Netflix's Best New Crime Docuseries of 2024 is Only 3 Episodes Long
A chilling story that has been the subject of much discussion.
Summary
- Netflix has recently added a new true crime series to its library, American Nightmare.
- The new docuseries tells the story of a young couple's experiences of police abuse after surviving a home invasion, abduction, and rape.
- As a result, the series has become one of the most watched, literally shaking up audiences.
Netflix works with incredibly talented filmmakers who know how to tell stories effectively. And no form of media is better at conveying ideas than documentaries, because interacting with the actual facts of a story allows you to invest in it much more deeply. Documentaries can also change the course of events once they are released.
On January 17, the Netflix library was updated with a new true crime documentary, American Nightmare. This story can literally happen to anyone, as no one is immune from encountering both crime and incompetent police who are not always in a hurry to protect citizens. As a result, the three-part series has become one of the most popular on Netflix.
A Harrowing Tale of Police Incompetence
'What time did you get untied, sir?'
That was one of the first questions Aaron Quinn got from the 911 dispatcher. American Nightmare, the new documentary true crime series created by Bernadette Higgins and Felicity Morris, is only three episodes long, but that's enough time to tell one of the most uncomfortable and frightening stories ever told. It's about how it's easier for investigating authorities to blame than to actually investigate. And in turn, it's easier for the media to pick up on the bullying hype than to dig into the facts.
In 2015, sometime after the release of the movie Gone Girl, the news of 'The Real Gone Girl' was on the lips of many. In March of that year, Aaron Quinn and Denise Huskins were at home in Vallejo, California, when a criminal broke in, tied up and sedated Quinn, and then kidnapped Huskins. When the victim's boyfriend managed to free himself, he called the police. Well, then all hell broke loose for him as he became the prime suspect and even the FBI tried to get a confession out of him claiming that he had killed Huskins.
Except, as the second episode shows, law enforcement quickly turned to a new scapegoat — Denise Huskins, who suddenly appeared near Vallejo, apparently unarmed. Immediately, police began proclaiming that the couple had pulled a hoax, devaluing their work and threatening the entire community, and Huskins, a survivor of two rapes, was instantly compared by the media to the Gone Girl.
All that changed when Misty Carausu, a former detective from Dublin, California, noticed the similarity of the case to another kidnapping orchestrated by one Matthew Muller. Immediately, the tide of slander against Huskins and Quinn subsided, and the city of Vallejo paid them $2.5 million in moral damages. But money can't bring back dignity, health and justice, because no one in law enforcement has been punished.
The events of American Nightmare offer a frightening twist full of social commentary, so it is not surprising that viewers have taken an enormous interest in the series.
The New Docuseries Left the Public Outraged
According to What's on Netflix's, the new Netflix series climbed to the top spot on January 18, one day after its release. Ranking number one in nearly all regions, American Nightmare entered the top 10 most-watched English-language series for the week of January 15-21 with a total of 21,400,000 views.
American audiences in particular embraced the frankness of the series. In its second week, the show was only slightly down from being the second most watched show on Netflix in the United States. As a result, the Vallejo Police Department's social networks are full of angry comments, with critical or sarcastic remarks underneath almost every post.
Who knows, maybe the series will actually lead to more lawsuits and resistance against police incompetence and misconduct.