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Paradise Lost 3: Purgatory

Play trailer Poster for Paradise Lost 3: Purgatory 2011 2h 1m Documentary Play Trailer Watchlist
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100% Tomatometer 17 Reviews 93% Popcornmeter 1,000+ Ratings
New DNA evidence sheds light on the case of the West Memphis 3, a trio of men who were convicted in 1994 of murdering three suburban Arkansas Cub Scouts.

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Paradise Lost 3: Purgatory

Critics Reviews

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Mike Hale New York Times 01/22/2013
3.5/5
The new film, despite the astounding story it tells, is the most conventional, least urgent and, cinematically, the least interesting of the three. Go to Full Review
Matt Zoller Seitz New York Magazine/Vulture 01/22/2013
In the shadow of such sickness, all the personal dramas can't help but pale, but there are still surprising and powerful moments. Go to Full Review
Hank Stuever Washington Post 01/22/2013
Paradise Lost 3 is perhaps the most interesting and well-made film of the trilogy. Go to Full Review
Joanne Laurier World Socialist Web Site 03/01/2021
Paradise Lost 3: Purgatory is the final installment in a trilogy of documentaries ... about three men who were framed up as teenagers for the 1993 murders of three eight-year-old boys in West Memphis, Arkansas. Go to Full Review
Stephen Saito Moveable Fest 12/21/2018
Byers' transformation into one of the trio's most passionate defenders is an intriguing metaphor for the entire series, not only remarkable in how the pendulum has swung, but also troubling since it redirects anger in a way it still could be misplaced. Go to Full Review
Tara Thorne The Coast (Halifax, Nova Scotia) 11/17/2018
Metallica aside - Berlinger also directed Some Kind of Monster - Purgatory is beautifully framed, critical but not judgmental of the law enforcement official... and even-handed with the jailed men who are somehow not bitter or beaten by their ordeal. Go to Full Review
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Audience Reviews

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Maksim S @MaksimusMovies Nov 28 Paradise Lost 3 completes the trilogy, following the West Memphis Three through their release and the aftermath of decades-long legal battles. The documentary delivers compelling updates and rare behind-the-scenes footage, providing a humanizing perspective on the accused and their families. Yet, much like its predecessor, it struggles to fully answer the questions that haunted the original film. Key mysteries remain unresolved, and some narrative threads feel underexplored, leaving viewers with a sense of incompleteness despite the high stakes. Important for those invested in the series, but ultimately uneven: informative, emotional, but not entirely satisfying as a conclusion. See more @Cameron11 12/13/2021 Very well-made documentary and conclusion to West Memphis Three's fight for justice. The story of each of their lives since the last film and the support they received for their release was well-executed a well-paced. The views of the victim's families and how these views have evolved were also intriguing. Jason Baldwin's speech at the end was a very fitting ending to this documentary trilogy which I thought encapsulated people's opinions and views on the matter very well. The documentary was deservedly nominated for the Best Documentary Feature Oscar but lost to Undefeated (I have not seen the winner or other nominees). Overall, a fascinating and emotional end to this trilogy that I hope deters these type of mischaracterisations from being repeated. See more 05/14/2016 A shocking conclusion to the lives of a small town thrown into constant media scrutiny after the murder of three children. Never expected where life for these people end up, but that's probably why this is more shocking and unpredictable to most mysteries. See more 04/23/2016 Very frustrating end to the story. It's sad how flawed the judicial system can be. See more 08/16/2015 The last nails in the coffin. Even though its being played faulty and dirty, state of Arkansas steps in the right direction. See more 09/08/2014 A testament to the power of film. Berlinger and Sinofsky aren't just filmmakers; in my book, they're heroes. See more Read all reviews
Paradise Lost 3: Purgatory

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Movie Info

Synopsis New DNA evidence sheds light on the case of the West Memphis 3, a trio of men who were convicted in 1994 of murdering three suburban Arkansas Cub Scouts.
Director
Joe Berlinger, Bruce Sinofsky
Producer
Joe Berlinger, Jonathan Silberberg
Production Co
Radical Media
Genre
Documentary
Original Language
English
Release Date (Streaming)
Sep 6, 2016
Runtime
2h 1m
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