Can’t get enough of true crime? Us too. But before you think you’ve seen it all, we’ve got good news, hayu has a literal treasure trove of grisly docos worth your time.
From serial killers to unsolved mysteries that will have you pulling on your detective hat (and leaving the lights on at night), we’ve rounded up the very best viewing for your cold, dark heart.
Sleeping With Death
Sleeping With Death investigates gripping stories of people who woke up to the nightmare of a friend or family member having been murdered while they slept in the same house, sometimes merely feet away. Those left alive grieve and struggle to come to terms with being unaware that acts of brutality took place under the same roof. In addition, they must also confront the fact that they may be named as possible suspects. Watch it here.
Notorious: The Girl In The Box
This chilling crime series will straight up terrify you. It tells the true story of 20-year-old Colleen Stan who was hitchhiking to visit a friend when she accepted a ride with Cameron Hooker, his wife Janice, and their baby in their van. She immediately realised she was in grave danger when Cameron put a knife to her throat, tied her up and forced her into a dark, silent wooden box. For nearly a year, Stan is confined in the box under Cameron’s bed for 23-hours a day, only to be released to satiate his desire to torture her. In Notorious: The Girl In The Box, Stan tells her harrowing tale.
Up And Vanished
If you devoured the true crime podcast Up And Vanished by Payne Lindsey (and if you haven’t you should, it’s had 340 million downloads), then you’ll love his docu-series of the same name. Now before you think this is just ‘another crime doco’, remember Lindsey helped find the killers of the cold case he investigated in his podcast so yea, he’s legit. In this show, you’ll go along with Lindsey and his team of investigators as they search for answers to help the victims’ families gain a sense of closure. Each ep features a different case of a missing person with new witness interviews and persons of interest confronted.
Charmed To Death
If you were totally hooked by podcasts like Dirty John then this new series is right up your street. Charmed To Death tells the shocking true stories of manipulative and dangerous criminals who use their charm to cheat, steal and lure victims into romantic relationships, leaving a wake of devastation and death. Each episode will feature a charismatic killer who deceives their victims, retracing their over the top acts of seduction and fraud. Told through the voices of friends and families fighting for justice, and investigators on the case who are determined to find the truth, this series will shock you to your core.
Aaron Hernandez: Uncovered
Whether you’re a sport junkie or not, you’d be hard pressed to find someone who hasn’t heard of former NFL star turned convicted killer Aaron Hernandez. Rewind a few years ago and Hernandez had the world at his feet: a multi-million-dollar football contract, a legion of adoring fans and a loving fiancee, but even that couldn’t stop him from falling down a dark path of no return. In this two-part doco, producers will interview everyone from Hernandez’s fiancee and mother of his child, Shayanna Hernandez, to his friends, family and former teammates about his life before his conviction for the 2013 murder of Odin Lloyd, to his time behind bars and his eventual suicide. This one will take you behind the headlines.
Snapped
It seems like most true crime docos centre on males being the main perpetrator but in Snapped, it’s all about the ladies. Each episode examines a different female felon who has committed murder or attempted murder, where the victim is more often than not the killer’s partner. The docu-series features fascinating interviews with friends and family, members of the accused and victims, law enforcement officials, lawyers and insiders with first hand knowledge of the cases. From divorces that turned deadly to affairs that tore families (and lives) apart, this series is as salacious as it is scary.
Kim Kardashian-West: The Justice Project
If Keeping Up With The Kardashians isn’t your bag (hayu has all 18 seasons available) and you prefer something a little darker, then check out the shocking documentary, The Justice Project. The eye-opening doco follows Kim Kardashian West as she goes deep into prison life, interviewing inmates who bravely share the story of how they ended up behind bars. You’ll need to keep the tissues close for this as the heartbreaking stories shared will stay with you long after the credits roll.
In Ice Cold Blood
We love him as the smart-talking copa Fin Tutuola on Law And Order and now, Grammy Award winner Ice-T is adding another string to his bow as the host and executive producer of this thrilling crime series. Using his distinct voice to guide viewers through shocking true stories involving sex, money and obession—or a fatal cocktail of all three, In Ice Cold Blood showcases in-depth interviews and archival footage. Each hour-long ep spotlights a shocking mystery characterised by expert detective work, unforeseen twists and jaw-dropping discoveries. Over the course of each season, real-life cases depict unhinged passion motivating someone enough to kill. First-hand detectives, along with friends and family closest to the victims bring each cool-blooded case to life.
Deadly Cults
This truly bonkers series follows, as the name suggests, deadly cults from around the world. Over two seriously dark seasons, each ep will uncover and expose the dark world of cults that kill.There’s a vampire coven searching for a sacrifice, a self-proclaimed prophet who convinces his followers to murder an innocent family, and the infamous Ervilites cult that were exposed when a a prominent local doctor was gunned down by two mysterious women in broad daylight. Each case is recounted through interviews with investigators, former cult leaders, and the family and friends closest to the victims. This one will shock you to your core.
In Defence Of
This binge-worthy four-episode show delves deep into the oh so complicated relationship between a lawyer and their client. Ever wondered what it would be like defending one of the world’s most hated criminals? This show will answer that question and so much more. Each ep looks at a different high profile criminal and speaks with the legal team that represented them in court. The series will cover notorious serial killer Ted Bundy, domestic terrorist Timothy McVeigh, Jodi Arias who murdered her ex-boyfriend and nearly got away with it, and Aussie Clive Doyle from the infamous Waco, Texas standoff.
After something a little more light-hearted? Check out these binge-worthy shows.
Image Credit: Paul Garaizar
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