Paradise Lost: Child Murders at Robin Hood Hills

Critics Consensus

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100%

TOMATOMETER

Total Count: 25

94%

Audience Score

User Ratings: 7,010
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Movie Info

This nonjudgmental documentary examines a bizarre triple murder and the subsequent arrest, trial and dubious convictions of three teenage boys for the crime. In a peaceful Arkansas suburb, three eight-year-old boys are found maimed and brutally slain -- one of them was castrated. The community understandably goes into an uproar until one, mentally slow teen, Jason, comes forward and claims that he and two others killed the boys as part of a Satanic ritual. All are arrested, but the other teens, Damien and Jason, swear that they are innocent. The filmmakers then present widely disparate opinions from community members concerning the youths' guilt or innocence. The stepfather of one of the slain boys, vents his feelings by speaking to a pumpkin and then blowing it away with a gun. The whole trial is suspect and is based upon the testimony of Jesse who has an IQ of 74 and cannot keep his story straight. There is little evidence to conclusively prove or disprove their guilt. The filmmakers also intimate that others may have been involved, but those possibilities remain largely unexplored. The three boys all ended up convicted, but the niggling doubts remain.

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Cast

Bruce Sinofsky
Damien Wayne Echols
Jason Baldwin
Jessie Miskelly
Joe Berlinger
Pam Echols

Critic Reviews for Paradise Lost: Child Murders at Robin Hood Hills

All Critics (25) | Top Critics (3) | Fresh (25)

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Audience Reviews for Paradise Lost: Child Murders at Robin Hood Hills

  • Apr 23, 2016
    This movie did a good job of making me sympathize with the 3 suspects. I felt little remorse for the families because they were not shined in the best light. I look forward to the next film.
    Erin C Super Reviewer
  • May 15, 2015
    Subtly terrifying - even more so because it actually happened.
    Marcus W Super Reviewer
  • Jun 26, 2012
    A hard-hitting documentary that exposes the horrendous flaws of a justice system that can convict someone without any strong evidence based only on assumptions made by a jury of peers who have no instruction and are incapable of judging the case in an objective way.
    Carlos M Super Reviewer
  • Mar 16, 2012
    Remarkable FILM. I'd have been at my wit's end had I had one. Murders can be a beneficial product, and can earn many a few name, fame and whatnot intentionally or otherwise. Learn to earn. And it deserves applaud for not brooding on the victims' footage (specifically dead) alone time and again..... even if that's done to spare the audience the horror of the crime. Its runtime seemed bothersome initially, but they've done a marvelous job in its execution.
    familiar s Super Reviewer
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