made compared to the ones that have come before us. It is slow and very complicated. A story of murder needs a good, detailed execution. However, that is lacking here. I wish the makers paid some attention in order not to make it more complicated than it already was. Yes, I have full respect for those who dared to come out and speak at length about the horrific incident. But had the entire thing been well documented and well executed, this would have been even better.

The pacing was also a huge issue. I have seen many documentaries with good pacing, good enough for us to be engaged right from the start to the end. This one, however, lacked that heavily. It felt as if the series was dragging on and on for us to understand and feel bored. And this is what I hate. When something can be made in a good manner, and it fails, it becomes a big disappointment. The real-life story stretches almost a decade. Sadly, that stretching isn’t shown well to us and ends up becoming dragging.

Storytelling-wise, it did not do wonders, but it did teach us that it is very important to remain alert and carefully consider whom we trust. That was one message loud and clear. It also tells us how the community can come together and become a pillar of strength for those in need and grieve.

You might want to watch it if you have been following the news of the case. But if you are someone who gets excited by such a documentary, this series doesn’t live up to the expectations one might have from it, as it fails to deliver what a well-made murder or crime documentary does.

Final Score- [5/10]
Reviewed by - Neerja Ch
Follow @NeerjaCH on Twitter
Publisher at Midgard Times