Robert Durst's infamous "killed them all" confession, which aired live to conclude the groundbreaking 2015 HBO docuseries, marked merely the prelude to a more profound narrative. Now, the enigmatic figure returns to the forefront of HBO's programming with a sequel to the sensational docuseries "The Jinx."
"The Jinx — Part Two," slated to premiere on April 21, nearly a decade after its predecessor, is a six-episode continuation of Andrew Jarecki's Emmy-award-winning "The Jinx: The Life and Deaths of Robert Durst." This groundbreaking series catapulted Durst into the public eye and ushered in a wave of true-crime documentaries that have captivated audiences worldwide.
The New York real estate scion's arrest on first-degree murder charges for the mysterious death of his confidante, Susan Berman, occurred less than a day before the shocking finale of "The Jinx" aired. In that episode, Durst, unaware that he was still being recorded, uttered the chilling words, "What did I do? Killed them all, of course."
After a protracted trial, Durst was convicted of Berman's first-degree murder in September 2021 and sentenced to life imprisonment without the possibility of parole. Tragically, in January 2022, Durst passed away from natural causes in a hospital outside the California prison where he was serving his life sentence, aged 78.
"The Jinx — Part Two," which unveiled a trailer along with its premiere date on Wednesday, revisits the moment when the filmmakers brought their documentary to a cliffhanger with those "five words everyone is talking about." An investigator reminisces about his initial thoughts at that juncture, stating, "This is going to be the biggest thing to hit my office since O.J. Simpson." The trailer then teases the continuation of the Durst saga, with Durst himself heard uttering, "I heard Jarecki is doing a sequel."
Jarecki appears in the trailer, revealing that he has uncovered an audio recording that has "changed my perception of something I've been working on for 17 years." An unnamed woman's voice then begins to unfold her story, and the footage concludes with Durst promising "surprises and surprises," leaving viewers eagerly anticipating the revelations that lie ahead.
The eagerly awaited second installment of "The Jinx" promises an explosive continuation of the filmmakers' eight-year-long investigation, delving into previously unseen materials, prison phone calls from Durst, and interviews with witnesses who have remained silent until now. When Durst's guilt was finally confirmed, Jarecki reacted with a mix of relief and satisfaction, stating, "I wasn't surprised, given the overwhelming evidence presented during the trial. Bob's admission to lying five times and committing perjury was startling. Even more shocking was his confession to lying in his previous trial. While this outcome isn't shocking, it's deeply gratifying, knowing that justice has finally caught up with a man who has evaded it for so long. I can only hope that this brings closure to the families of the victims, and that there are no more surprises ahead."
In interviews following the release of "The Jinx," Jarecki has stood firmly by Durst's final words in the series, acknowledging their sincerity despite the timing of his arrest being merely coincidental. Jarecki's dedication to the story didn't stop there; he even went on to direct the 2010 fictional film "All Good Things," a captivating tale based on Durst's life, starring Ryan Gosling and Kirsten Dunst. Even after Durst's conviction, Jarecki maintains that the story is far from over.
The tragic tale began with the shocking murder of Berman in December 2000, which occurred as the district attorney prepared to interview her about the unsolved disappearance of Durst's wife, Kathie. This cold case, along with the mysterious death and dismemberment of Durst's neighbor, Morris Black, formed the backdrop of the first series. Durst vehemently denied any involvement in Kathie's disappearance and was never charged with a crime related to it. Her body remains undiscovered, leaving a haunting void in the hearts of her loved ones.
"The Jinx — Part Two" is a Hitchcockian thriller, directed by the masterful Jarecki, with Zac Stuart-Pontier, Jarecki, and Kyle Martin serving as executive producers. Charlotte Kaufman and Sam Neave produced the film, while Richard Hankin and Susan Lazarus co-produced. Nancy Abraham, Lisa Heller, and Sara Rodriguez of HBO also executive produced the project. This highly anticipated sequel will premiere on April 21 at 10 p.m. ET/PT, with new episodes airing weekly on HBO and streaming on Max. In the U.K., the series will be available on Sky Documentaries and the streaming service NOW, starting Monday, April 22, leaving viewers on the edge of their seats as the final chapters of this gripping tale are revealed.
