After watching enough good documentaries, it’s become abundantly clear that nothing is more captivating than real life, nothing more unbelievable than facts, nothing more interesting, nothing more satisfying, than the truth.
With the sheer quantity of content on Netflix, it’s never been easier to expand your horizons on every category and subtype of documentary, especially since I’ve done all the legwork and watched all the terrible ones and not put them in.
And if you watch enough good documentaries, you’ll soon see the most surreal, fantastical, films, art and novels take their roots in planet Earth, like us all.
Three Identical Strangers - 1hr36
You turn up for your first day at university. You’re nervous, you’re on your own, and you don’t know anyone else there. But when you arrive, everyone seems to know you. Countless people greet you by name, stop to chat, or run into your arms and plant a kiss on your face. They’re beyond ecstatic to see you, so excited that “You came back!” to a place you’ve never been before. And, that’s not your name. They’re thinking of your twin brother. The one you never knew you had.
And that’s only the first five minutes. Very few documentaries can create such an intense, emotional journey so flawlessly, and so seamlessly, and can hold an audience captive with such a grip. There’s not a single dull moment and barely space to catch your breath.
Dark Tourist - 1 Season, 8 Episodes, approx. 40 minutes each
A travel documentary like no other. The adorable and addicting David Farrier navigates the world of thrill-seeking, adrenaline-junkie tourists, who visit different countries specifically to enjoy the weirdest, most disturbing activities you’ve never heard of.
A sweet and curious exploration of different cultures and customs, complete with awkward but amusing interviews with everyone from Pablo Escobar’s hitman, to someone’s dug up grandmother.
The Innocence Files - 1 Season, 9 Episodes, approx 50 minutes to 1hr30 each
True crime documentaries come a dime a dozen these days, so it’s hard work shifting through the heaving piles of trash that production companies claim are ‘interesting’ to find a true, disturbing gem like The Innocence Files. More disturbing than the array of violent, twisted cases it describes, is the fact that the people convicted for these crimes spent a lifetime in prison for a crime they did not commit. I think the most valuable thing this documentary does is that it demonstrates and expands on the direct failings of an, at best, unreliable, at worst, corrupt judicial system.
Its commitment to representing all sides of the story is admirable and integral to the greatness of this series. Harrowing, uplifting, enraging: the idea of how many innocent lives must still remain behind bars today will haunt you.
Inside The World’s Toughest Prisons - 3 Seasons (recommend seasons 2 & 3) 5 Episodes each season, approx. 50 minutes each
Seasons 2 & 3 (my favourites) are narrated and presented by Raphael Rowe, a British journalist, who spent 12 years in prison for gang-related homicide: a crime he did not commit. His unique experience from prison in the 80s & 90s made him an excellent journalist, and the perfect leading role for this documentary, and allows him to shine a fresh and authentic perspective on the treatment of inmates, the role and relationship of the guards, and the rules and unspoken rules in the prison world.
A crime documentary with a different perspective, an insight on culture, and a question of do prisoners, the most hated members of society, really deserve this?
Explained - 2 Seasons, 24 Episodes in total, approx 15 - 20 minutes each.
This is the documentary series to end all documentary series. Each episode swiftly breaks down and explains a different topic that you never knew could be so informative and interesting, from the racial wealth gap, and why women are paid less, to aliens, weed, k-pop, designer DNA and the female orgasm. And that doesn’t even cover half of season one. They also have separate series explaining the mind, sex, and even, already, coronavirus. So if you come to documentaries for more informational rather than emotional content, Explained is waiting for you.
Why not share with a friend?
If you think a little company might aid your enjoyment of these recommendations, then click on the link to download the chrome extension Netflix Party, that allows you to watch at the same time as your friends, no matter where you are, and provides you with a chatroom to share your thoughts as you go.
https://chrome.google.com/webstore/detail/netflix-party/oocalimimngaihdkbihfgmpkcpnmlaoa?hl=en
Dark Tourist - 1 Season, 8 Episodes, approx. 40 minutes each
A travel documentary like no other. The adorable and addicting David Farrier navigates the world of thrill-seeking, adrenaline-junkie tourists, who visit different countries specifically to enjoy the weirdest, most disturbing activities you’ve never heard of.
A sweet and curious exploration of different cultures and customs, complete with awkward but amusing interviews with everyone from Pablo Escobar’s hitman, to someone’s dug up grandmother.
The Innocence Files - 1 Season, 9 Episodes, approx 50 minutes to 1hr30 each
True crime documentaries come a dime a dozen these days, so it’s hard work shifting through the heaving piles of trash that production companies claim are ‘interesting’ to find a true, disturbing gem like The Innocence Files. More disturbing than the array of violent, twisted cases it describes, is the fact that the people convicted for these crimes spent a lifetime in prison for a crime they did not commit. I think the most valuable thing this documentary does is that it demonstrates and expands on the direct failings of an, at best, unreliable, at worst, corrupt judicial system.
Its commitment to representing all sides of the story is admirable and integral to the greatness of this series. Harrowing, uplifting, enraging: the idea of how many innocent lives must still remain behind bars today will haunt you.
Inside The World’s Toughest Prisons - 3 Seasons (recommend seasons 2 & 3) 5 Episodes each season, approx. 50 minutes each
Seasons 2 & 3 (my favourites) are narrated and presented by Raphael Rowe, a British journalist, who spent 12 years in prison for gang-related homicide: a crime he did not commit. His unique experience from prison in the 80s & 90s made him an excellent journalist, and the perfect leading role for this documentary, and allows him to shine a fresh and authentic perspective on the treatment of inmates, the role and relationship of the guards, and the rules and unspoken rules in the prison world.
A crime documentary with a different perspective, an insight on culture, and a question of do prisoners, the most hated members of society, really deserve this?
Explained - 2 Seasons, 24 Episodes in total, approx 15 - 20 minutes each.
This is the documentary series to end all documentary series. Each episode swiftly breaks down and explains a different topic that you never knew could be so informative and interesting, from the racial wealth gap, and why women are paid less, to aliens, weed, k-pop, designer DNA and the female orgasm. And that doesn’t even cover half of season one. They also have separate series explaining the mind, sex, and even, already, coronavirus. So if you come to documentaries for more informational rather than emotional content, Explained is waiting for you.
Why not share with a friend?
If you think a little company might aid your enjoyment of these recommendations, then click on the link to download the chrome extension Netflix Party, that allows you to watch at the same time as your friends, no matter where you are, and provides you with a chatroom to share your thoughts as you go.
https://chrome.google.com/webstore/detail/netflix-party/oocalimimngaihdkbihfgmpkcpnmlaoa?hl=en
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