On November 17, 1978, in a town known as Speedway in Indianapolis, a tragic and unexplainable event occurred at a popular fast-food restaurant, Burger Chef. After a busy night in the restaurant, the four staff members on duty suddenly went missing while closing the shop and cleaning up. The police later discovered that the safe had been cracked open and money was missing. Initially, the police suspected that the staff members had left early to go to a club with cash, but two days later, their bodies were found in Johnson County. Ruth and Danny were shot execution-style, Jayne was stabbed twice in the chest, and Mark was beaten.
The film introduces the terrible event and provides viewers with facts and in-depth details about the abduction that occurred that evening. Throughout the film, reenactments are also shown, offering insight and multiple theories about the event and who may be responsible. To this day, no one has been held accountable for the murders, and the film strongly suggests that someone, somewhere, knows what happened.
The Speedway Murders (2023) is a documentary film that will appeal to fans of true crime stories and unsolved mysteries. It marks the directorial debut of Adam Kamien and Luke Rynderman, and they are clearly passionately hoping that this documentary may help bring the person (or persons) responsible to light.
To tell us the story, there are numerous interviews mingled together with reenactments. The interviews throughout feature individuals involved in The Speedway Murderscase and witnesses who observed essential details around the time of the crime. Notable interviews include Todd McComas, a former Indiana State Police Detective; Theresa Jeffries, Ruth’s sister; Kirk Thompson, a friend of Mark; and Detective James Cramer, the former lead investigator who dedicated approximately twenty-one years to the case. These interviews are a significant film highlight, providing in-depth insights into the crime as various people share their testimonies and heart-wrenching facts. As an audience, it’s nearly impossible not to be impacted by these interviews.
Many of the hard-hitting facts are retold using reenactments with skilled actors. These reenactments throughout the second act show various theories and opinions about the crime. While the reenactments are welcomed and clever, some lines of the dialogue in these scenes felt less compelling. I found the feature far more engaging and mind-blowing when the film was more focused on presenting factual details. Ultimately, the final message expresses hope that justice for these four young people will one day be served.
Overall, if you’re a fan of true crime stories, The Speedway Murders offers an in-depth look at a heartbreaking and shocking unsolved crime. The documentary presents hard-hitting facts, uses reenactments with actors to provide clear insight, and effectively recreates the time period with its setting and location. Interviews with witnesses and those involved in the case add to the compelling drama of the film. While the documentary introduces various theories about the crime, I found the film more engaging when it presented more factual details. The film’s end message is clear, touching, and gripping, expressing the hope that someone, somewhere, knows what happened and will one day step forward.
The Speedway Murders (2023) is now available on Digital and will be available on Blu-ray starting December 4th!
7.4/10
22nd September 2024
Written by Peter Walkden
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