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West of Memphis

Play trailer Poster for West of Memphis R 2012 2h 30m Documentary Crime Drama Play Trailer Watchlist
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95% Tomatometer 114 Reviews 87% Popcornmeter 5,000+ Ratings
Filmmaker Amy Berg tells the story of the fight to stop the state of Arkansas from executing an innocent man. Beginning with an examination into the police investigation into the 1993 murders of three boys in West Memphis, Arkansas, Berg brings to light new evidence surrounding the arrest and conviction of Damien Echols, Jason Baldwin and Jessie Misskelley. All three were teens at the time and lost 18 years of their lives after being wrongly convicted and imprisoned.
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West of Memphis

West of Memphis

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Critics Consensus

Both a sobering look at a true crime story and a scathing indictment of the American justice system, West of Memphis is a real-life horror story told with fury and compassion.

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Critics Reviews

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Tom Long Detroit News 04/05/2013
B+
It's not a new story, true, but "West of Memphis" makes it both extremely personal and universally painful. Go to Full Review Tara Brady Irish Times 03/29/2013
5/5
The film is so utterly transfixing you won't believe almost two-and-a-half hours have passed when the final credits roll. Go to Full Review Joe Williams St. Louis Post-Dispatch 03/21/2013
2/4
We feel like we're watching an overlong true-crime television episode and not a movie. Go to Full Review Keith Garlington Keith & the Movies 08/21/2022
4/5
An interesting documentary that had me challenging popular thoughts as well as weighing the wealth of new evidence and theories surrounding the case. Go to Full Review Richard Propes TheIndependentCritic.com 09/27/2020
3.5/4.0
I found myself leaving the theater in a stunned silence and amazingly disappointed in a justice system that seemed far more invested in protecting itself. Go to Full Review David Harris Spectrum Culture 11/19/2019
3/5
West of Memphis could have made a statement about presumptions and the fallibility of our justice system. Instead, we see millionaires like Vedder feeling good about themselves for saving three innocent people. Go to Full Review Read all reviews

Audience Reviews

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Maksim S Nov 10 This gripping follow-up to Paradise Lost exposes the legal and investigative failures behind the West Memphis Three case. With new evidence and intimate interviews, it’s a searing critique of injustice, corruption, and moral panic. Bleak, compelling, and unflinching, it’s a must-watch for anyone questioning the limits of the American justice system. See more Alain E @AlainE Jun 15 An excellent documentary about the case that inspired Egoyan’s film Devil’s knot. Very well constructed one doesn’t mind following it for almost two and a half hours. It is remarkable that the state prosecutor continued to insist that no mistake was made when the three young men were initially convicted. The state Supreme Court congratulated the people who supported the defendants, which exposes the comedy of the “Alford plea” in this particular case : the state claims that the defendants are guilty of a heinous crime and then sets them free. See more Kyle M 08/03/2024 Comprises the “Paradise Lost” experimental coverage trilogy in engaging retrospect with provocative insightful updates in reassuring, clarifying balance that effectively adds onto the case while criticizing the ignorant law system’s handling of the sensitive situation. (B+) See more georgan g 06/13/2021 One more sad story of how poorly trained police and ladder climbing politicians can make life hell for some and allow others to get away with murder. See more 09/17/2020 A documentary of justice gone wrong in Arkansas. See more 02/18/2019 If you've seen the Paradise Lost trio of films there is literally no reason to watch this film. It's the same material and nothing new other than the celeb backing is added. Those films were better as well. See more Read all reviews
West of Memphis

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Cast & Crew

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Amy Berg

Director

Michael Baden

Actor

Jason Baldwin

Actor

John Mark Byers

Actor

Lorri Davis

Actor

Johnny Depp

Actor

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West of Memphis

West of Memphis (2012) Lorri Davis and Damien Echols in "West of Memphis." Pam Hicks in "West of Memphis." View more photos

Movie Info

Synopsis Filmmaker Amy Berg tells the story of the fight to stop the state of Arkansas from executing an innocent man. Beginning with an examination into the police investigation into the 1993 murders of three boys in West Memphis, Arkansas, Berg brings to light new evidence surrounding the arrest and conviction of Damien Echols, Jason Baldwin and Jessie Misskelley. All three were teens at the time and lost 18 years of their lives after being wrongly convicted and imprisoned.
Director
Amy Berg
Producer
Amy Berg, Fran Walsh, Peter Jackson, Damien Wayne Echols, Lorri Davis
Screenwriter
Amy Berg, Billy McMillin
Distributor
Sony Pictures Classics
Production Co
WingNut Films, Disarming Films
Rating
R (Some Language|Disturbing Violent Content)
Genre
Documentary, Crime, Drama
Original Language
English
Release Date (Theaters)
Dec 25, 2012, Limited
Release Date (Streaming)
Aug 6, 2013
Box Office (Gross USA)
$309.9K
Runtime
2h 30m
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