The director of Netflix’s new documentary on Fred and Rose West, A British Horror Story, has defended the series following criticism that it may sensationalize the notorious crimes. In a recent interview with The Independent, filmmaker Dan Dewsbury addressed concerns about whether the three-part series was necessary or in bad taste.
Dewsbury emphasized that the project was created to respect the victims and their families, rather than to exploit the tragic events.
According to The Independent, Dewsbury was initially approached by Netflix with new police video and audio materials related to the West case. Intrigued by the fresh evidence, Dewsbury agreed to take on the project, but only under the condition that it would avoid the typical sensationalism seen in many true crime documentaries.
His main focus was to shed light on the long-term effects on the victims’ families and their emotional struggle.
In his defense, Dewsbury stated, “I wouldn’t be doing this if I didn’t believe I could do [that].” He explained that the goal was to provide a more thoughtful perspective on the crimes, helping audiences understand the ongoing trauma for the victims’ loved ones.
Dewsbury also recognized the large true crime audience, hoping to challenge their viewpoint and shift the narrative to a more empathetic lens.
This documentary is part of Netflix’s British Horror Story series, which previously covered the Jimmy Savile scandal. All three episodes of Fred and Rose West: A British Horror Story are currently streaming on the platform.
Article updated 2 weeks ago. Content is written and modified by multiple authors.
