PopHorror Let's Get Scared
If you’re looking for a true crime documentary that will make you feel all of the emotions, look no further than Pathological: The Lies of Joran Van Der Sloot. A recent release on Peacock, it provides an in-depth look at the man who killed not only 18-year-old Natalee Holloway in Aruba in 2005, but also 21-year-old Stephany Flores at a hotel in Peru on the fifth anniversary of Holloway’s disappearance, and the subsequent pain that both families endured because of this man.
Throughout its 90-minute runtime, Pathological alternates between the two cases, providing time stamps and pinpoints on a map to keep viewers on track. This gives the documentary a stronger sense of urgency than if it was told chronologically. For example, right after Holloway’s parents begin to frantically search for their missing daughter, fearing the worst for her and also fearing that her attacker could strike again, audiences are introduced to Flores, a true gut punch knowing that she’d soon meet the same fate.
Thanks to in-depth interviews with the victims’ family members, including Holloway’s mother and brother, and Flores’ father, eyewitnesses like the hotel clerk who discovered Flores’ body, and experts on the criminal mind, Pathological reveals just how diabolical of a person that Van Der Sloot is. He treated the grief of Holloway’s mother Beth like a game, extorting money from her with the promise that he’d reveal where her daughter’s body was. In fact, this money was used to fund his trip to Peru and, ultimately, the murder of Flores, who he met at a casino. However, after getting the funds, he revealed to Beth that he provided her with false information, leaving the grieving mom still in the dark about the true fate of her girl.
Plus, after essentially getting away with the Holloway murder, he was brazen enough to strike again on the five-year anniversary of her disappearance. Pathological shows how confident Van Der Sloot felt that, just like last time, he’d be able to get away with murder.
Kudos must be given to the victims’ loved ones for appearing on camera and reliving their respective nightmares. In particular, I got choked up watching and listening to the testimony of Flores’ father Ricardo. Even a decade of time gone by couldn’t take away the hurt and pain felt in his voice when discussing his daughter. Pathological also includes old footage from when the girls first went missing, including a heartbreaking one of Holloway’s father Dave, who used his bare hands to dig through landfills in a desperate hope to find something.
Up until October 2023, when Van Der Sloot finally admitted to the murder of Holloway in court, he had told false tale after false tale of what happened on that beach in Aruba in 2005. Though Beth felt a sense of closure following his statement, which included brutal details on how he did the violent deed, one can’t help but feel a continued sense of doubt in his words, especially given his years of deceit.
Even in prison, he continues to manipulate and prey upon women…though these ones aren’t so unsuspecting. While locked up for the murder of Flores, Van Der Sloot tied the knot with Leidy Figueroa and welcomed a child with her. Last year, he started a new relationship with Eva Pacohuanaco, who he tricked into smuggling drugs to him. Pathological even features an interview with Pacohuanaco, who was fearful about her fate after being caught with the drugs.
Final Thoughts
Pathological is a emotional rollercoaster. Audiences will feel grief for the victims and their families, stress as they attempt to seek answers, anger at Van Der Sloot’s lack of remorse, and annoyance at his wife and girlfriend for looking past the upheaval that he caused in countless lives.
It’s a well-constructed documentary that doesn’t leave anything out, from interviews with Van Der Sloot’s cab drivers to casino footage of the moment he met Flores. It also paints an accurate picture of this killer’s evil ways. While some similar projects have a way of glorifying the criminal, Pathological remains victim-focused, showing the lasting impact of one sinister man.
