This documentary examines how the media influences people through the lens of a murder committed by three girls who were fans of Marilyn Manson. It uses interviews, reenactments, and archive footage to tell the story of the murder and investigation. Throughout, it portrays Marilyn Manson and his fans in a negative light, implying his music was a factor in the girls' actions. The documentary concludes by revealing the sentences handed down to the three girls.

1. THE DEVIL MADE ME
DO IT.
Analysis of a documentary.

2. Type of Documentary:
 ‘The Devil made me do it’ is a mixed
documentary as it includes;
narration, observation, interviews, archive
footage and recreations.

3. Themes within the
documentary:
 This documentary is about how the media
affects people and why. It also looks at how
people respond to something that they see
within the media.

4. Narrative Structure:
 Beginning: During the beginning of the documentary it shows
Marilyn Manson and his followers. It also begins to set up the
murder that is the focus of the documentary.
 Middle: Though out the middle of the documentary it informs
us on the techniques and methods used by the police on how
they caught the girls who murdered the nun. It also paints
Marilyn Manson in a negative light as they blame him for the
murder as the 3 girls listened to his music and idolised him.
 End: Towards the end of the documentary it concludes the
documentary with the sentences that the 3 girls received for
their crimes. It still shows teenagers in a negative light with
the use of a montage showing teenagers misbehaving, it also
still shows Marilyn Manson in a negative light as it shows his
fans at the concerts swearing and being rude.

5. Camera Work:
 Throughout the documentary a variety of camera angles
where used.
 During the recreating a high angle shots of the city where
used to show that the city is vulnerable. High angle pan
shots are also used over the city to emphasise its
vulnerability.
 Close ups of satanic symbols on walls are used during the
recreation.
 During the concert footage shot reverse shots are used
with low angles of Marilyn Manson and low angles of his
fans. This shows how his fans look up to him and idolise
him. The high angles of the fans show reinforces the idea
that they look up to him as a god, this also makes them
look weak.
 Slow motion is also used within the concert footage which
reinforces that fact that his fans idolise him.
 During the interviews of Marilyn Manson his face is lighted
in a certain way so half of his face is in shadow. This
suggest that there are two sides to him, a good side and a
bad side.

6. Mise-en-scene:
 During the start of the documentary the town is
shown as peaceful, high angle shots of the city
make it look vulnerable.
 During the interview of the Lawyer on the train she
is the only person on the train wearing red, this
shows that she stands out and that she is
powerful.
 Also with the interviews of Marilyn Manson his
face is lighted so that half of him is in shadow, this
shows two sides of his personality; a good side
and a bad side.
 The interviews of the teenagers take place within
their bedrooms and them smoking, this shows the

7. Sound:
 Sound effects are used though out the
reconstruction during this documentary.
 A heartbeat sound effect is used as well a
eerie non-diegetic music which adds tension
for the audience and makes them synthesise
with the victim. Footsteps are also used to
emphasise scenes and moments within the
event.

8. Editing:
 A montage of criminals and mug
shots is used at the start of the
documentary.
 A montage is used at the beginning
and end of the documentary
showing teenagers in a negative
light.
 Shot-Reverse-Shot is used during
the Marilyn Manson concert and it
shows how his fans idolise him and
look to him as a God.
 Slow motion is also used during the
clips of the concerts of emphasise
the way his fans look up to him.

9. Archive Material:
 Archive material is used though out the documentary.
 Marilyn Manson concert footage: This footage is used
to show how fans of Marilyn Manson look up to him and
idolise him. This also shows the fans in a negative light
as they are seen being rude and swearing.
 Arrest footage: Arrest footage of the girls shows them
being driven away, this tells the audience that it is real
and isn’t fantasy.
 Leaked audio of the girls confessions: This audio of the
girls confessions is used over the top of the recreation
this informs the audience of how they committed the
murder.
 Police footage: Police footage of how the police
investigated the murder and how the caught the 3 girls.
It also tells us about techniques and methods that they
used to catch the girls.

10. Graphics:
 Graphics are used at the start of the
documentary to show the title of it. ‘The Devil
made me do it’ is shown in an unusual font
and in the colour red. This sets up the theme
of the documentaries which is about murder.
 Graphics are also used throughout the
documentary with the title of the documentary
after breaks at the bottom of the screen in a
plain white font, they have used a plain font
and colour so it doesn’t distract the audience
from the documentary. The same font and
colour is used during interviews to show the
names of the interviewees.
 Subtitles are used during the Marilyn Manson
concerts so we can read what he is singing.
 Simple white text on a black background is
used at the end of the documentary stating the
girls sentences, this gives the documentary
closure.