I Just Killed My Dad Review: Skye Borgman's documentary is a shattering and chilling tale of abuse

3.5/5

Story: Anthony Templet shot his father dead and confessed to the crime. But why he did it is a complex question with profound implications that go far beyond one family.

Review: It looks like director Skye Borgman is becoming a powerful voice when it comes to crime documentaries. After Abducted in Plain Sight and Girl in the Picture, here comes her latest offering, I Just Killed My Dad, in what could be called a trinity of crime documentaries. The series opens with the enactment of the murder of Burt Templet by his son, the 17-year-old Anthony Templet. Soon after the killing, Anthony calls 911 and tells the operator, "I Just Killed My Dad", thus confessing to the crime. He is later seen waiting for the police outside his house, on the road.

From the outset, something seems to be quite unusual about Anthony's demeanour. When the cop quizzes him about his date of birth, he is not sure about the date. Neither does he show any remorse or emotions after committing such a gruesome act. "I don't know if he has any empathy," we hear the attorney saying, who put together the prosecution case. Since the perpetrator of the crime here is already revealed, I Just Killed My Dad is not a whodunit, but a whydunit. Soon, the three-part series dives into Anthony's world, which reveals a series of shocking incidents that builds up to the final act of murder.

When media reports about the murder, a person involved in the case, manages to track down Netasha, who bears a striking resemblance to Anthony. It is later disclosed that Anthony was abducted from his mother Theresa's home by his father Burt Template in 2008, when he was just five years old. So, Anthony has been a missing person for over a decade. 

We learn that Anthony's father, Burt Templet, was a serial abuser, and he harassed and abused Theresa while holding Anthony in his arms. Burt's second wife, Susan, too, had left him due to constant abuse. A violent alcoholic then turned all his anger toward the son and would monitor his every move, with a tracker installed on his son's phone. Anthony was not only under constant surveillance, but was also denied access to the outside world and even an education! Having spent all his life in isolation in his room, Anthony lived a life that the very thought of it, sends a chill down the spine. 

When one of Anthony's co-workers reveals that she was shocked at Anthony's lack of general knowledge (he didn't even know who Tom Hanks or Tom Cruise was) and social skills like high-fiving, that a normal socialised adult would know of, you realise the volatile environment he was trapped in. When Burt's violence towards Anthony began to increase and he had started carrying guns in his hand, Anthony realised that his life was at risk, he shot down his father. 

Anthony is yet another victim of child abuse and his calm demeanour after the murder was the result of years of deep emotional scars inflicted on him and a life spent in isolation without anyone to look forward to for help. And when help does come his way, it's after the murders of his father.

Just like the Sharon Marshall in The Girl In the Picture, Skye Borgman keeps her focus on Anthony, without giving too much space for the perpetrators of crime. Though the documentary lags at times, you never lose your focus from Anthony. The narration tends to challenge the viewer's assumptions, too. By the end of the series, we all hope that Anthony has a bright future and he moves on from his traumatic past. The scene where he reunites with family, is a heartrending one. Towards the end, we hear Anthony saying, "I just want to live normally and move on.” And we see his eyes welling up, finally his emotions coming to the fore. Yet another brilliant work by Skye Borgman that touches you on deep, emotional level.

Verdict: A chilling and complicated tale of abuse and justice that will leave you shattered. A must watch!