True Crime Documentary Case Notes: Predators, The Secrets We Bury & Charmed by the Devil

Case Notes is a collection of quick impressions from the true crime documentaries I’ve been watching recently. These aren’t deep-dive reviews, but focused impressions meant to answer a simple question: is this worth your time, fine as background noise, or better left unwatched. Each title below includes a short assessment and a reader poll, so you can weigh in with your own verdict.

Note: These brief assessments may reference outcomes discussed in the documentaries, but avoid detailed plot breakdowns.

This Week's True Crime Documentary Case Notes:

Predators

Paramount+ · Released Dec 8, 2025 · Runtime: 1h 36m

Predators positions itself as a critical look at To Catch a Predator, promising to examine the ethics and cultural impact of the original series. That premise suggests a focused critique or new insight. Instead, the documentary struggles to define its purpose and ultimately feels more sympathetic to the men caught attempting to perp on children than analytical about the broader harm involved.

A large portion of the runtime centers on how stressful and life-altering it was for the men confronted on camera, with repeated emphasis on damaged reputations and personal fallout. One case involving a suspect's severe personal outcome is discussed at length, but the framing feels emotionally weighted without offering much critical context or balance. The focus remains firmly on the consequences faced by the perpetrators, while the victims remain largely peripheral.

The film also leans on legal critiques that don’t fully hold up. An attorney raises concerns about suspects not being read their rights, overlooking the fact that Chris Hansen was not law enforcement and Miranda warnings do not apply to journalists conducting interviews. That misunderstanding weakens what is meant to be one of the documentary’s arguments.

Later, the documentary shifts to amateur YouTube sting operations, spotlighting an intentionally provocative creator as a stand-in for online vigilantism. Rather than strengthening its thesis, this choice feels exaggerated and distracts from any meaningful discussion about ethical boundaries or media responsibility.

By the end, Predators feels less like a thoughtful examination and more like a confused critique that never settles on what it wants to say.

Verdict: Evidence supports a skip.

Predators- What's your verdict?

• Watch it
• Skip it
• Background Noise

---

The Secrets We Bury

ID / Max · Released Dec 8, 2025 · Runtime: 1h 24m

The Secrets We Bury is less an investigation and more a family reckoning. The documentary centers on siblings revisiting the disappearance of their father decades earlier, reconstructing childhood memories, family lore, and unanswered questions that shaped their lives. The storytelling moves back and forth through time, but the structure is coherent and purposeful, with each shift adding emotional context rather than confusion.

What the film largely avoids is traditional true crime investigative analysis. Law enforcement and expert perspectives are minimal, and the focus remains squarely on the family’s internal experience: how they processed the loss, the stories they were told, and what it meant to live for years with uncertainty. When long-held assumptions are challenged, the impact is emotional rather than procedural, offering closure in some ways while underscoring how little can truly be resolved so many years later.

From a technical standpoint, the documentary is competently made and respectful in tone. Interviews are intimate, often conducted in personal spaces, and the emotional weight is carried through extended personal testimony. At times, the pacing feels loose, lingering on moments that don’t necessarily deepen understanding, but this approach aligns with the film’s therapeutic intent.

For viewers drawn to investigative breakdowns, evidence analysis, and expert commentary, this may feel unsatisfying. For those who connect more strongly with victim-centered storytelling and family memoirs, it will likely resonate deeply. Personally, I found the story compelling but the presentation better suited to listening than active watching.

Verdict: Better as background noise.

The Secrets We Bury- What's your verdict?

• Watch it
• Skip it
• Background Noise

---

Charmed by the Devil

Oxygen / Peacock · Released Dec 13, 2025 · Runtime: 1h 24m

Charmed by the Devil explores the decades-long relationship between journalist Laura Greenberg and convicted serial killer Douglas Gretzler, focusing less on the crimes themselves and more on the emotional and psychological bond that formed between them while he was on death row. The documentary frames this connection as an attempt to understand “the monster,” but the result is a portrait that often feels more intimate than interrogative.

The film leans heavily on audio recordings and personal testimony, allowing Greenberg to narrate her experience largely on her own terms. While the documentary periodically raises the question of whether boundaries were crossed, those moments are rarely pressed. Family members express concern, and the producer (Greenberg’s nephew) occasionally signals skepticism, but the film ultimately accepts her repeated denials of romantic involvement without sustained challenge.

Information about Gretzler’s crimes is included to establish context, but there are no major revelations, and little attention is paid to investigative process or accountability. Instead, the emphasis remains on Greenberg’s belief that her acceptance and friendship helped him develop remorse. Whether that interpretation reflects genuine insight or manipulation is left mostly unresolved, even as Gretzler consistently minimizes his own responsibility and participation.

Technically, the documentary is competently made and respectful in presentation, but its priorities are clear. Viewers interested in criminal psychology, ethical boundaries, or unusual offender relationships may find it compelling. Those looking for investigative depth or a firmer editorial stance will likely come away frustrated. I found the case itself interesting, but the framing made this better suited to listening than active watching.

Verdict: Better as background noise.

Charmed by the Devil- What's your verdict?

• Watch it
• Skip it
• Background noise

---

That wraps this set of Case Notes. These true crime documentary case notes are meant to help you decide what earns your full attention, what works as background noise, and what’s better left unwatched. As always, the verdicts reflect my read, not the final word; check the polls, compare notes, and weigh the evidence for yourself.

Until next time,