DVD Review: Paradise Lost 2: Revelations Prove Me Guilty!

Just few short days ago I viewed a DVD HBO Documentary called Paradise Lost, and became so enthralled with the horrific story that I had to dig a little deeper to see what other people were talking about online, in forums, and in blogs.

The first DVD Paradise Lost: The Child Murders At Robin Hood Hills, featured an awful story about 3 young 8 year old boys being murdered and tortured for some satanic ritual.

3 Older teens were accused of the murders because one boy, Jessie admitted to lending a helping hand in killing the boys. He claimed he, Damien, and Jason were all involved in the murders of the children.

However the conspiracy is that Jessie was pressured into admitting his and his friends guilt. There is also the huge fact that there is no way in hell these boys were murdered in the woods without a single drop of blood showing up. Basically these boys bodies were dumped here, and Jessie's story in no way could be true (murdering them in the woods), without a drop of blood or evidence at the supposed murder scene.

I must say that after viewing the first documentary I was pretty convinced that the 3 teens were as guilty as sin. Displaying my middle finger up at the TV, cussing at my TV... yeah crazy stuff.
 
After digging into online forums though, seeing new evidence and hearing about a part 2 to the documentary, I had to of course go out and rent the second documentary to see what had gone on since 1993, and since their convictions in 1994. (Jurors found them all guilty. Damien is to be killed by lethal injection, while Jason and Jessie will serve life terms plus 40 years).

My mind is slightly shifting though. I'm not saying I think that Damien, Jessie, and Jason are innocent- but I will say that this case should definitely be re-examined, at least to make 100% sure that the boys in jail belong there, or not.

Anyhow, Paradise Lost 2: Revelations fast forwards quite a few years and we once again meet up with the 3 teens, only this time not in the court rooms- in prison. The focus of this film is to try and prove their innocence. Fair enough... but I will say that it is done in a very one sided way.
 
True there was a lack of evidence that cause the 3 boys to be convicted... but I must say that I did not like how the film leaned primarily on Byers guilt (Byer's is one of the victims fathers).

Although the guy has some major screws loose, and the fact that he does seem to put on quite a staged show for cameras... I find it a tad bit disturbing that this man has to walk through life everyday having supporters of the convicted hounding him, and sort of accusing him of something he possibly didn't do.

Now I'm not saying he is guilty or innocent- that was and is for courts to decide. I will say hounding someone and speaking to them as if YOU know the truth is ridiculous. One reporter for instance accused him of having 2 faces... a line that Damien himself used while on the phone with his support group. It just seemed dumb for this guy to use the same line that Damien used to argue his cause.

Everyone has 2 faces- some have more. To point that out on camera is just totally irrelevant to whether or not Byers is guilty or innocent.

The whole documentary was good overall, but truly it only had one side, and that side of course is in support of the 3 teens accused of killing the 8 year old boys. It does, and will effect some of the viewers opinions.

I somewhat liked the film, and it did bring some new light and new evidence of bite marks found on one of the dead boys bodies. The bite marks did not match any of the accused teens, which was a huge find. However some will argue that the bite marks are belt marks. The sketchy thing about the new find is the fact that Mr. Byers has no teeth, he in front of the camera on numerous occasions had different stories about why he has no teeth. Once he claims they were knocked out in a fight, a few moments later he says he has some gum disease that caused them to rot out. His varying stories raise an eyebrow.

At the same time though one has to realize the guy has a brain tumor and is on numerous medications.

Now Mark Byer's of course is sketchy himself, his stories change, and he says certain things that truly make your eyes pop open and wonder if he is guilty of something. Then plop on the fact that his wife also turned up dead in undetermined circumstances.

All in all Paradise Lost 2: Revelations points a finger to Byer's, and it sort of bothered me. Although I do think this case needs to be looked into further, I at the same time think it was wrong to go off and try to point the finger at Byers which effects the viewer's opinions. Byer's scares the crap out of me; yes...

but the documentary was too one sided for me.

A lot of weird events and speeches have come from Byers over the years, from robbery, assault, and giving knives to children... but in all honesty these events have NOTHING to do with the case. Its sad that the film makers are trying to do to this man what was done to the 3 accused. Raise an eyebrow at circumstances that have nothing to do with the case of the 3 murdered children.

With that said though, for those who wanted a follow up to Paradise Lost, this film offers a look at the 3 teens years later, and they talk heck of a lot more giving you a better understanding on who they are, their personality's, and so on. If anything it helped their case because they truly look like 3 innocent men in prison.

Guilty or not, I think the case needs to be re-opened, because with the lack of evidence, and sketchy stories and tales told by others just do not add up.

The film is definitely worth a view. I suggest you watch part one first though to get a full understanding to what is going on.