American Conspiracy: The Octopus Murders

Enticing viewers with the promise of world-shattering secrets and then miring them in a thicket of debatable facts, dubious conjecture, and manic fantasy, it’s an expert case of true-crime form echoing its content.

American Conspiracy: The Octopus Murders is a fascinating look at a case that not only has huge implications about how the U.S. government ran in the 1980s and ’90s, but it’s also gives a lot of insight into how journalists can get so deep into stories that sometimes have pretty humble beginnings.

It doesn’t force the issue, an approach that earns the filmmakers a level of trust and respect. Casolaro’s death is a big part of the story and certainly the catalyst for Hansen’s journey. But this is not a whodunnit. It’s a trek into a many-valved heart of darkness.

Without overplaying it, “American Conspiracy” really becomes a cautionary tale about the kind of journalism that goes into this many significantly dark corners of the world.

The series is an odd mix of solid and intriguing storytelling with a deep dive into the world of conspiracy theorists — but it never finds solid footing.