Serial killers have been and remain a public fascination. As a species and a society, we seem to revel in these macabre individuals acts, if only to condemn them. Be it Ted Bundy or Jack the Ripper, it is always the killer that comes first and the victims after. Bayou Blue is a film that seems to be trying to reset this.
Between 1996 and 2006, Ronald Dominique murdered and raped 23 men throughout South Louisiana. Bayou Blue is a film that explores the fear that gripped the area, the impact of the crimes on the relatives and the lack of National attention or care.
Bayou Blue manages to not be about the killer and instead focuses on the killer’s effect on the community. It avoids turning into a biography of the killer and remains an examination on the victims instead of the criminal. It manages to go deeper into the crimes, looking at the effect on the whole of the community which is emphasised with some beautiful shots of the Bayou’s and sugar cane fields.
Thankfully there are no crime scene photographs of the victims, but there is chilling use of the confession tape to connect the audience to the reality of these crimes. Used from the outset it hangs over every inch of the film, clinging to and violating the most innocent image and sets the tone beautifully while not exploiting the victims.
Strangely and unfortunately, these great things about the film are exactly what cause the problems. The fact that they have decided to keep away from the killer’s story or exploiting the crimes themselves means that they have sacrificed a linear story to tell. If this were cinéma vérité this would not be an issue, but as this is reliant on interviews, we float from talking head to talking head. As a result, Bayou Blue feels as though it lacks something driving it.
I was reminded of Errol Morris’ films which in a post Michael Moore documentary landscape is always welcome. It lets the interviewees be themselves and say what they truly feel which leads to some moments that may make some feel uncomfortable, particularly in some of the attitudes towards homosexuality. However, this is necessary to be an honest portrayal of how these people feel and to show the society surrounding these crimes.
Despite not fully working, Bayou Blue is a thought provoking, shocking and most importantly honest look at the mess left behind and not the one who left it.
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