The creator of Saw has released a haunting Netflix true crime documentary which reviews are saying ‘redefines the genre’.
James Wan, the creator of the Saw, Conjuring, and Insidious franchises, has already been a defining voice in the 21st century horror genre, and now, he is looking to do the same to the true crime genre.
This is a genre that many would consider badly in need of new life, with a number of Netflix fans slamming the recent Ed Gein series.
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This includes some fans claiming that the TV show is littered with ‘inaccuracies’ on social media, and others critiquing the lead actor’s accent after hearing tapes of the real serial killer.
For fans unhappy with the Ed Gein show, True Haunting will surely then be a welcome breath of fresh air into the true crime genre.
The show combines true crime and horror, telling the real-life stories of people’s experiences with the supernatural through James Wan’s legendary horror lens.
Where many feel the Ed Gein season of Monster twists what really happened in a way that some may feel is disrespectful to the victims, True Haunting includes the real people who it happened to in the show alongside dramatizations of events.
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Reviews have so far have been glowing, with one from Martin CID Magazine saying ‘Netflix and James Wan Redefine True-Story Documentary Horror’.
They went on to say: “By blurring the boundaries between reality and cinematic representation, True Haunting not only documents fear but designs it, inviting viewers to experience these unsettling stories with unprecedented intensity.”
One fan took to X, saying: “Welcoming the spooky season I highly recommend you guys to tune in to True Haunting on Netflix.
“A docuseries about just your average Joe and Jane who experienced unfathomable happenings that made you wonder 'are they real' It’s been a while since I felt a chill out of the screen.”
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Releasing today, some fans have already binged all five episodes of the show and taken to IMDb to praise it.
One fan gave it a score of 9/10: “I was expecting this mini show with good expectations. This is a good haunting show if you are fan of paranormal horror movies. Some shots were amazing. In my opinion, one can have a great time with this show.”
Others however were less convinced, with one giving it a two star review on IMDb: “I decided to give True Haunting, the 5-part Netflix series, a chance mainly because of James Wan's involvement.
“The show claims to be based on real people and their paranormal experiences, which sounded promising. Unfortunately, it never delivers.
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“The few clips featuring paranormal investigators were supposed to add credibility, but they came across as unconvincing and almost staged, making it difficult to take the "true story" aspect seriously.
“Despite the potential and the name attached to the project, True Haunting ends up being a disappointing and uninspired attempt at supernatural storytelling.
“The scares are predictable, the writing is weak, and the characters forgettable. Unless you're a die-hard fan of James Wan or want to see every paranormal-themed show out there, this one is easy to skip.”
True Haunting is available to stream on Netflix now.
Topics: True Crime, Netflix, Horror, TV, TV and Film
Michael Slavin