Population Zero

How could a self-confessed triple murderer walk free without trial or justice for the victims in contemporary America? That's the question driving documentary-maker Julian T Pinder in this intriguing blend of Making a Murderer and Catfish. His curiosity is aroused when he's prompted to examine a 2009 scandal that saw everyman Dwayne Johnson admit to shooting three men in Yellowstone National Park but then miraculously escape trial thanks to a loophole in the US constitution. It's a slow-burn investigation that gradually blurs the line between documentary reportage and menacing mystery, as Pinder finds himself inexorably drawn to a Heart of Darkness-like encounter with mystery man Nelson. The revelation at the climax may not satisfy everybody, but the unspoilt wilderness and evocative imagery, not least an eerie (and symbolic) image of a bear chasing a charred bison down the open highway, ensure it's still a fascinating experience.