Summary
While the filmmakers do a great job at keeping to the facts without sensationalizing the story, it’s hard not to feel a level of frustration and even anger while learning how it all unfolded.
Here is our review of the 2023 Netflix true crime documentary film Missing: The Lucie Blackman Case, released on July 26th, 2023.
Netflix’s 82-minute documentary film directed by Hyoe Yamamoto tells the lesser-known yet compelling story of how the disappearance of a British tourist in Tokyo led to the arrest and conviction of a prolific serial rapist and murderer.
The film features interviews with Japanese law enforcement, Lucie Blackman’s father, and some of the journalists involved in the case.
Missing: The Lucie Blackman Case Review
On the 1st of July, 2000, 21-year-old Lucie Blackman disappeared from the club she worked at. The former flight attendant was temporarily living in Tokyo and working as a hostess in the popular party district of Roppongi.
The film briefly explained that hostesses in Japan are young women hired to drink and flirt with much older bar patrons and encourage them to spend more in the clubs. While the role doesn’t typically involve sex work, some parts of the job put the women at risk, such as the expectation to go out for dinner with certain clients outside the club.
Lucie’s father, Tim Blackman, flew to Tokyo as soon as he heard of his daughter’s disappearance. He didn’t think the Tokyo Metropolitan Police Department was doing enough to find Lucie, so he made a point of turning the heat up with a constant stream of media interviews.
While the Japanese officers involved in Lucie’s disappearance didn’t particularly approve of Tim’s methods, the media attention does seem to have incentivized the investigation.
It turns out the suspect had been drugging and assaulting Japanese and foreign hostesses for well over a decade without anyone noticing or caring. Police complaints were filed and ignored.
One victim had passed away after an attack eight years before Lucie even went missing. Despite the suspicious death, police didn’t think it needed investigating. When the man was finally arrested, authorities found over 400 videotapes he made of the assaults.
While the filmmakers do a great job at keeping to the facts without sensationalizing the story, it’s hard not to feel a level of frustration and even anger while learning how it all unfolded.
Is Missing: The Lucie Blackman Case good or bad?
This is a solid true crime documentary about a shocking and horrific story. The film details how detectives eventually uncovered the truth behind Lucie’s disappearance, and it’s fascinating to watch.
Is Missing: The Lucie Blackman Case worth watching?
Many true crime documentaries fall into the trap of trying to ignite an emotional response from audiences. That’s not the case here.
Missing: The Lucie Blackman Case is worth watching not just for the compelling story but also for the respectful way in which it treats its subjects and, more important, the victim.
What did you think of the 2023 Netflix true crime documentary Missing: The Lucie Blackman Case? Comment below.
