“American Conspiracy: The Octopus Murders” (2024) / Z-View
American Conspiracy: The Octopus Murders (2024)
Director: Zachary Treitz
Stars: Christian Hansen
Tagline: None.
The Plot…
Danny Casolaro was a freelance writer obsessed with a story that he had worked on for years. Casolaro believed he’d uncovered evidence of a powerful international cabal of eight individuals involved in everything from government spyware, manipulating Iran to hold hostages to ensure Ronald Reagan became President, the Iran-Contra scandal and more. Casolaro referred to this cabal as The Octopus.
In 1991, Casolaro was found in the bathtub of a hotel room. His wrists had been cut multiple times and blood covered the bathroom walls and floor. One of the first paramedics on scene didn’t believe it to be a suicide because Casolaro’s tendons were cut in the multiple slices across his wrists and the blood everywhere. Still, his death was ruled a suicide.
Christian Hansen gained access to all of Casolaro’s journals, notes and interviews. Hansen then re-interviewed people Casolaro had identified as having knowledge of the cabal. This documentary explores the results of Hansen’s investigation.
Thoughts (beware of spoilers)…
While we’re given much information, there is no “aha moment” where we get a definitive answer. Casolaro did uncover several shady characters and dealings. But was there enough evidence to make the leap to an international cabal?
One of the people providing evidence said she was shown a film of President Kennedy’s assassination where the driver of his limo turned and shot him. She believes the film she saw was unedited and the word has only seen a cover-up version.
When Casolaro died he was deep in debt and his house was about to be lost in foreclosure. Was this enough to push him over the edge to commit suicide? But how could he cut himself so many times (and still hold the blade) if his tendons were severed?
After viewing American Conspiracy, I was left with more questions than answers. It was an interesting ride, if you value the ride more than the destination.
American Conspiracy: The Octopus Murders (2024) rates 3 of 5 stars.