Paradise Lost 2: Revelations (2000)

The case of the West Memphis Three, its questionable circumstances and the parties involved are followed up years later.

Directors:

Joe Berlinger, Bruce Sinofsky

Stars:

Damien Wayne Echols, Melissa Byers, Norris Deajon

Nominated for 1 Primetime Emmy. Another 2 wins.

Cast

Cast overview, first billed only:
Damien Wayne Echols	...	Self
Melissa Byers	...	Self (archive footage)
Norris Deajon	...	Self
Tim Sullivan	...	Self (archive sound)
Chris Worthington	...	Self
John Mark Byers	...	Self
Kathy Bakken	...	Self
Burk Sauls	...	Self
Jason Baldwin	...	Self
Jessie Misskelley	...	Self (as Jessie Miskelly)
Debra Shue	...	Self
Grove Pashley	...	Self
Anna Masek	...	Self
Ruth Carter	...	Self
Bill Pritcherson	...	Self

Storyline

In 1994, three nonconformist boys in West Memphis, Arkansas were convicted for a horrific triple child murder. However, the original film shows how questionable evidence and a prejudiced community instead led to an apparent miscarriage of justice. The producers return to West Memphis to meet the Three again and the grassroots movement that has arisen to exonerate the Three. However, the father of one of the victims, John Mark Byers, is profiled as well as he belligerently asserts the three's guilt even as new evidence and his own criminal record draws suspicion on himself.

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Plot Keywords:

scene of the crime | evidence | west memphis three | west memphis arkansas | triple child murder | 

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Genres:

Documentary | Crime

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Certificate:

Unrated

Did You Know?

Trivia

The only film of the trilogy to be a TV project instead of receive a theatrical release.

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Goofs

At one point the on-screen date for a trial scene is listed as January of 1993. The murders didn't occur until May of that year.

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Connections

Followed by Paradise Lost 3: Purgatory (2011)

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Soundtracks

The Outlaw Tom
Performed by Metallica
Written by James Hetfield and Lars Ulrich

User Reviews

Good documentary on a travesty of justice

One has to have seen Paradise Lost to appreciate this follow up. This is not about a movie, but the lives of three obviously innocent youths. I was interested in seeing what the "new evidence" consisted of, but was some what disappointed. The movie never really delved into that in detail, or at least to my satisfaction. The judge who sat in the original trial, and over saw the appeal, was obviously from a single trunk family tree. I over see a forensic lab and even I could see the obvious bite marks; flat belt buckles don't wrap around into a recessed eye sockets. And the primary investigator must have gotten his training through mail order; he would be a joke if it wasn't for the seriousness of the situation. Mark Byers is a stereotypical Arkansas inbreed hillbilly who, in my opinion, was directly involved with his son's murder. The polygraph was a farce at best since a convincing liar, which he is, can beat one anytime. How many versions of losing his teeth did he give? And the revelations of him selling drugs and contributing to the delinquency of a minor say a lot about his character. He claims to be a bible toting Christian believer, but his language and cursing say different. I get angry every time I think of the injustice meted out to the WM3. But then as a prime example of what comes out of Arkansas is the former president, Clinton, who lied, had sex with an intern in the Oval Office, almost was impeached and God only knows what else. I urge all to contribute $$$$, as I did, to the WM3's defense fund.

Details

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Release Date:

12 March 2001 (USA)

Also Known As:

Revelations: Paradise Lost 2

Filming Locations:

West Memphis, Arkansas, USA

Company Credits

Production Co:

Creative Thinking International Ltd., Hand to Mouth Productions, Home Box Office (HBO)

Technical Specs

Color:

Color