When Joe Berlinger & Bruce Sinofsky released Paradise Lost: The Child Murders at Robin Hood Hills in June 1996, I don’t think they could have ever imagined the critical acclaim that came with it, and the impact they had on the case itself.
The film became a national phenomenon in the United States and prompted outcry from concerned citizens that a huge miscarriage of justice had taken place. With appeals from the convicted taking place in 1999, Berlinger & Sinofsky returned to Arkansas to dig deeper into the case and explore the cultural impact of their original documentary.
Paradise Lost 2: Revelations concerns itself primarily with an activist group who having been inspired by the original Paradise Lost have banded together to put pressure on the Arkansas justice system to thoroughly investigate the case as they have uncovered swathes of evidence that was either hidden by police or ignored by the legal teams in the original 1994 trials.
It also concerns itself with Mark Byers, stepfather of one of the victims, Christopher Byers, whom many believe to be the true killer.
The film became a national phenomenon in the United States and prompted outcry from concerned citizens that a huge miscarriage of justice had taken place. With appeals from the convicted taking place in 1999, Berlinger & Sinofsky returned to Arkansas to dig deeper into the case and explore the cultural impact of their original documentary.
Paradise Lost 2: Revelations concerns itself primarily with an activist group who having been inspired by the original Paradise Lost have banded together to put pressure on the Arkansas justice system to thoroughly investigate the case as they have uncovered swathes of evidence that was either hidden by police or ignored by the legal teams in the original 1994 trials.
It also concerns itself with Mark Byers, stepfather of one of the victims, Christopher Byers, whom many believe to be the true killer.
The problems I had with the original Paradise Lost mostly stemmed from the lack of information the audience were provided about the case, however I also acknowledged that this was not necessarily the fault of the filmmakers as because the documentary was made as the case was unfolding a lot of information was withheld from them, as well as the botched investigation and kangaroo court omitting a lot of useful information about the murders in favour of convicting Damien Echols, Jason Baldwin, and Jessie Misskelly Jr.
Paradise Lost 2 provides all of that missing information, or as much of it that could possibly have been uncovered in the five years since the original trial.
I also admire how much time is spent on establishing how massive of a cultural impact Paradise Lost had. From the outrage of the local community that it showcased them as a bloodthirsty group of Bible bashers, the dissatisfaction from the Arkansas police & justice departments as to how it made them look completely incompetent, and the huge boost in support and political activism it inspired across the country. Paradise Lost 2 also spends a decent amount of time going over things shown in the original film and giving them more context or showing how particular moments have been instrumental in making the Arkansas justice department consider appeals for the convicted.
Paradise Lost 2 provides all of that missing information, or as much of it that could possibly have been uncovered in the five years since the original trial.
I also admire how much time is spent on establishing how massive of a cultural impact Paradise Lost had. From the outrage of the local community that it showcased them as a bloodthirsty group of Bible bashers, the dissatisfaction from the Arkansas police & justice departments as to how it made them look completely incompetent, and the huge boost in support and political activism it inspired across the country. Paradise Lost 2 also spends a decent amount of time going over things shown in the original film and giving them more context or showing how particular moments have been instrumental in making the Arkansas justice department consider appeals for the convicted.
The film maintains its impartiality by simply letting the cameras roll and have those involved in the case have natural discussions or simply just pour out their thoughts to the camera entirely unprompted. Mark Byers stands out as I do genuinely believe that this film reveals that he was involved in the murder of his stepson Christopher, and the two other victims Steve Branch & Michael Moore. He is shown to be an attention seeking performer, and a pathological liar throughout the documentary, as well as perhaps even suffering with a personality disorder.
Whilst Echols does appear for a few statements, and Baldwin briefly appears, with Misskelly Jr. relegated to little more than a cameo, the story this time around isn’t necessarily about them. Whilst it is about documenting their appeals, the story this time around is focused on their families, Byers, and the activist group.
Paradise Lost 2: Revelation is, I feel, a better film than the original, however it also makes the original film better in retrospect. It lays out so much more new information that it fills in the black spots that simply couldn’t have been explained in the first film.
These are two fantastic true crime documentaries and I’m really excited to check out the third and final film.
Whilst Echols does appear for a few statements, and Baldwin briefly appears, with Misskelly Jr. relegated to little more than a cameo, the story this time around isn’t necessarily about them. Whilst it is about documenting their appeals, the story this time around is focused on their families, Byers, and the activist group.
Paradise Lost 2: Revelation is, I feel, a better film than the original, however it also makes the original film better in retrospect. It lays out so much more new information that it fills in the black spots that simply couldn’t have been explained in the first film.
These are two fantastic true crime documentaries and I’m really excited to check out the third and final film.