American Manhunt review: An engaging watch about the Boston marathon bombing investigation

4/5

Story: American Manhunt is a three-part docu series directed by Floyd Russ, which details the Boston Marathon bombings that occurred on April 15, 2013. The series highlights the tragedy that occurred on that day, the investigative process that led to the identification of the two suspects, Tamerlan and Dzhokhar Tsarnaev, and their subsequent capture.

Review: The documentary features interviews with key players in the investigation, such as Karen McWatters, a survivor of the bombings, Boston Police Department Superintendent Billy Evans, Police Commissioner Ed Davis, and FBI Agent Rick Deslauriers. They recount their experiences of the horrific day, from the moment the bombs went off to the eventual capture of the terrorists.

The documentary is filled with a wealth of video recordings, pictures, and radio recordings that help to bring to life the events of that day. Director Russ has balanced on-the-ground testimonials with available video and audio footage of these events, which helped to identify the Tsarnaev brothers.

The documentary is thoroughly engrossing and informative, and it provides an hour-by-hour chronicle of the attack and the all-hands-on-deck response to it by local and federal agencies. The documentary captures the intense madness and horror of the entire affair, especially the Watertown firefight between Tamerlan and Dzhokhar and the police officers, which resulted in Tamerlan's death.

However, what it lacks is clarity on the motivation behind the terrorist attack. While it is established that the two brothers did not belong to any known terrorist organisation, the documentary fails to provide a clear answer as to why they carried out the deadly act. It ends without an explanation from the terrorists themselves, which leaves the viewer wanting more.

Despite this, American Manhunt is a compelling documentary that amplifies the material's intimate, up-close-and-personal perspective. Danny Meng's commentary, like that of Kevin and Karen McWatters, does much to amplify the material's emotional impact.

Verdict: American Manhunt is a gripping and informative documentary that provides a detailed account of the Boston Marathon bombings. The documentary is filled with interviews with key players in the investigation, and it is complemented by a wealth of video recordings, pictures, and radio recordings that help to bring to life the events of that day.

While the lack of a clear motivation behind the terrorist attack is a minor drawback, the documentary is still a must-watch for anyone interested in true crime stories.