True crime podcasts took podcast and pop culture by storm a few years back and one of the biggest is definitely “Serial.” Maybe true crime podcasts have been turned into movies or series, or what have you, but for “The Case Against Adnan Syed,” the case of a 1999 disappearance and murder of 18-year-old Baltimore County high school student, and the subsequent conviction of her ex-boyfriend— brought to global attention by the hugely popular “Serial” podcast—feels like a kind of documentary adaptation that doesn’t look to be much different from the podcast itself. Perhaps it’s just putting a visual to what you may already know (true crime podcasts are not for me, but even I’ve heard this episode, it’s that well known).
Further fascinating is that the doc is made by Amy Berg, perhaps not as well-known as the foremost American documentarian, but worthy of the tile. Working at a very quick clip in recent years, Berg has had a terrific run of documentaries in the last few years—”West of Memphis” (2012), “An Open Secret” (2014), the dramatic David Fincher-esque drama “Every Secret Thing” (2014), “Prophet’s Prey” (2015) and “Janis: Little Girl Blue” (2015).
It’s been a long time coming, really, Berg regaining this kind of recognition and acclaim because her first documentary, “Deliver Us from Evil,” about sex abuse cases in the Roman Catholic Church, was nominated for an Academy Award, but that was far back in 2006 and there was a big six-year gap in between ‘Evil and “West Of Memphis.” Later this year, we’ll likely see ” This Is Personal,” her documentary about the ongoing Women’s March which mobilized millions of women to protest after the inauguration of President Trump in 2017. That doc premiered at Sundance earlier this year, but “The Case Against Adnan Syed,” is an HBO doc and coming out soon. Here’s the official synopsis
The 1999 murder of 18-year-old Baltimore County high school student Hae Min Lee, and the subsequent conviction of her ex-boyfriend, Adnan Syed, were brought to global attention in 2014 by the hugely popular “Serial” podcast. But there is more to the story.
Director Amy Berg (“West of Memphis,” the Oscar®-nominated “Deliver Us from Evil”), brings a fresh eye to the case and offers interviews with key players, many of whom were not featured in the original podcast. Bringing the story to life visually, she revisits the crime and follows unfolding developments from 2014 to today. The series presents new information that questions the state’s case, and draws on exclusive access to essential characters, including new audio recordings of Syed from prison, the defense team, the Syed family, friends and teachers of Hae Min Lee, private investigators and members of Baltimore City law enforcement, examining how Syed’s trial and subsequent conviction in 2000 raised as many questions as they answered.
A four-part documentary series, “The Case Against Adnan Syed,” debuts Sunday, March 10 (9:00-10:00 p.m. ET/PT), exclusively on HBO. Watch the trailer below.