Why Everyone Is Creeped Out By Netflix’s Latest True Crime Docuseries
The docuseries is already #3 on Netflix as viewers struggle to process the obscene details of these romantically partnered serial killers.
Netflix has a history of releasing explosive deep dives into true crime cases like Making a Murderer, Abducted in Plain Sight, Wild Wild Country and American Murder: The Family Next Door. Now, the streaming service has added a 3-episode docuseries about a British married couple who were also serial killers, Fred and Rose West: A British Horror Story. The show is already #3 on Netflix as viewers struggle to process the obscene details of these romantically partnered serial killers.
Who are Fred and Rose West?
Fred and Rose West are British serial killers. Their victims were young women and girls who were raped, tortured, mutilated and dismembered at their house of horrors in Gloucester. The couple met when Rose was 15 and Fred was 27. Rose quickly became the nanny for Fred’s two children, one of whom she later murdered.
After taking the lives of at least 12 people the two were finally caught. Fred West died by suicide after his arrest, Rose West was sentenced to die in prison and is currently incarcerated. She is now 71 and continues to claim she is innocent.
Why is ‘Fred and Rose West: A British Horror Story’ so creepy?
Many fascinating true crime documentaries cover crimes that are interesting, but not as macabre as those covered in Fred and Rose West: A British Horror Story. For instance, one of Netflix’s biggest docu-hits is Tiger King, which follows the seedy world of big cat collectors and even alludes to a possible murder, but is still light-hearted in a way that is impossible for A British Horror Story given the extreme nature of the couple’s crimes. Even by the standards of true crime addicts who are used to hearing about brutal crimes, this docuseries is shocking.
The fact that Rose West killed the stepdaughter entrusted to her care is beyond comprehension for viewers. A British Horror Story goes far beyond the bounds of normal true crime fare. Witnesses recount the torture the couple’s half-dozen children endured as “punishments” like a kid from the neighborhood seeing daughter Charmaine naked, gagged and bound to a chair while Rose stood over her with a wooden spoon.
Viewers are also surprised to learn about these crimes, as Fred and Rose West haven’t received the level of media attention that American serial killers like Ted Bundy and Jeffrey Dahmer have. The Netflix doc also contains police video that has previously not been released to the public so even those familiar with the case are learning new information.
If you’re still interested in watching Fred and Rose West: A British Horror Story, here’s the trailer:
Fred and Rose West: A British Horror Story is streaming on Netflix.
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