The world of bodybuilding is truly one of those secret sections of the sports world. That world can be an example of discipline and hard work, but it can also be an example of abuse and excess. The world of bodybuilding gave us Arnold Schwarzenegger, but it also gave us the case that Netflix's new docuseries Killer Sally is about. The story of a woman who had enough and decided to end it all by killing her abusive husband. It is truly a story that serves as a wake-up call to all people who may find themselves in a situation like this.
Killer Sally is a documentary television series directed by Nanette Burstein and tells the story of Sally McNeil, a Marine Corps sergeant, mother, wife, and bodybuilder. The series focuses on her life and the story of how she ended up killing her husband, Ray McNeil, who was also a bodybuilder. The series consists of only three episodes, but it breaks down the story in a very understandable and entertaining way. This story, of course, is a great tragedy, but seeing Sally herself tell her side of her story really makes the docuseries stand out.
Stars: Peggy Hook, John McNeil, Sally McNeil
Many other documentaries, especially those that revolve around a true crime, don't have the advantage of having the person who committed the murder alive or willing to talk. However, this is not the case with Killer Sally. Here, Sally herself is ready to talk about just about everything about her case and how her life led up to that fateful moment. It's truly an entertaining story, and the director, Nanette Burstein, uses all the tools in her toolbox to create a flowchart of events that viewers can easily follow and understand at home.
The series also has the advantage that most of the people involved in the case have been recorded considerably, so Burstein has enough footage at her disposal to create a composition that feels complete. She not only listens to the characters talking about this and that; you can actually see them do what they're talking about. The quality of the footage, of course, isn't the best of all, considering the time it was shot, but it definitely makes the docuseries feel more grounded in reality.
The docuseries opts for the classic structure of three acts, with a beginning, a middle and an end. It all feels very accessible in terms of storytelling, and as these true crime docuseries gain more and more popularity, Killer Sally is able to go a little further than most. Yes, we know that people will watch it mainly to hear the gory details surrounding Ray's death. However, the docuseries takes its time to reveal the world of bodybuilding in all its good and bad aspects, as well as telling the story of an abuse survivor.
This last bit might be the most important element in Killer Sally. Sally tells her story first hand about her, she doesn't let others tell it for her, and that level of strength is truly inspiring. The fact that Sally very clearly admitted that she made mistakes, that she's not perfect, and that she could have done better for her and her children, makes her a really approachable character. Many women and men will also be able to identify with her situation. Sally really makes a big impression in the docuseries, one of someone who just made bad decisions, but isn't really bad.
We are not talking about serial killers in this docuseries. We are talking about a person who tried to do his best in life, but was dealt a bad hand and did not know how to turn it in his favor. As the docuseries progresses, we see more of each side of the story and also how Sally went from being a victim to a complete criminal, someone who needed to be punished. This is a behavior that is still maintained today. The right questions are never answered, we look at the now without studying the past, and therefore we are condemned to repeat it, over and over again.