The Idaho Murders: Trial by TikTok

When four University of Idaho students were murdered by an unknown attacker in November 2022, Zara McDermott first read about it on social media. The small American college town of Moscow is home to just 25,000 people, most of them students, and hasn’t seen a homicide in seven years. For six weeks, the police said they had no suspects, no motive, no weapon, and had found no signs of forced entry into the house. Zara heads to Moscow to find out how much of what she saw online was even real, and how much was pure speculation. She meets the true crime sleuths making thousands of hours of social media content on this case to find out why they felt the need to post their own interpretation, and why people were so keen to listen to them rather than the network news or the police. Zara also speaks to those who were affected by the rumours spread online and sees the impact this social media storm has had, leading her to question her own role in the tragedy.

Directed by —, The Idaho Murders: Trial by TikTok leans on a strong ensemble — Zara McDermott — to carry a story that balances spectacle with character.

The film landed with audiences for its craft and performances, and remains one of the most talked-about documentary titles of 2024.