'The Motive' Review: Teen murderer's crime still unsolved, twist keeps you on the edge
Trigger Warning: Graphic content
Netflix's newest crime thriller, an Israeli documentary of 4 episodes, tells the horrifying story of a 14-year-old teenager who murdered both his parents and older sisters, with his father's rifle, while they were still asleep. The incident took place in Jerusalem in 1968, and to this day, we don't know what made him carry out the heinous act against his own family.
It is advised that you watch the documentary only if you're capable of digesting the unexpected. The graphic images, videos, and live footage of the crime scene leave a lasting impression, and make you wonder how a family's favorite would be the cause of their tragic death.
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As if the incident in itself isn't terrifying enough, tons of unanswered questions remain, as the series walks us through the boy's hearing, court cases, his time at a reform school, and what people he knew had to say about him.
As shown on Netflix, the teen boy, unnamed all through the 4 half-hour episodes of the documentary, felt no regret, remorse, or any emotion whatsoever, throughout the years of his case, even to this very day. His teacher at school, Mazal Freige, had nothing but good things to say about the boy. She mentioned that he was very smart, did well in every subject and got along well with both teachers and students, with the biggest smile on his face.
Friends from school, Yatzek and Yaniv, sent books (so he could be up to date with his studies, as he wanted to) and letters to him, showing their full support, not believing the news because they knew their friend so well, and wanting to see him soon.
Shmuel Chefer, a teacher at the reform school the boy was sent to, added that the school had a psychiatrist come and visit the boy once a week, so as to make him feel guilty and hold him accountable for his actions. On the contrary, the boy seemed as cheerful and nonchalant as ever, even smiling and giggling amongst the police.
What's all the more intriguing is when the murderer's defence attorney Yossi Arnon took up the case, he never discussed his plans with his partner. Instead, he kept the boy updated throughout. The kid's only wish was to claim that it was manslaughter and not a murder; if it's the former, he will be eligible to be the sole heir and inherit all of his family's wealth. Arnon granted his client's wish.
What keeps you at the edge of your seat through the documentary is when the lawyer keeps saying, "If you knew the reason that I think, and I know, actually, then you'd understand everything. It solves everything" to the interviewer.
The lawyer also added that the boy is now a grown man and is living a rather decent life, after having inherited his family's money, has a family of his own and a good job.
The last few minutes of the final episode will leave you completely stunned - to see a jovial-looking grown man, trying his luck at windsurfing classes. Among the crowd of beginners, only one woman, Irit Hacham Shalem, was able to identify her former classmate from Jerusalem, who courted her during their time in school. She froze and wondered why he wasn't in a much less scenic and ideal place than where he is right now.
In conclusion, it is understood that in order to keep his name and the client-attorney privilege safe, Yossi Arnon couldn't and hasn't spilled the beans till date. For more than 35 years, only he and the murderer know why he committed the crime.