What’s ‘The Jinx’? And What Is The Deal With Robert Durst?

Last year, we were all gripped by the fictional murders on True Detective, and we collectively obsessed over the podcast, Serial, but we all have to admit neither crime story gave us the closure that we all so desperately craved. Which is why people are freaking out over HBO’s documentary series The Jinx. Not only did its enigmatic subject Robert Durst get arrested on murder charges yesterday, but last night’s series finale ended with a taped confession from him wherein he admitted that he had “killed them all, of course.”

Since 1982, real-estate heir Robert Durst has found himself at the center of controversy. His beautiful and charming wife, Kathie, suddenly disappeared after broaching the idea of divorce. Her friends and family suspected Durst of foul play for years, and the plot only thickened when Durst’s long-time friend, Susan Berman, was found dead right before she was due to be questioned about Kathie’s disappearance. Durst was able to sneak out of charges on both murders, but he was identified in connection to the grisly murder of his Galveston, Texas neighbor, Morris Black. Over the years, Durst has evaded conviction, but he’s repeatedly been caught with false IDs and his own brother has hired bodyguards for protection.

Durst has always inspired curiosity, but he always refused to give a formal interview. That is, until he saw the Andrew Jarecki film, All Good Things. The thriller starred Ryan Gosling and Kirsten Dunst and was inspired by Kathie’s disappearance. Jarecki commented in interviews around the release of the film that he wanted the film to elicit an emotional response from Durst, and it did. Durst reached out to Jarecki and suggested that the director interview him in an attempt to get his side of the story. That’s how the documentary series, The Jinx, was born.

The six-part HBO documentary series is as beautifully-made as it is addictive, and by the goodwill of serendipity, it ended on a profoundly satisfying note yesterday: new evidence that finally connects Durst to the death of Susan Berman emerged, and Durst was arrested. Also damning? The Jinx ends with an audio recording of Durst, unaware that his mic was still on, confessing to all three murders. How’s that for dramatic catharsis?

If you want to catch up on the real-life craziness that is The Jinx, you can stream the whole series here on HBO Go.

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[Photos: HBO]