CRIME

Unbelievable Tale: The Ricin Plot and Its Shocking Twists

Tupelo, USAFri Dec 13 2024
Curious about the story behind Kevin Curtis, an Elvis impersonator, and Everett Dutschke, a karate instructor? It starts in Tupelo, Mississippi, where Curtis found a severed head in a hospital fridge. That began a series of crazy events – a feud with a funeral director and politician, Steve Holland, leading to explosions, a house fire, and more. The peak? Dutschke sent ricin to President Obama in 2013 and tried to frame Curtis. The Netflix docuseries "The Kings of Tupelo" dives into this bizarre crime saga. Directed by Maclain and Chapman Way, it's a mix of dark themes and unexpected humor. The directors share how the town embraced their story, and the unique characters they interviewed, from FBI agents to local police. They highlight the importance of telling all sides of a story, even if it means platforming someone with potential mental health issues. The docuseries shows that conspiracy theories can be crazy yet funny. The directors found humor in the characters’ natural wit. They also touched on the challenges of making a comedic documentary. Next up, they might explore more conspiracy theories, but it's not a passion project.

questions

    How did the filmmakers gain access to such candid interviews with FBI agents and Congressmen?
    What initially drew the Way brothers to this story and what challenges did they face while filming?
    What was the most unexpectedly funny moment that the directors encountered during filming?

actions