Essay Example on Dream/Killer: True Story of Wrongful Conviction in 2015 Documentary

The film "Dream/Killer" is a documentary that was produced in 2015. It narrates a true story about a false conviction. Ryan Ferguson, a19-year-old, is wrongfully arrested for murder. Andrew Jenks directs the film. It has a runtime of 109 minutes, and the main actors are Kevin Crane, Bill Ferguson, and Chuck Erickson. The storyline is based on a true event, which is traced in 2005 when Ryan Ferguson was sentenced to 40 years in prison for a crime he did not commit (Airey, 2019). His parents, who were at the time divorced, decided to work together and prove Ferguson's innocence. The plot of the movie is expressed through crime scene photos of the murder victim. The film is not only about Ferguson's family troubles with their son, but how vulnerable American citizens are to inept lawyers, corrupt cops, and a judicial system that is hostile to the idea of justice.

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The documentary "Dream/Killer" basically addresses a father's battle to free his wrongfully convicted son. It elicits varying extents of frustrations, astonishment, and disbelief. Ryan's father, Bill Ferguson, is described as an army man born and raised in Missouri. He has never been a man who backs away from an impediment. In the early scenes of the movie, he is shown to be traveling across the globe, pretending to be a welder. Bill Ferguson is as well portrayed as a teacher at an aboriginal school in Australia (Airey, 2019). He spends some time with two of his kids, Kelly and Ryan. However, after Ryan is charged and convicted for murder on wrong accounts, Bill takes on a long journey for justice against the American judicial system.

The storyline of the entire narration is traced to Colombia Daily Tribune in Missouri, where Kent Heitholt, a journalist, was found beaten and dead. The incident occurred in 2001and two years later; the police arrested a first suspect Charles Erickson, a man in an impaired mental state. Erickson, who was a drug abuser and suffered multiple blackouts, offered a confession that implicated Ryan Ferguson. He stated that "he dreamt about the crime but couldn't remember it (Airey, 2019)." Ferguson, who was 17 years old at the time of the killing, was charged with murder despite Erickson's unreliability. Besides, there was no physical evidence linking Erickson to the murder of Heitholt.

After Ferguson's conviction, his father began analyzing the crime scene and the trial process as he believed that his son was innocent. In the process, Bill uncovers inappropriate acts that surrounded the trial process. First, he realizes that there were witness intimidation and coercion by the prosecution (Hardy, 2015). Also, there was a wide-range omission of evidence. Finally, the interrogation process was deeply flawed, and this was evident in many instances. Bill Ferguson and his ex-wife combined effort to free their son. They contacted Kathleen Zellner, a lawyer, to review the case. After that, they began a long and successful campaign for justice. The film shows their dedication as an inspiration to fairness in the judicial system. Andrew Jenks, the director, draws motivation from various scenes. As a result, the viewers of the documentary obtain the true expressions of the film.

The storyline structure of the documentary is as well impressive. There are prompt physical reactions that are expressed through outraged exhalation. However, a few details in the film are symbolic. For instance, "dream/killer" is made frightening and fast-paced. This portrayal is crucial to the viewers as it makes them not want to end up like Ryan Ferguson. Zellner states in the scene that "Trust me: This could happen to you (Hardy, 2015)." Such a statement makes narration to appear sad. Nevertheless, everything that happens in the documentary is true and can be experienced in real life. The storyline is as well marked by the chain of events that led to Ferguson's arrest. On the night in 2001, when the journalists got murdered, Ryan Ferguson was out partying with his friend Charles Erikson. However, after two and a half years, he received an anonymous 911 call suggesting he was involved in the killing. Ferguson denied such claims and said he knew nothing about the crime.

Erikson was, however, confident that Ferguson was involved; the only contradiction was that he admitted having blacked out on drugs and alcohol the night of the murder. The interrogation room videos showed manipulation of Erickson's testimony by the detectives. The detectives fed him information that he did not know about the killing. The other scenes reveal Bill Ferguson's recount of how they campaign for the release of their son. They began searching for evidence as the initial defense lawyer they hired was incompetent (Hardy, 2015). Ryan had been in jail for five years when Kathleen Zellner came across his case. This scene is shown with various emotional appeal. The elder Ferguson appears sympathetic with the way he handles his search for evidence.

Conclusion

In conclusion, the film discloses unlocked buried memories regarding a true event. It also features original interviews that led to the release of Ryan Ferguson. Bill Ferguson talked to newscasters and legal experts who covered the trial. Jenks shows the events that occurred from the footage of the police car when Ryan Ferguson was first arrested. The storyline structure illustrates the occurrence of every event that makes the viewers understand what occurred in the murder case. Also, the characters have an accurate imitation of the story that is being narrated. Such an attribute can allude to the excellent work of the direct Andrew Jenks. Every scene is made to create a particular mood. There is a remorseful feeling obtained when the family is trying to seek justice. When Ryan is released, there is some sign of relief expressed. This documentary is not like the fictional TV cop shows that display meanness, willful, and disregard of the law. It is a real-life horror story that highlights one of the injustices that is uncovered in the American Judicial System.

References

Airey, J. (2019). Documentary Review: Dream/Killer (2015). BookLocker. https://jacobairey.blog/2019/12/09/documentary-review-dream-killer-2015/

Hardy, E. (2015). Must See Wrongful Conviction Doc 'Dream/Killer' Indicts a System. Film Reviews. https://www.villagevoice.com/2015/12/01/must-see-wrongful-conviction-doc-dreamkiller-indicts-a-system/