The endless parade of true crime documentaries remains one of Netflix's most interesting draws. Among its vast catalog, stories of vanished family members, shocking betrayals, and concealed darkness within suburban facades continue to attract viewers. Within this relentless tide of human drama and investigation emerges a compelling entry that captures the complex and tragic dimensions of a small-town American family. Netflix peels back layers of secrecy while exploring the grim realities hidden behind the harrows of a certain Family Next Door.

Just when you thought your neighbor was boring, Netflix has dropped a true crime episode on a family drama you can never unsee.

American Murder: The Family Next Door is the name of the 2020 Netflix documentary directed by Jenny Popplewell that investigates the 2018 Watts family murders in Frederick, Colorado. This documentary has uniquely based itself on the archival materials, including social media posts, police recordings, text messages, and home videos available, to construct a found-footage style narrative. The film reveals the disappearance and eventual murder of Shanann Watts and her two young daughters through raw, first-person perspectives and evidence, allowing a chilling unravelling. 

The core incident documented is the murder of Shanann Watts, who was fifteen weeks pregnant, and her daughters Bella Watts and Celeste Watts. The narrative had shown the mother's disappearance reported by a friend, the suspicious behaviors of her husband Chris Watts, and the gradual revelation of his heinous crimes. Watts initially denied involvement but eventually confessed to smothering his wife and killing the children before hiding the girls' bodies in oil tanks on his worksite. 

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Social media, secrets, and suspicions can so far be established as a true-crime triple threat that turns cozy homes into crime scenes.

The documentary provides meticulous attention to trivial yet significant details: From Shanann Watt’s prolific social media presence, daily family videos, to the text messages that paint a picture of their troubled home life. Public and personal perspectives are examined in depth, including contradictory allegations about the couple’s relationship and reactions from their community as well. 

If The Perfect Neighbor was not enough to make you peek past the not-so-friendly neighbor, American Murder: The Family Next Door will lay bare the darkness behind suburban normalcy even further for you. It is a chilling exploration of deception, domestic violence, and the fragility of family bonds. This true crime documentary stands as a stark reminder of how appearances can deceive, securing its position among Netflix’s most gripping and haunting true crime stories, evoking reflection long after the credits roll. 

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What do you think of Netflix's take on The Family Next Door? Let us know in the comments below.