“The Jinx: The Life and Deaths of Robert Durst” – Season 1 (2015) / Z-View

The Jinx: The Life and Deaths of Robert Durst – Season 1 (2015)

Created by: Andrew Jarecki, Marc Smerling, Zac Stuart-Pontier

Director: Andrew Jarecki (Eps. 1-6)

Written By: Andrew Jarecki, Marc Smerling and Zac Stuart-Pontier (Eps. 1-6)

Tagline: The confession was just the beginning.

The Plot…

Andrew Jarecki directed All Good Things, a film inspired by Robert Durst’s life.  All Good Things is the fictional tale of David Marks, a real estate tycoon suspected of killing his wife Katie, who disappeared in 1982.  Robert Durst is an heir to the Durst family fortune made in real estate.  Robert Durst’s wife, Kathie disappeared in 1982.

After seeing All Good Things, Robert Durst reached out to Andrew Jarecki and proposed a series of interviews so that Durst could tell his side of the story.  In addition to being suspected of killing his wife Kathie, Durst had also admitted to killing and dismembering Morris Black and was also suspected of killing his friend Susan Berman.  Robert Durst gave Jarecki almost unlimited access to personal family photos/videos, court transcripts and depositions.  Jarecki performed extensive research prior to the interviews and uncovered previously unseen evidence.

Durst did the interviews to give his side of the story and to clear his name.  Little did Durst know that decision would lead to his arrest for murder.  Admitting his guilt on a hot mic didn’t help his side of the story.

Thoughts (beware of spoilers)…

The Jinx was nominated for six 2015 Primetime Emmys and won two: Outstanding Documentary or Nonfiction Series and Outstanding Picture Editing for Nonfiction Programming.

Robert Durst’s story is stranger than fiction.  A multi-millionaire who many think got away with killing his first wife goes on the run because he thinks the police are going to arrest him.  He leaves New York and travels to Galveston, Texas.  He disguises himself as a mute woman.  While in Galveston he kills and dismembers a man.  The body parts are found floating in plastic bags.  They have Durst’s fingerprints, a receipt where he paid for the bags and saws.  He is caught with the saw used to dismember the man.  Durst admits to the killing.

And his defense attorney gets him off!  I won’t spoil the way it is done.

Now Durst has gotten away with murder (potentially murders).  You’d think he’d take his multi-millions and lay low for the rest of his life.  Nope.  He becomes the main suspect in the killing of Susan Berman.  Durst’s brother hires bodyguards and takes out a restraining order — he fears he could be next.

What does Durst do?  He agrees to a series of interviews in which he inadvertently admits his guilt.  This leads to his arrest for murder.

Kudos to Andrew Jarecki, Marc Smerling and Zac Stuart-Pontier.  Their research a dedication to finding the truth made for compelling television.  The Jinx deserves every accolade it has received.  I look forward to season two.

The Jinx: The Life and Deaths of Robert Durst – Season 1 (2015) rates 5 of 5 stars.