The Jinx (TV series)

Did You Know?

• The theme song for the first season is "Fresh Blood" performed by Eels.
• The original score was composed by West Dylan Thordson with co-composition by John Kusiak.
• A musical saw, performed by Natalia Paruz, is featured throughout the series.

Synopsis

The documentary examines three events tied to real estate heir Robert Durst: his wife Kathie’s 1982 disappearance, the 2000 murder of writer Susan Berman, and the 2001 death and dismemberment of his neighbor Morris Black. Durst was a suspect in the first two cases and admitted to killing Black, though he argued self-defense and was found not guilty. The show weaves together news clips, surveillance video, police records, older interviews, and footage director Andrew Jarecki shot himself, plus modern interviews, staged reenactments, and behind-the-scenes material that highlights Jarecki’s odd relationship with Durst. In the fifth episode, Berman’s stepson Sareb Kaufman brings the filmmakers evidence Berman left behind. They notice an envelope Durst mailed to Berman in 1999 has block lettering and a misspelling of “Beverley Hills” that matches an anonymous envelope sent to police in 2000 tipping them off to Berman’s murder. The filmmakers lock both envelopes in a safety deposit box and seek a second interview with Durst. In the final episode, a handwriting expert concludes the two writings likely came from one person. Durst becomes evasive, but Jarecki eventually confronts him about the match. Durst admits the handwriting looks similar but denies writing the anonymous note. After the interview, Durst uses the bathroom with his microphone still on and mutters, “What the hell did I do? Killed them all, of course.”

Aftermath

Douglas Durst, estranged brother of Robert and head of the Durst Organization, petitioned the New York Supreme Court in January 2015 to compel Jarecki to reveal his sources, stating he was worried the series would be a violent broadside against the family name. By showing that Robert or his wife, Debrah Lee Charatan, violated a 2006 order sealing material, Douglas could sue to recover a $65 million family trust settlement. A lawyer for Douglas argued that The Jinx is a sensationalized docudrama and that its director is exempt from New York's shield law. Jarecki replied that his use of dramatic reenactments was not evidence of fictionalization. On March 14, 2015, the eve of the final episode's airing, the FBI arrested Durst in New Orleans on a first-degree murder warrant the LAPD obtained in connection to Berman's death. The Associated Press reported that the 1999 letter Durst wrote to Berman, unearthed by the filmmakers, provided key new evidence leading to the murder charges. According to The New York Times, the filmmakers sought legal advice on when to share the letter with law enforcement.

Reception

The Jinx received widespread critical acclaim and media buzz, particularly upon airing its revelatory finale. On Rotten Tomatoes, the first season has an approval rating of 96% based on 45 reviews, with the critics consensus calling it a docu-series that merits further pursuit. On Metacritic, it has a weighted average score of 76 out of 100, based on 21 critics, indicating generally favorable reviews. John Hendrickson at Esquire called the ending one of the most jaw-dropping moments in television history. Mike Hale from The New York Times said it was gut-wrenching, remarkable television. Sean T. Collins of The New York Observer called the series a documentarian's unicorn. Other critics accused the documentary of charting an uncomfortable line between storytelling and journalism. Two days after Durst's arrest and one day after the final installment aired, The New Yorker reported that the filmmakers had cancelled forthcoming interviews after being quizzed on the timeline of events. Several media outlets questioned how long the filmmakers had sat on evidence damaging to Durst before turning it over to law enforcement. Jarecki subsequently sent an explanation that evidence, including the envelope and the washroom recording, was turned over to authorities months ago.

Awards

The series earned two Primetime Creative Arts Emmys in 2015, for Outstanding Documentary or Nonfiction Series and Outstanding Picture Editing, from six total nominations. It also won a Peabody Award and the TCA Award for Outstanding Achievement in Movies, Miniseries and Specials. Producers Marc Smerling, Andrew Jarecki, and Jason Blum received the Producers Guild of America Award for Outstanding Producer of Non-Fiction Television.