It seems that crime drama documentaries are the thing these
days. With the success of MAKING A MURDERER on Netflix the network has gone on
to make more of these shows which focus on some crime that’s taken place and
then covering it from every angle possible. The end result is that water cooler
discussions on Monday find people arguing for and against the subject at hand.
Now a series is out that pokes fun at the entire genre and does it well. Meet AMERICAN
VANDAL.
Season one of the mockumentary is out on disc and it is
something to be enjoyed not in binge watching fashion but slowly so you can
talk about what you’ve seen in each episode. The story focuses on Dylan
Maxwell, a prankster of the highest fashion who’s been accused of spray
painting penises on 27 cars in the parking lot of Hanover High School while
teachers were in a training session. Dylan claims he is innocent but his past
behavior doesn’t lean anyone to believe him. An investigation by the school
board leads to his expulsion.
But not everyone is certain that Dylan did it. Two students
who work in the school television news program, sophomore Peter Maldonado and
his friend Sam Ecklund, wonder if perhaps Dylan was being set up or not. They take
it upon themselves to investigate and look deeper into the goings on at Hanover
High.
Each episode shows us a different school pupil or teacher
and their possible motives from framing Dylan. At the same time the evidence
against Dylan is there as well. But the question that keeps popping up while
watching is how convenient all the evidence is, that there were people who just
didn’t like Dylan on the school staff and there were people who weren’t happy
having been the object of his pranks in the past.
While watching the series I was at first skeptical. The
first episode didn’t grab me like I was hoping it would. By the end of the
second episode I found myself in one of those places where I wondered if I
couldn’t just maybe stay up late and squeeze in another episode before going to
sleep. But I knew it would end up being the same at the end of that episode so
I opted for bed. If you start this series early enough odds are you’ll binge
watch it.
I’d suggest that instead you gather a group of friends and
discuss each episode afterwards. Talk about the pros and cons and try and
decipher who it was that drew the “d*ck pics” on the cars. Discuss the guilt or
innocence of each character. Then break to think about it and gather again to
watch the next episode the following week.
I found the series to be hilarious. There were moments I had
to pause I was laughing so hard. At the same time this is high school styled
humor at points and the gross out aspect shouldn’t be lost on those going in.
Expect it and know it’s coming and you won’t be so offended. Instead you’ll be
amazed at how they’ve taken what is supposed to be a stupid prank that becomes
this in depth filmed investigation and make it seem exactly like all the other
true crime shows airing these days. Great acting, great writing and great
directing make this one to watch and enjoy.
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