This might be the most bizarre true crime doc ever

With a significant collection of true crime documentaries, Netflix has already featured many notorious criminals. But their latest title ‘CHAOS: The Manson Murders’ seems to take it up a notch. Charles Manson is known as a cult leader and was responsible for multiple murders. This new doc dives into his horrific deeds but also shows that the case is a lot more complicated than previously thought. Let's take a moment to explore: who was Manson, really?

A troubled youth

Charles Manson was born on November 12, 1934, in the American city of Cincinnati, although his name at that time was still Charles Milles Maddox. His mother was 16-year-old prostitute Kathleen Maddox, and he never knew his father. Kathleen married William Manson, and although they separated fairly quickly, her son kept that surname. Kathleen had an alcohol addiction and frequently committed robberies. As a result, Manson lived with various relatives for a long time. When Kathleen was released from prison, she took her son back in; but that didn't last long either: Manson was placed in the Gibault School for Boys, where he was not happy at all. After ten months, he managed to escape and return home. His mother, however, wanted nothing more to do with him. From the 1950s onwards, Manson fell into crime, engaging in car theft, check forgery, and visiting a prostitute. He ended up in prison several times for longer periods, prison, and in 1967 he was released again.

The Manson Family

After his release, Manson moved to San Francisco. There he met Gary Hinman, a music teacher who then introduced him to musician Dennis Wilson of the Beach Boys. In the meantime, Manson gathered a group of hippies around him who saw him as their great leader; the group later became known as the Manson Family. They moved to the Spahn Ranch near Los Angeles. Wilson helped Manson, who had musical ambitions, to get in touch with producer Terry Melcher. But after some initial interest, it ultimately did not lead to a real collaboration. His ‘family’ became increasingly radicalized, using a lot of drugs and seeing Manson as a prophet who would save them. He became more and more obsessed with the Book of Revelation and the lyrics of The Beatles, which he saw as a call to start a race war. He sent his followers on various robbery missions.

The murders

It doesn't take long before the Manson Family takes it a step further. Mason incites his followers to the murder attack on Gary Hinman. The perpetrator is arrested and receives a life sentence; the police still do not know that Manson is involved. Less than a month later, the family strikes again. A group of followers is sent to a house that supposedly belongs to Terry Melcher, but at that moment it is rented by director Roman Polanski and his wife, actress Sharon Tate. Polanski himself is abroad, but the eight-month-pregnant Tate and some of her friends are there. Five people are murdered that evening with multiple stab wounds. Manson is not happy with how it all went down; according to him, his followers were far too sloppy. The next day, he goes with them to the home of supermarket director Leno LaBianca and his wife Rosemary; they are also brutally murdered. At both locations, a reference to a Beatles song is written on the wall in blood. The police still have no idea that Manson and his ‘family’ are behind it. That changes when the cult leader and several followers are arrested a few months later for car theft. One of the followers tells a fellow inmate about the murders, and Manson is charged.

His sentence

In court, Manson and his followers are convicted of the seven murders; they all receive the death penalty. A year later, this sentence is abolished in California, and all those involved receive life sentences. Manson makes twelve requests for early release, but all are denied. In 2017, he ends up in the hospital several times, but what exactly is wrong remains a secret. He dies on November 19.

A new documentary

The actions of Charles Manson have inspired books, documentaries, and series multiple times. For instance, an episode of ‘American Horror Story: Cult’ was about him. Nevertheless, director Errol Morris hopes to provide a new perspective on the case with ‘CHAOS: The Manson Murders’. The documentary is based on the book of the same name by Tom O'Neill and explores the various backgrounds and possible motives of the case. How did Manson manage to convince his followers? Why did justice not intervene earlier? And what does the CIA have to do with the case? All questions that will be addressed in the doc. Who knows what will come of it.

‘CHAOS: The Manson Murders’ is now available on Netflix.

Image: Netflix