Eliza lam8/10/2023 Perhaps it would've been beneficial to Morbid's filmmaking career if his work had been acknowledged in the Netflix docuseries, especially when considering that his testimonies are fundamentally about his music career being damaged by online rumors.Ĭrime Scene exploits the investigative angle of the Lam case, rather than beginning with all the facts. By refusing to acknowledge Vergara's filmmaking accomplishments, Crime Scene positions him as an amateur professional, just like the featured sleuths. After winning a scholarship to the New York Film Academy in 2016, Vergara directed numerous short films and won Best International Fictional Film at FICIME Festival for Necromurder (2018), along with Best Music at the Shockfest International Film Festival. ![]() The series frames Vergara as a random Mexican musician that sleuths found online, but doesn't inform audiences that he's actually an accomplished filmmaker who has received notable awards for his work. Crime Scene episode 4, "The Hard Truth, features on-camera commentaries from Vergara, who discusses the online backlash that nearly destroyed his music career and caused him to attempt suicide. Sleuths also found a video of Vergara documenting his experiences at the Cecil Hotel, and thus made the connection that he was present at the same time as Lam, when in fact he was there one year prior. His death metal persona as Morbid caused concern for many web investigators, as both his songs and complementary music videos reference murder. Crime Scene reminds audiences about the dangers of amateur detectives who stray too far from the facts, but doesn't provide any meaningful analysis about what such people have to gain, whether it's fame, notoriety, or emotional healing.Ĭrime Scene episode 3, "Down the Rabbit Hole," reveals how the aforementioned Vergara was targeted by online sleuths as Lam's possible killer. We know what happened to Lam, and why, so what does Crime Scene reveal about the sleuths? The Netflix docuseries includes an appearance from musician/Lam suspect Pablo Vergara (aka Morbid), who attempted to kill himself due to relentless online bullying, and those brief scenes are seemingly used to acknowledge the concept that trolling people with circumstantial evidence isn't a wise decision. ![]() Berlinger's production ultimately reveals the truth about Lam's death, but only after nearly four hours of people speculating about conspiracy theories when they already know what happened to begin with, at least when agreeing to appear in the production. In Crime Scene, the web sleuths help round out the story, but there's little attempt by the filmmakers to pinpoint their motivations beyond their basic curiosity. Related: The Vanishing at the Cecil Hotel: American Horror Story Connection Explained On February 19, 2013, Lam's body was discovered in a water tank atop the Cecil Hotel, which only added to the mystery. Berlinger's Netflix documentary covers the appropriate cultural context, at least in terms of explaining the significance of the Cecil Hotel and its relationship to Los Angeles mythology. On February 15, 2013, the LAPD released a surveillance video of Lam acting erratically in a Cecil Hotel elevator, which ultimately went viral and prompted online sleuths to break down each and every frame. In January 2013, the 21-year-old Canadian student disappeared while staying at the infamous Cecil Hotel, a downtown Los Angeles building that's located in the Skid Row section of the city. ![]() To be fair, Lam's story can't be told without acknowledging the various conspiracy theories about her fateful trip to Los Angeles. Rather than providing audiences with the facts and then moving onto conspiracy theories, Joe Berlinger's four-part Netflix documentary steadily focuses on Los Angeles lore and online "sleuths," resulting in a thin exploration of the mental health issues that contributed to Lam's tragic death. Crime Scene: The Vanishing at the Cecil Hotelleaves out important information while sensationalizing the Elisa Lam case.
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