True-crime documentaries following the cases and lives of the people involved has been somewhat of a staple for cable television and streaming platforms. With the huge success of Netflix’s Making a Murderer, things have gotten more heated this 2020. Netflix has been ramping up on all fronts now that they have stiffer competition in Disney Plus, HBO Now, Hulu and a lot more, they’ve bolstered even their true-crime genre from famous cases to obscure ones that you probably never heard of. Netflix’s darker recesses will apparently keep getting darker and here’s a list for you people who like it with the lights out.

Conversations With a Killer: The Ted Bundy Tapes

For years now, people have attempted to produce a deep dive into the mind of a psychopathic serial killer and most of them aren’t that great if we’re being honest. Joe Berlinger’s is an exception though; a four-part series taken from hours and hours long of interviews with the notorious Ted Bundy. The show offers a more in-depth look at Bundy’s case like Bundy’s own perceptions of his crimes, his experience in death row, and even how the legal system was deemed flawed for letting him walk. The miniseries was criticized for giving a ‘monster’ like Ted Bundy an avenue to give understanding to a somewhat fascinating but vile character.

Wild Wild Country

One of Netflix’s most popular documentaries, Wild Wild Country follows the story of a cult leader named Bhagwan Rajneesh who started a weird community in the sticks in Oregon. The establishment of the cult there sparked local controversy that eventually leads to a criminal investigation that reveals many shocking things about the seemingly lavish commune.

Killer Inside: The Mind of Aaron Hernandez

Aaron Hernandez was on the top of the world, being a player for the New England Patriots until he kills Odin Lloyd in 2013. The investigation into the case led to him committing a possible double homicide in Boston a couple of years prior. The miniseries explores the two crimes and dive into theories on why the former football star did them like brain damage from football, a subject that has been hotly debated and even closet homosexuality. The show doesn’t come to any tangible conclusion but it’s an interesting watch about a famous athlete and his descent into obscurity.

The Pharmacist

Dan Schneider’s son was shot dead in 1999. The New Orleans native and pharmacist started to investigate the case on his own and uncover everything including bringing the killer to justice. The story doesn’t end there. Schneider started to dive deep down a rabbit hole investigating a doctor who produces drug addicts via Oxycodone prescriptions turning the tragic death of his son into a fight against malicious malpractice.

The Staircase

This one is a bit old. Netflix picked up the 2004 miniseries which many true-crime aficionados consider as a must-watch. It about the death of Kathleen Peterson and Michael, her husband who was convicted of killing her even after protesting that Kathleen fell down the stairs. The tragedy happened back in December 2001 and became one of the more famous cases of the time where police believe that Peterson beat his wife to death and then staged an accident. 

Making a Murderer

The OG true-crime Netflix documentary. This 2015 series follows Steven Avery, a man who spent 20 years in prison for a crime he didn’t commit then get tried for a second time. People are still reeling from the show, thinking whether Avery was indeed innocent or if he actually did it. Netflix made a sequel back in 2018 to update people on the case. If you have Netflix and have yet to watch it, stop reading this (well, finish reading this) and watch the show.