- Dan S Turpin15. Oktober 2026**DEVIL’S KNOT (2013)** *Devil’s Knot* is a terrific crime drama about the notorious West Memphis Three case, a story so disturbing, so riddled with unanswered questions and questionable police work, that it hardly needs the assistance of a Hollywood screenwriter. In 1993, three eight-year-old boys were brutally murdered in West Memphis, Arkansas. Three teenagers were subsequently convicted, largely amid an atmosphere of suspicion, fear, and hysteria over supposed satanic activity. Nearly two decades later, the three men were released from prison, their convictions technically remaining intact. The question that haunted the original investigation remains unanswered: Who murdered those children? Director Atom Egoyan approaches the material with admirable restraint. He is less interested in manufacturing suspense than in examining how an investigation can go terribly wrong when public outrage, prejudice, and the desperate need to find someone guilty begin to take precedence over the evidence. The film's most disturbing moments are not necessarily those involving the murders, but those in which otherwise reasonable people become convinced of something they cannot possibly know. Colin Firth is excellent as Ron Lax, a private investigator who begins questioning the prosecution's case. Firth gives a thoughtful, understated performance, suggesting a man increasingly troubled by what he discovers. Reese Witherspoon is equally convincing as Pam Hobbs, the mother of one of the murdered boys. She wisely avoids the temptation to turn grief into a series of dramatic outbursts. Her performance is controlled, deeply felt, and all the more effective because of it. Both actors deserved serious consideration for awards recognition. What I particularly admire about *Devil's Knot* is its respect for the underlying facts. There are, of course, dramatic liberties, as there are in virtually every film based on actual events. But Egoyan generally avoids the cheap embellishments, invented conspiracies, and convenient revelations that so often undermine true-crime pictures. He understands that the facts themselves are compelling enough. Some viewers may be disappointed that the film offers no definitive solution. I would argue that this is precisely its strength. A lesser picture might have manufactured a villain, supplied a confession, or arranged its evidence into a satisfying final revelation. *Devil's Knot* refuses to do that. It leaves us with the uncomfortable realization that three young boys were murdered, three teenagers spent nearly eighteen years in prison, and the identity of the killer or killers remains officially undetermined. That is not a particularly satisfying ending, but it is an honest one. 2011, the three boys were released with the real killer still unknown.
- The Gutter Monkey28. Mai 2025A technically bad, ethically disgusting work of fiction defending 3 men who murdered a group of 8-year-olds in 1993.
- MaxRider7. Mai 2026Slow, heavy, and bleak. It’s a depressing watch about the West Memphis Three case. Solid acting, but the movie feels emotionally draining.
- Sharon Henry9. April 2026Very Sad
- angeltread12. März 2026*Listens to “Free the Three” by Zao.
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Devil's Knot - Im Schatten der Wahrheit wurde am 9. Mai 2013 veröffentlicht.
Regie in Devil's Knot - Im Schatten der Wahrheit führte(n) Atom Egoyan.
Devil's Knot - Im Schatten der Wahrheit hat eine Spielzeit von 1 Std., 54 Min..
Devil's Knot - Im Schatten der Wahrheit wurde produziert von Elizabeth Fowler, Richard Saperstein, Clark Peterson, Paul Harris Boardman, Christopher Woodrow.
Memphis, 1993: Drei Kinder verabreden sich zum Spielen im Wald, doch sie kehren nie zurück. Die Jungs werden - brutal ermordet - in einem Waldstück aufgefunden. Pam Hobbs ist die Mutter eines der Kinder und wohnt in einer extrem religiösen Gemeinde in der Nähe des Tatorts. Nach der Tat zerbricht die Frau beinahe an den emotionalen Qualen, bis sie sich besinnt und nach Gerechtigkeit verlangt. Als sie drei ältere Jungen aus der Gemeinde verdächtigt, die Tat begangen zu haben, distanziert sich auch die Gemeinde mehr und mehr von der Frau, die ihre Behauptungen und Beschuldigungen im Affekt aufstellt. Die Skepsis wird von dem Privatdetektiv Ron Lax geteilt, der tiefergehende Nachforschungen anstellt, um den Täter zu schnappen. Dabei stellt sich der Verdacht eines satanischen Rituals nur als Spitze des Eisbergs heraus…
Die Hauptcharaktere in Devil's Knot - Im Schatten der Wahrheit sind Ron Lax (Colin Firth), Pam Hobbs (Reese Witherspoon), Chris Morgan (Dane DeHaan).
Devil's Knot - Im Schatten der Wahrheit ist bewertet mit 12.
Devil's Knot - Im Schatten der Wahrheit ist eine Drama, Biography, Krimi Film.
Devil's Knot - Im Schatten der Wahrheit hat eine Benutzerbewertung von 3.9 von 10.
Devil's Knot - Im Schatten der Wahrheit hatte ein Budget von 15 Mio. $.
Devil's Knot - Im Schatten der Wahrheit erzielte Einnhamen von 2 Mio. $ an den Kinokassen.