True crime is a huge part of Netflix’s ongoing offerings, but Chaos: The Manson Murders

has very little of the charm and intrigue that makes the genre so captivating. Charles Manson and his disciples were responsible for some of the most heinous and high-profile murders to ever occur in Los Angeles. This story alone is gripping enough to warrant further study, but this documentary has very little in the way of actually exploring the case so much as it focuses on the conspiracies surrounding it.
Chaos: The Manson Murders tries to make sense of why the Manson family, as it was known, were so willing to follow the orders of Charles Manson and carry out brutal crimes with apparent disinterest. To do so, the film includes interviews, recordings, and readings of old documents, suggesting that the Manson Murders may be linked to covert government experiments. While this is somewhat interesting, the focus on conspiracy is less than thrilling.
Making Sense Of Chaos Fails To Inspire Further Consideration In The Manson Murders

While true crime as a genre has a loyal fanbase, it’s not exactly a perfect overlap with that of the conspiratorial crowd. Yes, some mysterious crimes lead us to dig deeper and look for patterns, but the conspiracy angle is a miss. Especially since the title does not appear to highlight that’s the direction the film goes in. As a result, a 90-minute documentary that attempts to prove and push the idea that Manson was actually a part of MK Ultra is kind of interesting, but it’s not at all engaging.

While true crime as a genre has a loyal fanbase, it’s not exactly a perfect overlap with that of the conspiratorial crowd.

The bulk of the film highlights documents and loose connections, speculation and theorization, but very little of the runtime is dedicated to the actual crimes. As much as these are sensitive topics and should be treated with respect, true crime as a genre is all about diving into a specific crime and trying to bring the facts to light. Chaos does not manage to successfully do that, as it’s clear the motivation and intention for the film are different.
But what makes that particularly frustrating here is the fact that this story is one of the most gripping in U.S. history. Charles Manson and his cult members were responsible for at least nine deaths over just a few days, with victims including incredibly famous movie stars like Sharon Tate, and a seemingly random 18-year-old boy. The facts are wild and easily worth exploring in this format, but the approach in Chaos is a non-starter.
Most Of Chaos: The Manson Murders’ Worthwhile Content Is Unpacked Early On

Netflix is prone to breaking up true-crime stories over the course of several episodes. Sometimes, the stories are adapted into a dramatization of events before providing further context, allowing audiences to decide what they think and feel. Chaos tells us what it thinks happened, with very little room for speculation. With that being said, the first third of the film does present a lot of the detail around the case before moving into the less captivating theorizations.

Chaos tells the audience what it thinks happened, with very little room for speculation.

In addition, the style and visuals of the film reflect the chaos referenced in the title. Many shots are mirrored, with two angles of a scene appearing onscreen at once. This is jarring, disorientating, and unpleasant. It was likely done to evoke feelings of restlessness and discomfort, and it worked. But why and how does this make the movie any more informative or interesting? It certainly didn’t make it more enjoyable to watch.
All that said, the film does present a lot of detail, the interviews and clips chosen appear to build a case well, and it knows what it wants to do. I just don’t think what it wants and aims to achieve makes much sense for its audience. It may resonate with those already inclined to believe in the conspiratorial side of the horrific events of Manson’s family, but even then, nothing new is presented. True crime has had better days than Chaos: The Manson Murders.

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Chaos: The Manson Murders

3/10

Release Date

March 6, 2025

Pros & Cons

The interviews and documents included appear to be well researched.

The focus of this true crime film appears to be way off.
Jarring, experimental visuals that don’t add to the overall viewing experience.