Case Notes are a quick collection of assessments of recent true crime documentaries, weighing what earns your full attention, what works as background noise, and what’s better left unwatched without the deep-dive commitment.

The January 2026 Surveillance Report tracks new and returning true crime documentaries, series, and specials across Netflix, Max, Investigation Discovery, A&E, Lifetime, Sundance Now, and more. This monthly roundup also includes a Court Watch section highlighting high-profile criminal trials expected to begin in January, making it a complete guide to what’s airing, streaming, and unfolding in real time.

Through body-cam footage and 911 calls, The Perfect Neighbor traces a neighborhood conflict that escalates quietly until it’s too late. With no narrator and no easy answers, the film becomes a study in institutional gaps, routine responses, and the fragility of ordinary life.