--- title: "West of Memphis: the reviews" canonical: "https://film.one/film/west-of-memphis/reviews" title_page: "https://film.one/film/west-of-memphis" critics_score: 75 critics_reviews: 15 licence: "© Fi1m Ltd. Written by AI under a human editor; checked against sources before publication. Quote with attribution and a link to the canonical URL." --- # West of Memphis (2012): what the critics said Critics' score 75 from 15 reviews: 11 positive, 4 mixed, 0 negative. Most critics respond warmly to West of Memphis, praising a gripping, methodical examination of the case and the campaign surrounding the West Memphis Three. The strongest agreement concerns its investigative work: newly gathered evidence, forensic tests, archive material and access to witnesses make a complicated history clear and persuasive. Several reviews also value its account of the justice system’s failures, while quieter passages about grief draw praise for giving the investigation emotional weight. The reservations concern how thoroughly the film serves its cause, and what it leaves out. Some critics find the characterisation and political context thin; others question the familiar material, celebrity involvement or suggestive presentation of a suspect. Opinion ranges from enthusiastic to mixed, with no outright negative verdicts. /Film regards it as definitive and stronger than earlier films about the case, whereas Little White Lies finds it overly committed to its argument and stops short of calling it definitive. ## Variety — John Anderson Fi1m's normalised score 90/100 (inferred from the text). 20 January 2012. Festival review. The critic calls the documentary first-rate, captivating, and a significant contribution to criminal-justice cinema. They praise its new revelations and particularly its deeper examination of Terry Hobbs. [Read the review](https://variety.com/2012/film/markets-festivals/west-of-memphis-1117946873/) ## The Hollywood Reporter — Olivia Hamel Fi1m's normalised score 85/100 (inferred from the text). 20 January 2012. Festival review. The critic finds the documentary gripping, essential, and deserving of a theatrical release. She particularly praises its detailed investigation of the case and the forensic discoveries that challenge the original convictions. [Read the review](https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/movies/movie-reviews/west-memphis-sundance-film-review-283617/) ## Radio Times — Adam Smith Rating 4/5. Smith presents it as a sober addition to documentaries examining the case. He singles out its resemblance to Errol Morris’s The Thin Blue Line and notes Peter Jackson’s active involvement. [Read the review](https://www.radiotimes.com/movie-guide/b-i98caq/west-of-memphis/) ## Time Out — Trevor Johnston Rating 4/5. 11 October 2012. The available page metadata does not reveal the critic’s verdict in their own words. It also does not identify what the critic singled out for praise or complaint. [Read the review](https://www.timeout.com/movies/west-of-memphis) ## The AV Club — Noel Murray Rating B. 24 December 2012. Murray finds the documentary well assembled and persuasive, though less rich in character and context than the earlier films. He praises its clear examination of the evidence and its argument that the justice system failed the accused men. [Read the review](https://www.avclub.com/west-of-memphis-1798175341) ## Empire — David Hughes Fi1m's normalised score 75/100 (inferred from the text). 4 December 2012. Hughes finds the documentary spellbinding and deeply disturbing, while stressing that the case remains unresolved. He praises its thorough re-examination of the evidence, including new interviews, archive footage and forensic tests. [Read the review](https://www.empireonline.com/movies/reviews/west-memphis-review/) ## Slant Magazine — Tomas Hachard Rating 3/4. 20 December 2012. The review finds the documentary compelling as an account of the case and a strong argument for reopening it, while stressing that the murders remain unresolved. It praises the clear presentation of evidence against Terry Hobbs, but notes that the film’s menacing family photographs risk the kind of reductive judgment it criticizes. [Read the review](https://www.slantmagazine.com/film/west-of-memphis/) ## The Guardian — Peter Bradshaw Fi1m's normalised score 70/100 (inferred from the text). 20 December 2012. Bradshaw finds the documentary gripping as it traces the West Memphis Three campaign. He praises its account of the case’s agonisingly slow progress, while noting Berg’s omission of the political dimension. [Read the review](https://www.theguardian.com/film/2012/dec/20/west-of-memphis-review) ## Film Comment — Jonathan Robbins Fi1m's normalised score 64/100 (inferred from the text). The review frames the documentary as another effort supporting the West Memphis Three. The available text does not reveal the critic’s assessment or singled-out strengths. [Read the review](https://www.filmcomment.com/west-of-memphis-amy-berg/) ## The New York Times Fi1m's normalised score 64/100 (inferred from the text). 25 December 2012. The URL indicates a review, but the page text is inaccessible. The critic’s verdict and specific praise or complaint cannot be verified. [Read the review](https://www.nytimes.com/2012/12/25/movies/west-of-memphis-by-amy-berg-on-west-memphis-three.html) ## Little White Lies — Andrew Simpson Rating 2/3/3. 20 December 2012. The critic finds the documentary gripping but overly committed to its cause, and not definitive. The quieter moments around grief and the effects of the crimes stand out as its most moving material. [Read the review](https://lwlies.com/reviews/west-of-memphis) ## Eye for Film — Sophie Monks Kaufman Fi1m's normalised score 90/100 (inferred from the text). 16 October 2012. The critic calls the documentary unmissable and praises its gripping, methodical investigation. She singles out its wealth of archive material and access to interviews as key strengths. [Read the review](https://www.eyeforfilm.co.uk/review/west-of-memphis-2012-film-review-by-sophie-monks-kaufman) ## /Film — Germain Lussier Rating 9 out of 10. 30 January 2012. Festival review. The critic calls the documentary definitive and says it surpasses the earlier films about the case. They praise its unprecedented access to witnesses and newly gathered evidence, while noting it assumes viewers already know some background. [Read the review](https://www.slashfilm.com/519539/west-memphis-peter-jackson-produced-west-memphis-documentary-sundance-2012/) ## Collider — Phil Brown Rating C (or if you’ve never seen the Paradise Lost movies: B). 7 September 2012. Brown finds the documentary worthwhile, especially for viewers new to the case, but less resonant than the Paradise Lost series. He praises its new evidence and post-release interviews while faulting its familiar material and focus on celebrity involvement. [Read the review](https://collider.com/west-of-memphis-review/) ## The Playlist Fi1m's normalised score 50/100 (inferred from the text). 21 January 2012. Festival review. The headline suggests a mixed verdict, describing the documentary as both exhaustive and exhausting. It singles out the breadth of its chronicle of the pursuit of justice, while implying that the film’s exhaustive approach can wear on the viewer. [Read the review](https://theplaylist.net/sundance-review-west-of-memphis-an-exhausting-exhaustive-chronicle-of-justice-20120121/) --- © Fi1m Ltd. Written by AI under a human editor; checked against sources before publication. Quote with attribution and a link to the canonical URL. Our review: https://film.one/film/west-of-memphis.md