In the modern entertainment industry, few genres of television and film are as successful as the true crime genre. Detailing some of the most heinous events in world history from serial killers to massive heists, audiences around the world have only come to demand more and more of these stories as time passes. While one could argue it is somewhat immoral to profit off of events like these, these projects also serve to inform the world about the evil in it and how to be aware of it. This week, Hulu announced two new projects that are going to try to do just that: a documentary about a mysterious murder titled Dead Asleep, and a docuseries about a boy who goes missing in Captive Audience.
Dead Asleep recounts a murder that took place a few years ago. What is interesting about this murder however is that the killer claims he committed the act while sleepwalking, subsequently raising questions about his culpability. The documentary will explore the incredibly interesting case in further depth, and is being directed by Skye Borgman who directed the acclaimed documentary Abducted in Plain Sight. The second project, Captive Audience, will instead be a docuseries that documents the abduction of a 7 year old California boy in 1972. While the boy did eventually return home a decade later, the case has more layers than you could possibly imagine while the documentary additionally highlights how the event has impacted the family in the fifty years since.
The growing demand for true crime television series and films is unlikely to subside anytime soon. Technology has put virtually everything the world has to offer on full display, both the bad and good, and crime is certainly not declining in the near future. Thus, it is up to Hollywood to make the most out of these negative situations if and when possible to hopefully shed light and provide clarity on why these things happen. Hulu will be next in line to attempt just that with Dead Asleep and Captive Audience, and they can be found on the streaming platform in the coming future.
