Killer Inside: The Mind of Aaron Hernandez

Killer Inside: The Mind of Aaron Hernandez
Genre	True crime Documentary
Directed by	Geno McDermott
Starring	Aaron Hernandez Susan Candiotti Dan Wetzel Ryan O'Callaghan Chris Borland Leigh Bodden Jermaine Wiggins
Composer	Jeremy Turner
Country of origin	United States
Original language	English
No.of seasons	1
No.of episodes	3(list of episodes)
Production
Executive producers	Dan Wetzel Kevin Armstrong Dan DiStefano Angus Wall
Producers	Jennifer Sofio Hall Kent Kubena Terry Leonard Michael Steiner
Editors	Alex Trudeau Viriato Will Znidaric
Running time	200 minutes
Production companies	Blackfin Makemake
Original release
Network	Netflix
Release	January 15, 2020(2020-01-15)

Killer Inside: The Mind of Aaron Hernandezis a 2020 Americantrue crimedocumentary series about convicted murderer and former professionalAmerican footballplayerAaron Hernandez.The three-part documentary explores his conviction for themurder of Odin Lloyd,other murder cases in which he was a suspect, and the factors in his life that shaped his behavior. It premiered onNetflixon January 15, 2020.

Premise

Friends, officials, attorneys, journalists, and former teammates discuss the rise, fall, and eventual suicide of professional football playerAaron Hernandez(1989–2017), who was sentenced to life in prison after his conviction for the 2013murder of Odin Lloyd.

Production

In January 2017, director Geno McDermott met with journalistsDan Wetzeland Kevin Armstrong, who had both covered Hernandez's trial for the murder of Odin Lloyd and were writing a book about Hernandez.They began gathering interviews and other research for the documentary. After a year and a half, McDermott originally compiled a documentary film,My Perfect World: The Aaron Hernandez Story,that was shown at theDOC NYCfilm festival, but decided to make it a series after partnering withNetflix.

Information about Hernandez's sexuality was not included in the original film, as it was unsubstantiated. McDermott spent several days interviewing Dennis SanSoucie and his father for the documentary. They began investigatingCTEfollowing Hernandez's death, when his autopsy revealed a "severe" case of the degenerative brain disease.After Hernandez died by suicide, McDermott filed aFOIArequest to obtain recordings of Hernandez's phone calls from jail and prison.

Hernandez's immediate family "very respectfully" declined to participate.

Episodes

No.	Directed by	Original air date
1	Geno McDermott	January 15, 2020(2020-01-15)
Aaron Hernandez's life as a football star for theNew England Patriotscomes to a crashing halt following his arrest for the murder of his friendOdin Lloyd,a semi-pro football player. Journalists investigate Hernandez's early life growing up as a football star – the son of a local football legend turned abusive alcoholic – inBristol, Connecticut.His former high school quarterback, Dennis Sansoucie, reveals he and Hernandez began a sexual relationship in the seventh grade until around their junior year in high school. Police investigating the Lloyd murder discover a silver SUV linking Hernandez to an unsolved 2012 double homicide of immigrants fromCape Verdein Boston.
2	Geno McDermott	January 15, 2020(2020-01-15)
After the unexpected death of his father in 2006, Hernandez surprises his family by playing for theFlorida Gators,though his father and brother both played forthe University of Connecticut.At Florida, Hernandez shines under coachUrban Meyerand quarterbackTim Tebow,but the pressure takes its toll on the teen star and red flags emerge. In 2010, 20-year-old Hernandez is drafted by theNew England Patriotsin the fourth round, despite the reputation he earned at Florida. Friends recall Hernandez exhibiting increasing paranoia. Meanwhile, prosecutors try Hernandez for Lloyd's murder in 2013 while investigating his role in the 2012 double homicide that baffled police.
3	Geno McDermott	January 15, 2020(2020-01-15)
Hernandez's paranoia leads to him to shooting Alexander Bradley, who survives and later testifies that he witnessed him killing Daniel de Abreu and Safiro Furtado outside a Boston nightclub in 2012. At the Odin Lloyd murder trial, Patriots ownerRobert Kraftgives damning testimony that implicates Hernandez, who is found guilty of first-degree murder and sentenced to life in prison. Celebrity lawyerJose Baezrepresents Hernandez in the double homicide case, and he is acquitted. Hernandez dies by suicide days after a Boston radio stationoutshim. The autopsy reveals severeCTEdamage.

Reception

Controversy

AttorneyJose Baez,who successfully defended Hernandez in his second murder trial, strongly criticized the documentary for including audio and photos of Hernandez's young daughter, Avielle. He also said too much time was spent discussing Hernandez's sexuality. Baez was interviewed for the documentary but said he regretted taking part.

Critical response

Killer Insidehas received mostly positive reviews from critics. OnRotten Tomatoes,the series holds an approval rating of 75% based on 12 reviews, with an average rating of 7/10. The site's critical consensus reads: "Though it can't help but feel a little incomplete given the circumstances,The Killer Insidecrafts a compelling overview of a series of tragic events. "OnMetacritic,the series has a weighted average score of 75 out of 100, based on 4 critics, indicating "generally favorable reviews".

Bob HohlerofThe Boston Globecalled it a "gripping look" at Hernandez's downfall, writing, "The finest video documentary yet on the Hernandez tragedy,Killer Insideis richly enhanced by archival footage. "

Brian Lowry ofCNNwrote that there are too many variables to provide a conclusive explanation for Hernandez's downfall, but praised the insight provided by his phone calls from prison, writing, "In terms of the presentation, the most illuminating wrinkle inKiller Insideinvolves having access to audio of phone calls Hernandez made from prison, providing modest insight about his post-arrest state of mind and relationships with those closest to him. "

Ashlie D. Stevens ofSalonpraised the series for putting CTE in the spotlight, writing, "But perhaps more captivatingly,Killer Insidetakes an objective look at chronic traumatic encephalopathy (CTE) – a neurodegenerative disease caused by head injuries – and how that changes or inhibits brain function and impulse control. "

External links

• Killer Inside: The Mind of Aaron HernandezatIMDb
• Killer Inside: The Mind of Aaron HernandezonNetflix
• Killer InsideonRotten Tomatoes