Paradise Lost 3: Purgatory

The plight of the infamous West Memphis Three has been the center of controversy for almost two decades now. Upon discovering three eight year old boys murdered and discarded in the Robin Hood Hills area of West Memphis, Arkansas in 1993, a subsequent investigation caused local police to target three teen outsiders for the crime. Based on the most specious of evidence and a rampant desire to see justice done for such a heinous act, Damien Echols, Jason Baldwin and Jessie Misskelley were convicted and sentenced in 1994 despite a clear lack of physical evidence or motive. Due to Echols appearance, interest in metal music, and fascination with disturbing imagery, the deaths were chalked up to being a part of a dark occult ritual. And a frightened and justifiable mob mentality ruled the day (especially as word of Misskelley's questionable confession circulated).

But the facts never really added up and filmmakers Joe Berlinger and Bruce Sinofsky were on hand to document the proceedings in the disturbing feature (which won them an Emmy among other accolades) "Paradise Lost: The Child Murders of Robin Hood Hills" in 1996. As that film highlighted an apparent miscarriage of justice, it caused the West Memphis Three to become a national cause celebre. Graphic and unpleasant, it was a riveting film that brought an unrelenting awareness to the case and the legal system in general. In 2000, the pair released "Paradise Lost 2: Revelations" which was largely in response to the first film's reaction. It caught up with the boys in jail, and the focus seems to have been to dig further into the evidence and other possible suspects. It is more speculative in nature, but with all the doubt that surrounding the original convictions--the question is asked why no further investigation has been pursued if justice were a primary concern.

Now "Paradise Lost 3: Purgatory" puts the concluding note on this tragedy of injustice. Ten years after the second film, this documentary covers all the efforts that have been made in the preceding decade to garner the boys a new trial. New experts, new witnesses, new evidence--and yet it was an incredibly lengthy and disheartening process to get anything past the Arkansas officials who stood by the original convictions. News of what happened in 2010 has been reported extensively in the media, but I still won't reveal the final resolutions depicted within the film. I will say that, once again, this is a stirring document about real world events. The film cuts between modern interviews, to scenes from the original film, to pertinent footage throughout the last ten years. Major players have shifted allegiance (including someone Echols had initially cast aspersions about), a viable new suspect emerges (his testimony is chilling as he is questioned about the murders in his lawsuit against Dixie Chick Natalie Maines for defamation), and the legal system continues to disappoint (even in the face of national scrutiny).

As a stand-alone film, "Purgatory" works fine. It recaps enough to keep anyone in the loop. But as the third part of a trio of films, it is astoundingly effective. To watch all three films is to experience filmmaking at its most powerful. We talk about film having the ability to transform lives, especially documentaries, but Berlinger and Sinofsky have proven it with the "Paradise Lost" series. Eighteen years in the telling, it is their first film that affected everything and led to the final outcomes. The films have become a part of the documentary. Echols even thanks them for putting the case into the spotlight and essentially saving his life from the lynch mob mentality that surrounded the initial arrest. It's strong and powerful stuff, as well as disturbing, and this is a story will linger with you long after the film ends. While I easily recommend this movie, do yourself a favor and get all three to see where filmmaking crosses over into history making. Perhaps the biggest injustice, though, is that the politics and legal wrangling have overshadowed the tragic deaths that precipitated everything. So thankfully, the film wraps with a tribute to the murdered boys. KGHarris, 1/12.

PARADISE LOST 3: PURGATORY (2012, 120 minutes, HBO Films) - Here is the anxiously awaited 3rd installment of the continuing sagas of Damien Wayne Echols, James Baldwin and Jesse Misskelley, Jr., all convicted of murdering three 8-year-old boys in 1993. It wasn't aired on HBO and I just saw it On Demand - the only place it is available right now. It had originally been scheduled to air in January.

This compelling albeit slightly muddled documentary sequel begins by retelling the story of "The West Memphis Three" - Echols, Baldwin and Misskelley - and the horrible crime of three young boys' murders. At first I thought this was retread, but I quickly realized this was a vital documentary tool to catch up a viewer who might be new to the story.

The documentary does an excellent job of stunning the viewer by explaining how the case exploded in everyone's faces in the mid-2000s. New evidence was discovered and all of it re-examined; among the evidence was DNA and a new look at the victims' bodies. 46 minutes in, the infamous John Mark Byers, stepfather of one of the victims and one-time suspect, is interviewed yet again - this time on the side of three convicted men. Having gone through a similar witch hunt as the Three, Byers now rallied for their release. (After seeing the second documentary, the wife and I strongly suspected Buyers.)

What happened? The very first documentary, Paradise Lost - The Child Murders at Robin Hood Hills (see my review), drew public attention like nothing else since the O. J. Simpson or Michael Jackson trials. In 2007, four great forensic scientists were brought forward in a press conference to speak of the new evidence they'd reviewed. Among the evidence was a total lack of any DNA from the Three - but they did find somebody's DNA. There was also the fact that the original judge, David Burnett, had apparently somewhat politicized the case for his own benefit. He made the mistake of suppressing evidence of the innocence of the Three, allowing only evidence of their guilt.

The documentary does an excellent job revisiting the parents of the murdered children - including Terry Hobbs, yet another stepfather of another of the victims who seems to be suspected because his DNA was found on the boys' bodies. Though Hobbs is interviewed, the rest of the story is glossed over, though they address the defamation suit he brought against the Dixie Chicks for mentioning him in a press conference they gave. (He lost that case.)

It is riveting, truly explosive, to hear about the evidence that ultimately led to the release of the Three: an ongoing witch hunt, an obsession with satanic cults (there is no such thing as a 'satanic murder", the film informs us), a years-long obsession with Damien Echols and his pseudo-satanic, Goth activities, gross police incompetence and mishandling of the crime scene/evidence. A total yet not very surprising shock. Many of the community simply said the wrong people were in jail.

The film settles into its conclusion comfortably: with all this and a hearing to talk about a retrial set for December 2011, the Three were suddenly brought into court, made a special plea and released with time served. (See my review of Paradise Lost 2 - Revelations for more about this.)

As the attorney put it, no court would allow this at all if they thought the Three were guilty. The analysis of the new evidence in 2007 propelled this case to its happy ending; even more startling was that the court summoned the Three early and released them. You'll be riveted by this documentary, which is perhaps the most compelling and sad story of justice's miscarriage of the 20th century - bleeding into the 21st century. Saddest of all, the Three are technically guilty while having maintained their innocence throughout 18 harrowing years in prison. The newly suspected individual, Terry Hobbs, will walk free because no one else can be tried for the murders.

The Big Cheese at HBO is calling for a 4th documentary, stating that there is much documentation not released yet. A film based the story of The West Memphis Three is in the works. More power to them - not enough can be explained about this awful, harrowing case. The public needs to see the way the justice system can still be manipulated with skill and without proof of any wrongdoing.

Judge David Burnett, severe and uncompassionate, is now a senator. Good thing for justice and for the Three. What is worse than anything is that a murderer walks free and the three little victims will remain without justice. Only an echoing agony. Get this fantastic film, if you can't get the first two at least get this: it catches up with the original players and flashes back enough to explain it all. I loved it.

This "Paradise Lost" trilogy is beyond documentary film making. A better description of the films would be that they are legendary journalistic heroism that are philanthropic education for the American public, in regards to the horrors that CAN arise from the U.S. justice system when it fails.

This film was never meant to be the "final chapter" of the Berlinger and Sinofsky series on the West Memphis 3 case. When the film was practically 100% finished, a surprise hearing was called regarding the case. The hearing was prompted by the fact that the original trial judge David Burnett (who was also the judge for EVERY SINGLE APPEAL HEARING regarding this case) denied the WM3 an evidentiary hearing, despite allegations of juror misconduct in the original trial, recantations of testimony used in court, and DNA evidence that excluded the three defendants from the crime scene or the bodies AND pointed in a different direction that the police never investigated. Burnett's decision caused the defense to go to the Arkansas supreme court to show that Burnett was in error. The defense team succeeded and received an evidentiary hearing for the 3 men in prison, a hearing in which David Burnett was finally NOT going to be the judge that the West Memphis 3 would have to appeal to. The cops and District Attorney's office knew there would be a retrial, and that the defense would likely win. The unexpected hearing was called four months before the new evidentiary hearing. If you don't know how it turned out, I won't spoil that part here. Just know that because of that hearing, "Paradise Lost 3: Purgatory" became the final installment that the film making team would ever make.

Now, we have the DVD and not only is the film a revelatory piece of brave journalism and a highly entertaining film, it also has good special features. The bonus material features deleted scenes from the original "Paradise Lost: The Child Murders At Robin Hood Hills" film, as well as interviews with the West Memphis 3 and the film makers, and previously unreleased footage that is incredibly valuable... most notably, we see the film makers finally address the false testimony of Vicki Hutcheson, who said she went with Damien Echols to a Satanic Esbat / occult meeting, in an attempt to play detective. The bonus features show her recantation of the testimony (as well as past of the testimony) on video and when it was addressed at the "new evidence press conference" in 2007, accompanied by her own statement, presented by attorney Dennis Riordan, which she admits "Every word was a lie" and details her drug use at the time of the testimony. Also, the "Hollingsworth testimony" that is alluded to in the first film (but not shown) is included, and shown to be total hogwash.

I could talk about this case forever, but I won't. You should watch this entire trilogy, but part 3 is one of the best documentaries I've ever seen, and the bonus materials are simply awesome. Historic documentaries and heroic journalism led to an outcome of compromise, which really satisfied no one more than 50%. If you know the case, don't hesitate to pick this DVD up and make sure you check out the very valuable special features, which provide further evidence of corruption, incompetence and indifference of the police and the justice system in this case. A wholly satisfying view, with a great message, along with the ability to teach the American public some things they need to know about cops and courts.

The West Memphis 3 Case was a tragic miscarriage of justice, and it's been filmed from the beginning. Everyone should see all 3 films in this trilogy. A heart-wrenching tale, while showing the strength of the human spirit even in the face of injustice. This story changed my life, and I hope you are moved too.

In my opinion, we have to EXONERATE these men! And go find the real killer.