900 Days Without Anabel

This documentary about a missing persons case from Spain is based on an intriguing incident from the 1990s. On paper, the case itself holds significant potential for a compelling and gripping story. However, the execution of the documentary leaves much to be desired. The primary issue lies in its heavy reliance on the perspectives of the police officers involved in the investigation. While their insight is undoubtedly valuable, it results in an extremely one-sided narrative that lacks balance or depth.

At first, the documentary starts off quite promising, drawing the audience in with the mystery and the drama surrounding the case. However, as it progresses, it gradually loses its momentum and becomes increasingly tedious to watch. By the end, it feels repetitive and fails to deliver any real payoff. One of the most glaring omissions is the lack of information about the kidnappers' motives. Without this crucial perspective, the story feels incomplete, leaving the audience with more questions than answers. A key element of any good true crime documentary is to explore the psychological or circumstantial factors that drove the perpetrators to commit their crimes. Here, this vital aspect is entirely overlooked, making the documentary feel shallow and unsatisfying.

Another major flaw is the way the police are portrayed. Throughout the documentary, it seems as though the officers are using this platform to absolve themselves of any mistakes they made during the investigation. There is an air of defensiveness in their interviews, as if their primary goal is to justify their actions rather than to shed light on the case itself. This self-serving tone undermines the credibility of the documentary and detracts from its overall purpose. It feels less like an objective retelling of events and more like an attempt to rewrite history from the police's perspective.

Back in the 1990s, this case sparked a massive media frenzy and captured the public's attention for months. Given the cultural and historical impact of the case, the documentary does have some merit. It is an important story to revisit and document, especially for those who are unfamiliar with it. However, the decision to stretch the story into a three-part series feels excessive and unnecessary. The content simply does not justify this length. A single 90-minute film would have been more than sufficient to cover the key events, provide necessary context, and deliver a compelling narrative. Instead, the documentary feels bloated, with too much filler and not enough substance.

When compared to other true crime documentaries available on Netflix, this one falls far short. Netflix has produced some truly outstanding and captivating documentaries in this genre, with well-rounded storytelling, strong investigative journalism, and a knack for keeping the audience engaged from start to finish. Unfortunately, this documentary fails to meet those standards. It lacks the tension, the depth, and the sense of closure that viewers have come to expect from high-quality true crime content.

In the end, this documentary feels like a missed opportunity. The case itself had all the elements of a great story: mystery, drama, and significant media coverage. But instead of delivering a well-rounded and compelling narrative, the filmmakers chose to focus almost exclusively on the police's version of events, leaving out critical perspectives and context. The result is a flat and uninspired retelling that does little to honor the complexity of the case or the impact it had on the people involved.

For those who are die-hard fans of true crime and are curious about this particular case, the documentary might still hold some value. But for anyone looking for a gripping, well-made, and insightful true crime series, this is not the one to watch. It lacks the depth and polish that make the best documentaries in the genre so memorable. Ultimately, this documentary fails to live up to its potential and is not one I would recommend. Save your time and explore some of the more engaging and better-executed true crime offerings that Netflix has to offer.