Movie Research: American Murder: The Family Next Door - Family Man to Killer

Hello there! Today I will be unraveling American Murder: The Family Next Door (2020). This is a chilling true-crime documentary that navigates the disappearance of Shanann Watts and her two daughters, Bella and Celeste. The film reveals the involvement of the husband/father, Chris Watts, in their murders. It gives insight into this disturbing reality of a seemingly normal family. I have watched the full documentary to better understand the genre. This crime documentary stands out because the horrific story is best matched with my pitch. Potentially there could be overlapping ideas and themes in my Final Task and American Murder: The Family Next Door (2020).  

Genre Traits

This documentary focuses on using editing to shape and guide the tragic story. Screen composition plays a large role in establishing context and upholding evidence. The opening sequence was much longer than a typical movie, at around 5 minutes. It was broken up into two main parts. The first part was a graphically designed social media page with many posts that were taken from Shanann Watts’ Facebook page. The second part was real footage from a police body camera of the moment they realized Shannan Watts and her two children were missing. 

I plan on using the visual elements from the first part of this opening sequence. The use of Shannan’s videos with her voice in the background creates an intimate and eerie introduction to the narrative. In the posts, Shannan introduces herself, and her kids, and provides insight into her life in Colorado. It seems that she is a lifestyle blogger as she shares stories openly. Her husband is featured frequently which makes it appear he is a duty-bound husband and father. They are depicted as a normal family. 

The use of multimedia sets the tone for the plot to thicken. It serves as an understanding of the family’s dynamic, making the crime to be even more shocking.  

Next, there is footage from a doorbell camera of Shannan Watts entering her home the day she disappeared. This is when the second part of the film takes over. An establishing shot of the neighborhood and vast land surrounding is shown. An editing overlay is added to show how Shannan is reviving many missed calls and worried texts. A B-roll of the neighborhood is shown. 

Then, there is a switch to the police body camera footage showing the concerned friend, her son, Chris Watts, and a neighbor trying to figure out what is happening. This footage goes on for around 3 minutes before dissolving out to the title. 

Notably, in the first few seconds of the film, a disclaimer was shown to clarify concerns about wrongfully using evidence in the documentary. 

The editing of this story enhanced the otherwise lack of information to be bountiful. It exemplifies the art of not revealing too much information to the audience. This way the audience is captivated and keeps watching. Lamely, the editing contributes to audience maintenance. This advanced editing technique will be one I will work on developing to hopefully include in my Final Task. 

Appealing Elements 

•  As I mentioned earlier, the editing of this movie was unlike any I’ve seen. It was well executed so that it didn't look overly artificial. The timeline of events is a calmer version of montages. The fragmented information helped piece together the context with normalcy before the impending danger was introduced. The diverse media sources helped create a credible view of the events. Overall, making for a well-paced, easy-to-follow yet intriguing opening sequence. 

Disfavored Elements 

• The only off-putting part of this opening sequence was that it was prolonged. Opening sequences tend to be 2-3 minutes but this was 5 minutes with 2 2-3 minute sections. It felt like it was dragged out somewhat. I would have preferred it if the title was shown after the first part of the opening sequence. However, I can see why the director and editor chose to do it after the second section. Regardless, the opening sequence was very well developed and not confusing or withstanding evidence.

Takeaways 

The harrowing story of American Murder: The Family Next Door (2020) naturally evokes emotions to fluctuate. Looking from a cinematographic standpoint, the film skillfully brings the audience into the Watts family. The rawness of social media posts, home videos, and police footage used as the makeup of the movie is authentic. It veneers normalcy. The surprising turn of events is shocking to anyone. This film does a great job of keeping the audience engaged throughout. This element along with the visual design are ideas I am keen on utilizing in my Final Task.