in 1973, Hendrickson made one of the best (if not THE best) Manson documentaries ever. Consisting only of real footage and interesting interviews, it gives a great look in the Manson Family, after Manson and the Tate-La Bianca killers were already in prison. It's a definite must-see for all the people who are interested in the case.
I do not know why (though I can guess), but Hendrickson has decided to make a second documentary. "Inside the Manson Gang" is the result.
In his 1973 movie, the images and interviews speak for themselves. Which makes it a very strong documentary. But in this second one, Hendrickson has decided to narrate the whole thing. And did he really go wrong there! The voice-over goes from annoying to ridiculous. The man can't help his slightly annoying voice, but it's mainly the way he narrates that is at times impossible to take serious. Take comments as: 'This is the room where the family orgies took place. They possibly had a few human sacrifices there too.', include spooky sound effects when nothing happens, and the whole thing is just... well... yes, ridiculous. He tries to make it look like he is in big danger all the time, which is totally nonsense. He puts tension in the documentary where there isn't any, and tries to make the whole thing more sensational. It's totally unnecessary. Thinking back to the original movie, it was chilling enough by itself. Now, with this narrating, it gives me almost the idea that the Manson Family is innocent, as many things are so out of proportion that you would almost just laugh trough it and forget that those people actually really WERE dangerous. So in my eyes, Robert kind of spoiled his own intentions.
Aside from that, if you are not familiar with the case, "Inside the Manson Gang" is like one pile of illogical vagueness. There is no real line in it. If you don't already know much about the Manson Family, their people and crimes, I can imagine that on more than one occasion you wonder who is who, what it is they are they talking about, and actually even what this movie is about.
Don't I have anything good to say about this movie? Well, yes I do. But that is mainly because for me, with a fascination for the Manson case, it is still interesting enough to look at. Like in the first one, this documentary only exists of real footage, and it's all bits that weren't in the first documentary. Which is something I really liked. We see the guys and girls being busy with their normal lives, doing their stuff, and that is what makes this documentary still worth to watch for the true followers of the Manson case.
When I finished watching it, my first conclusion was that Robert Hendrickson went from making one of the best, to one of the worst Manson-related documentaries. I'll still give it a 5 out of 10, but only because of all the never-seen-before material, which is still great to watch.
I do not know why (though I can guess), but Hendrickson has decided to make a second documentary. "Inside the Manson Gang" is the result.
In his 1973 movie, the images and interviews speak for themselves. Which makes it a very strong documentary. But in this second one, Hendrickson has decided to narrate the whole thing. And did he really go wrong there! The voice-over goes from annoying to ridiculous. The man can't help his slightly annoying voice, but it's mainly the way he narrates that is at times impossible to take serious. Take comments as: 'This is the room where the family orgies took place. They possibly had a few human sacrifices there too.', include spooky sound effects when nothing happens, and the whole thing is just... well... yes, ridiculous. He tries to make it look like he is in big danger all the time, which is totally nonsense. He puts tension in the documentary where there isn't any, and tries to make the whole thing more sensational. It's totally unnecessary. Thinking back to the original movie, it was chilling enough by itself. Now, with this narrating, it gives me almost the idea that the Manson Family is innocent, as many things are so out of proportion that you would almost just laugh trough it and forget that those people actually really WERE dangerous. So in my eyes, Robert kind of spoiled his own intentions.
Aside from that, if you are not familiar with the case, "Inside the Manson Gang" is like one pile of illogical vagueness. There is no real line in it. If you don't already know much about the Manson Family, their people and crimes, I can imagine that on more than one occasion you wonder who is who, what it is they are they talking about, and actually even what this movie is about.
Don't I have anything good to say about this movie? Well, yes I do. But that is mainly because for me, with a fascination for the Manson case, it is still interesting enough to look at. Like in the first one, this documentary only exists of real footage, and it's all bits that weren't in the first documentary. Which is something I really liked. We see the guys and girls being busy with their normal lives, doing their stuff, and that is what makes this documentary still worth to watch for the true followers of the Manson case.
When I finished watching it, my first conclusion was that Robert Hendrickson went from making one of the best, to one of the worst Manson-related documentaries. I'll still give it a 5 out of 10, but only because of all the never-seen-before material, which is still great to watch.
