True crime series are enjoying growing popularity. We are producing more and more of it. Series on in-depth investigations that go back to the facts, others more sensationalist, journalistic approaches, others which are in the show. Crime stories fascinate. We live in the hope of understanding, of finding flaws.

I discuss the phenomenon with two women who fell into the genre in very different ways. Their series, however, have in common to want to do justice to victims whose disappearance still resonates.

Victoria Charlton was in college when she developed a passion for true crime.

“What turned me on was the story of the murder of Elisa Lam, tells the one who offers us the series Evaporated: Victoria Charlton investigates. There was a series on Netflix, Crime Scene: The Vanishing at the Cecil Hotel. I became obsessed with this story. I was writing on forums. I realized that there was nothing in French. So I started talking about it on my YouTube channel. My views have increased significantly. Since then, it has been a long process. I've been doing this for 7 years, and I can say that I've found my branch. »

thirst for knowledge

Victoria has become a real reference in the genre. With nearly 700,000 subscribers on her channel, she gained confidence. Families contact her regularly so that she can highlight their story.

"I don't investigate, I won't call the police, I tell the stories and give a voice to the victims. »

For the past few weeks, we have been able to follow her on the Vrai platform as she looks at three relatively recent disappearances which have never been resolved, those of Francis Albert-Cloutier, Philippe Lajoie and Mélissa Blais.

“A lot of shows now focus on missing persons cases. It's all in how you tell the stories. These may not be the most well-known stories, but they are cases that remain mysterious. In the series, each one is built like a real investigation. Victoria goes to meet witnesses, multiplies the calls, analyzes the field.

“True crime has always existed, but it has become much more accessible. The more you eat, the more you like it. There is a thirst for thrills. Fear creates an adrenaline rush. »

Informed of all these painful stories, Victoria manages to make sense of things and not to be haunted by the stories that overwhelm the families who contact her. However, she admits to being particularly affected by the cases that are happening in Quebec.

At the same time as the series that has occupied her in recent months, she is continuing to write a new book which will notably talk about twenty women murdered in the 1980s, proof that feminicides have unfortunately always existed.

She also acts as a volunteer with an organization that identifies the missing. Bringing these sad stories to light is not only his job, but in a way his mission.

Never glorify crime

Nathalie Bibeau was not a fan of the genre. The one who had a career as a journalist at the CBC feared sensationalist elements and any form of voyeurism. It is more the human stories that inspire him. The Unsolved Murder of Beverly Lynn Smith is his first foray into true crime and the hyper-cinematic result is impressive.

"This is the first time that a Canadian story has been produced for Amazon Prime," explains the filmmaker. I wanted to showcase emotion and impact, not glorify crime. The family agreed with this approach. »

She had the means to refine a visual signature.

“It is not every day that we see an accused or a victim in his intimacy. A person's gait and gestures reveal a lot about them. There is information that cannot be shared with words. I was able to work on metaphors. »

She also chose to follow the work of journalists who covered the disappearance of the young Ontarian who was shot at home, rather than that of the police.

“It allowed me to be able to criticize the work of the police objectively, to relate to the facts and in a way to honor the profession. »

It must be said that the suspect, Alan Smith, was trapped by unorthodox investigative techniques.

High ethical standards

To what does she attribute the phenomenal success of the genre in which she immersed herself?

“It reveals the extremes of the human being in all its complexity. As viewers, we have access to a world in which we cannot enter. »

Nathalie Bibeau acknowledges having a very great responsibility towards the family.

“Our ethical standards have been very high. After seeing the series, one of Beverly's sisters told me: now we won't talk about how she died, but rather about how she lived. It doesn't change the ending, but it's a way for her to start grieving. That's the best compliment anyone could have given me. This series managed to keep it alive in a way. »

Making a Murderer – Netflix

Don’t F**k with Cats – Netflix

Tiger King – Netflix

The Keepers – Netflix

The Staircase – Crave

The Jinx – Crave 

The hunt – ICI tou.tv extra

The Order of the Solar Temple – True

Custom Murderers – True

Presumed Innocent: The France Alain – Crave Affair

In the footsteps of a serial killer – Crave

Who Killed Marie-Josee – Crave

The Tinder Swindler – Netflix

Our Father – Netflix

Bad Vegan: Fame, Fraud, Fugitives – Netflix

The Puppet Master : Hunting the Ultimate Conman – Netflix