Fred and Rose West: A British Horror Story has jumped to number one of the most watched TV content a few days after its Netflix debut.
Filmmaker Dan Dewsbury's three-part documentary is the latest true crime programme hitting the streamer, revealing new details of the harrowing real-life case that rocked the UK in the 1990s.
The doc delves into Fred West's murders of at least 12 women, including daughter Heather, whose remains were found under the patio of the Wests' Gloucester home in 1994 after the police were tipped off by social services.
Finding Heather's remains kicked off the investigation which uncovered Fred's series of brutal rapes and killings which, in most cases, actively involved his second wife, Rose.
Reflecting on the appeal of true crime and the reasons why he would approach such a delicate subject, Dewsbury said he intended to "change" the typical true crime audience.
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"The reason why I stand by this series is because I know I've done it the right way," he said in an interview with The Independent.
"I'm not a salacious person. I want to bring the biggest audience to this, but I also want to make that audience understand there is a different POV. There is an audience who watch a lot of true crime. That is the audience that I wanted to change."
On his Instagram, the documentarian also noted how he wanted to give a platform to the families of the victims and others who had been directly affected by the Wests' horrific masterplan, sharing some of the responses he's received by family members who've watched the series.
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"There's been a lot to say over past couple of days. Incredibly proud of the series we've made and seeing it at No1 makes me feel that it did what we wanted it to," Dewsbury wrote.
"When you make things like this you have to clear eyed about why you are doing them. For me, it was about getting the families voices out there.
"Catharsis can come in many forms and I know films like this have an ability to do it."
Fred and Rose West: A British Horror Story is streaming on Netflix.
Reporter, Digital Spy
Stefania is a freelance writer specialising in TV and movies. After graduating from City University, London, she covered LGBTQ+ news and pursued a career in entertainment journalism, with her work appearing in outlets including Little White Lies, The Skinny, Radio Times and Digital Spy.
Her beats are horror films and period dramas, especially if fronted by queer women. She can argue why Scream is the best slasher in four languages (and a half).
