True crime is a genre of television that aims to educate those who wish to learn about some of the more intense crimes of the world. These shows aren't just about the people who did horrible things, but also help us learn about the heroes who eventually stopped additional crimes from happening, or who are doing all they can to bring criminals to justice. One of the newer stories that people have taken a liking to is on Netflix, called Sophie: A Murder in West Cork.
When it comes to true crime, there are plenty of shows like Sophie: A Murder in West Cork, each with its own story to tell. From cases of unsolved murders to stories of serial killers, Netflix has a lot of options if true crime interests you – here are some of the best to watch if you enjoyed Sophie: A Murder in West Cork.
The Keepers
Sister Cathy was a kind woman, one who helped kids come closer to God, listened to and helped with their problems, did everything she could – until she was brutally murdered. The Keepers tells her story and the horrible circumstances that followed after her murder in Baltimore, and the secrets that were exposed about a former Catholic high school.
This is one of the best shows if you’re a fan of Sophie: A Murder in West Cork. Sister Cathy reminds me a lot of Sophie, an ordinary woman who was just living her life, until she was suddenly found dead. While Sophie’s murder was later solved after a very long time, Sister Cathy’s murder remains a mystery. It’s an intriguing case, for sure.
Stream The Keepers on Netflix.
Don’t F* With Cats: Hunting An Internet Killer
You know, I never thought I’d be into a show with a title like this, but Don’t F* With Cats: Hunting an Internet Killer is a fantastic addition to the true-crime genre. In this Netflix original, we follow the story of online justice seekers, who collectively get together to track down a man who posted a video of himself...well, you'll see, which later evolves into something much more.
What reminds me of Sophie: A Murder in West Cork in this show is the evidence with murders. The whole reason why Ian Bailey wasn’t arrested was that there was a huge scandal regarding evidence in that case, with there only being circumstantial evidence. With Don’t F* With Cats, there’s so much evidence that these random civilians online are able to collect and give to the police – some of which the cops don’t take seriously, which only leads to more disaster.
This series is a great example of what online groups can do if they truly stick together – and the justice that can be won in return.
Stream Don’t F* With Cats: Hunting an Internet Killer on Netflix.
Night Stalker: The Hunt For A Serial Killer
Oh, the Night Stalker. I feel that every true crime fan at some point in the last year binge-watched this series. Night Stalker: The Hunt for A Serial Killer follows the story of the legendary Night Stalker, a serial killer who terrorized the City of Angels and whose crimes resulted in over 15 deaths.
What really makes this series a standout for fans of Sophie: A Murder in West Cork, is that Richard Ramirez and Ian Bailey have some things in common, at least from a psychological standpoint. Besides the devil-worshipping thing that Ramirez had, both had several run-ins with the law and had plenty of issues that might have lead to them going down the path that they did.
There are definitely some stark similarities between the two.
Stream Night Stalker: The Hunt for a Serial Killer on Netflix.
Killer Inside: The Mind Of Aaron Hernandez
Considering I've always enjoyed the sports world, especially football, hearing the story of Aaron Hernandez really shocked me. Killer Inside: The Mind of Aaron Hernandez covers the story of Aaron Hernandez, a former professional football player who was convicted for murdering Odin Lloyd.
What makes this series stand out to me as a fan of Sophie: A Murder in West Cork is the switch in behavior someone can seem to have. This is another case where we look at the killer, who seemed to be living a completely normal life. Ian Bailey was a normal journalist, Aaron Hernandez was a regular football player, but these tiny little factors in their life lead them down this dark path. For fans of sports and true crime, I really think you’ll like this one.
Stream Killer Inside: The Mind of Aaron Hernandez on Netflix.
Carmel: Who Killed Maria Marta?
We have another still-unsolved case here. In Carmel: Who Killed Maria Marta, we find out the story of the murder of Maria Marta Garcia Belsunce, and what happened to her when she was suddenly killed.
This one hits the hardest for me when it comes to comparisons with Sophie: A Murder in West Cork, and even while watching The Keepers. A trend that I’ve noticed with a lot of these cases is that these women were just doing their job or living their lives. Maria Marta dedicated a good amount of her time working for social causes and helping others, much like several other victims did. What could cause someone to kill them? What is the intent? That is for you to find out after watching it. Unsolved cases are always interesting to learn about, and this one is no exception.
Stream Carmel: Who Killed Maria Marta? on Netflix.
Bonus Item: American Murder: The Family Next Door
While this isn’t necessarily a true-crime series, I needed to include this one because it’s one of the best true crime projects that Netflix has to offer, in my opinion. In American Murder: The Family Next Door, we follow the case of the Watts family and the deaths of a mother and her two children.
I don’t want to give away too much about this because this documentary film takes a number of twists and turns. For fans of Sophie: A Murder in West Cork, there will be some similarities that you see when looking at Chris Watts in comparison to Ian Bailey, even though the latter isn't in trouble for nearly as much as Watts was. It’s extremely interesting if you're in the mood for a true crime film.
Stream American Murder: The Family Next Door on Netflix.
While it’s always fun to watch some of the best movies on Netflix or the best movies on Amazon Prime, I think you can get just as much fulfillment from learning about the past or some unsolved mysteries. Hopefully with these choices, you might be able to find another interesting case to learn about.
