Why is true crime so captivating? True crime is so fascinating because it has all the ingredients of great storytelling. Compelling and complicated characters, the uneasy feeling of increased tension until the apex is reached, and in most cases (hopefully) a release of tension when the whodunnit is finally solved.
2021 set a bar for the true crime genre that might be tough to contend with. It launched documentaries on serial killers, such as Dennis Nilsen, Richard Ramirez (The Night Stalker), and Son of Sam. Not to mention, Allen Vs. Farrow, the return of Tiger King, and even a documentary on the infamous college admissions scandal.
That being said, 2022 is bringing with it many binge-worthy documentary films and series you won’t want to miss. Whether it be a vegan fugitive on the run, a murderer possessed by a demon, the depraved downfall of an Icon, or a brave group of women fighting for bodily autonomy, there is a compelling story waiting to be unraveled in each. Here are the true crime documentaries we're looking forward to in 2022.
8 Bad Vegan
This Netflix docu-series recounts the tale of Sarma Melngailis and how she went from celebrated vegan restauranteur to convicted criminal. Her name, once synonymous with clean living, became tarnished after her mysterious disappearance in 2015. Shortly after Melngailis went missing, her employees walked off the job in droves, alleging she was not paying them. Later still, it was discovered Melngailis had stolen millions of dollars from her empire. Facing charges for grand larceny and fraud, she and her then-husband Anthony Strangis went on the lam. Those closest to Melngailis say Strangis was responsible. According to Vanity Fair, “Strangis resorted to cult-like techniques, including gaslighting, sleep deprivation, and sexual humiliation, to control her.”
7 The Tinder Swindler
The Tinder Swindler is a documentary film directed by Felicity Morris (Don’t F**k with Cats). It tells the story of Israeli fraudster Shimon Hayut. Hayut used the dating app Tinder to con unsuspecting women out of large sums of money by claiming he was Simon Leviev, son of Russian diamond mogul Lev Leviev. He called himself “Prince of Diamonds” and would take his victims on lavish trips on private jets in order to sell the scheme. His lifestyle, however, was financed by defrauding countless women across Europe, before being arrested in 2019. In a surprising twist, Hayut was released from prison early, much to the dismay of his many victims. The Tinder Swindler will be released on Netflix in February 2022.
6 We Need to Talk About Cosby
We Need to Talk About Cosby is a four-part docu-series that will air on Showtime on January 30th, following its Sundance Film Festival Premiere. The series explores Cosby’s prominent career in-depth, as well as his ultimate fall from grace, after more than 60 women came forward with accusations of rape, drug-induced sexual assault, and sexual misconduct. Emmy-winning director and comedian W. Kamau Bell proposes it was Cosby’s desire for power that ultimately motivated his crimes.
5 The Janes
The Janes is set to premiere virtually at Sundance Film Festival on January 24th. It recounts the true story of seven trailblazing women arrested in a raid on a Chicago apartment in 1972. The “Jane Collective” as they were known used codenames, blindfolds, and safehouses, to establish a clandestine network helping women seek safe, affordable, and illegal abortions in a time before Roe v. Wade was handed down.
4 Scream: The True Story
Scream: The True Story will premiere on Discovery + on January 14, 2022. It tells the tale of the real-life murderer who inspired Kevin Williamson’s screenplay for Scream. Danny Rolling a.k.a The Gainesville Ripper murdered eight victims in Shreveport, Louisiana and Gainesville, Florida from 1989-1990. Rolling claimed at the time of the murders he was possessed by a demon named “Gemini." The docu-special features paranormal investigation and expert interviews to assess whether supernatural forces were, in fact, at play.
3 BTK: Confessions of a Serial Killer
Based on the 2016 book Confessions of a Serial Killer: The Untold Story of Dennis Rader, The BTK Killer by Katherine Ramsland. This 2-night, four-part event premieres on A+E on January 8, 2022. The documentary features interviews with Rader himself while serving 10 consecutive life sentences in a maximum-security prison. Ramsland interviews Rader with extreme curiosity on his psyche, especially wherein Rader strayed from traditional serial killer norms.
2 King of the Con
King of the Con tells the story of infamous scam artist Barry Minkow. The 3-part documentary will be available for streaming on Discovery + on January 14th. The documentary delves into the fascinating story of deception, and redemption, and then deception (again). Featuring one of the first interviews with Minkow himself on his life and crimes, as well as his victims' accounts, King of the Con is sure to captivate audiences.
1 Scott Peterson: The Friends Speak
Reelz series The Friends Speak features an episode on Scott Peterson on Sunday, January 9th. In 2005, Scott Peterson was sentenced to death by lethal injection for the murder of his wife Laci Peterson and unborn son Conner. In 2020, the death sentence was overturned, however, the conviction was upheld. Peterson is currently serving a life sentence in San Quentin State Prison. Scott has maintained his innocence throughout the trial and his incarceration. The Friends Speak delves into the question of Scott’s guilt or perceived innocence.