I think this is the most stylish documentary I've seen. The way it's edited might be called manipulative, but it's justifiable because of how personal it is. This isn't a professional filmmaker telling a story about people he doesn't know, but rather a close friend of the subjects of the documentary creating a film that is dedicated to them. So it's not so much manipulative as it is a truthful expression of his feelings.

Another great documentary. To say it's emotionally affecting is an understatement. Don't research this movie, just watch it.

Amazing story depicted by a sub-par filmmaker.

Easily the most emotionally wrenching movie I've ever seen. It played me like a piano and it earned every right to do so. The story was told in heartbreaking earnest and the editing was fitting. More than any other doc I've seen, this film painted a picture of a person so clearly that the words in the interviews seemed as if they were spoken about a personal friend of mine. This is a horrifying account of evil and a beautiful celebration of the huge impact of a single life.

This is an incredibly powerful documentary. Had me in tears and a fit of rage by the end. Such a tragic story. My only problem with it is that it is made like a (very good) 20/20 special. Some of the little gimmicks Kurt used kind of made me cringe.

Wow. A really powerful documentary. They don't make documentaries like this one. Ever. Damn. Had me in tears by the end. Most depressing thing I've ever seen.

"The most ambitious work of its kind." - Rob Humanick

While technically imperfect, Dear Zachary is such an emotionally draining documentary and an evocative look at the people crime victims leave behind that it overcomes its few faults to emerge as the best documentary of 2008, if not the decade.

The Michael Moore-style narration, sentimental tone and frantic editing initially left me a bit detached from the tragic story, but as the insane Kafkaesque nightmare of the grieving parents slowly unfolds and the underlying horror creeps in, I was left both shocked, appalled and moved.

Not the most objective of documentaries, but definitely one of the most personal I've seen. A director's farewell letter and grand testament to his best friend. What it does so well, is not as much the portrayal of Andrew as it is the portrayal of Kuenne's love and admiration towards him, and the subsequent look into his sorrow and rage against the machine. And yes: It made me cry. But more importantly: It gave me a shock that rivals even the best of horror movie jumpscares.

I had some issues with it, in the same vein as many others here have noted (re: filmmaking technique, exploitation aspect and the "message")... but I can't lie: it was truly devastating.

Struggling with form and message, its chaotic structure is barely justified towards the end. The mix of overly sentimental love letter and ragingly biased activist's movie is initially effective but essentially a problem. A perfect storm of absurdities forcing parents to spend time with their son's killer is incredulously cruel, but the mushy personal angle drowns the overall issue of how the legal system prevents justice. Still, regardless of faith, this film will make you believe in the devil.

Man, it's a little heavy-handed, but I guess it has the right to be. A lot of people said this movie made them cry, but it just made me angry. Fucking Shirley Turner, that stupid cunt. That said, the editing is a little clumsy and the message is fairly forced. Still good, though.

I dare you to watch 'Dear Zachary' and try to keep a dry eye. Don't let anyone who has seen it give you any indication to the plot of this doc, as every reveal is another punch to the emotional gut. If you're a Canadian, expect it to hit even closer to home as the film is as much a heartfelt letter to a family of tragedy as it is a scathing condemnation of the way the Canadian Crown handled the events that unfold throughout the film. Though the scope is small, the emotion is gigantic. Perfect!

Don't read any reviews or do any research before watching this. Powerful stuff.

This movie is heartbreaking but it is a really interesting film. There are some truly sad events in this film. If you don't mind watching real life tragic stories, check this one out.

PEDRADA NA CABEÇA. Não dá pra avaliar "racionalmente".

Heart-wrenching. Makes "The Notebook" look like "Bio-Dome."

An unraveling nightmare. Might be the most emotional docu I've ever seen. I didn't cry though, but the maker and everyone involved is very emotional. The editing can be a bit too much, but it's actually not about the way this doc is made

This movie was one of the most powerful movies I have ever seen. It is truly heartbreaking and absolutely worth watching. I have only seen it once. I don't think I can bare to watch it again, but I recommend that everyone see it at least once.

Not that good from a technical standpoint and driven solely by a devastating story.

Never heard of this and was at first put off by the saccharine emotions and hyper editing. Then: SLAM. Horrible true life double murder tragedy. This is a very personal film that seethes to tell its story and remain as a memorial to its subject matter. 'The Thin Blue Line' and 'TV Junkie' are films with strong likeness.

Well that was depressing.

The emotional outbreaks throughout the documentary are absolutely heartbreaking in such a way I never thought the distancing film media would ever make me feel. The story is told well, and though the filmmaking is amateurish, that is exactly what makes it so intimate, so real and personal. The story will matter to you in the end. You will wish you know these people.

Well put together, potent, and sad. Please do not look up what the movie is about, and just watch it. Spoilers would ruin it.

Easily one of the most infuriating and depressing movie experiences of recent times. It is, in spots, quite manipulative, but not so as to be off-putting. It manages the fine balancing act of simultaneously being a declaration of undying bro-love and a cinematic hatefuck.

Very personal, therefore very hyped. Ridiculing judges with caricatured pictures and silly voices might be honest, but oh so dumb and unneeded. There are plenty of technical flaws too, but given the nature of the film it all can be forgiven.

This is one sad movie. There's so much raw emotion at play here. Infuriating and depressing.

Jesus christ :( I don't even want to review it with anything more than this because this is one of the most emotionally crushing things I've ever seen.

Not gonna lie, I cried a little at this documentary, which is alternately inspiring and heartbreaking. This is probably the most intimate, personal movie I've ever seen. The documentary isn't about anyone famous, it's about a friend, his family and coping with loss, anger, and frustration. It's basically completely composed of home photos and camcorder home movies too. But make no mistake, just cause you've never heard of these people doesn't mean you won't cry.

The most emotionally devastating film of the year, and probably of the decade. Is sure to stick with you for days.

I've never wept to a film. Teared up, yes, shed one tear, yes, but never wept, until I've seen this. The saddest, most intimate film I've ever seen and felt so connected to the people I want to take a ride just to meet them. Won't be watching again because it's too emotional, but will definitely remember and hope to be as good a person as the ones depicted in this film.

To critique this as cinematic art is wrong. It is the saddest, most angering, most personal work I have ever seen.

I hate the world for producing real-life horror stories like this, but at least there are some good people out there too. Heartbreaking, haunting, and inspiring.

I like to think this might be where the future of filmmaking is heading. Composed almost completely of home video footage and interviews shot on consumer camcorders, the technical intimacy of Kuenne's pet project underscores just how sad and beautiful his friend's (and friend's parent's) life was, and enables the audience to know a dead man and his plight completely. Exploitative? Perhaps (but then, what was Hitchcock?). But it's audacity and ferocious editing lingers with the viewer for days.

This is the saddest movie ever, there isn't much else to say. Highly recommended.

Besides some slightly questionable included scenes, mainly the "death" scene near the end, Dear Zachary is a highly emotional film that will at some parts reduce you to tears.

If you don't know the story before seeing this, then expect to be sent on an emotional roller-coaster of sadness, hope, and anger. I'm still looking for my jaw somewhere on the floor. NOT recommended for the faint-hearted.

At times, it seems put together somewhat amateurishly, but that never really distracts from what is definitely the most moving piece of film I've ever watched.

There is no doubt that this is an incredibly compelling story, a series of events that are almost too emotionally upsetting for the heart to bear. But Kuenne seems to have serious pacing issues, a problem that plagues the movie throughout. I often found myself a little bit annoyed by certain quirks or bits that felt cheap or amateurish. The use of repetition is WAY overdone. But Kuenne is a man with a good heart, and I thank him for giving me some heavy stuff to mull over, and a few good cries.

Let me be clear here: this is a good documentary because of the subject matter and the sheer amount of the interviews. However it's editing leaves a bit to be desired, as it's created from seemingly none-stop cutaways and it's such a shame because this could be one of the best documentaries made if, instead of the machine-gun editing, we got to see the interviewees. It's still could, it's still worth seeing, and I'd be lying if I said I didn't get misty by the end of it.

Its story is heartbreaking and infuriating, but the editing decisions and filmmaking technique are just so poorly thought out it loses much of its power to affect. Impossible to hate anything so obviously heartfelt, but you could definitely tell this was made in conjunction with MSNBC.

I'm in awe of those two people...this one is gonna stay with you for a while.

I may or may not be known as being a heartless slut amongst friends. With that being said I cried like a baby from start to finish while watching this. I left the movie feeling so fucking pissed off that I wanted to fly to New Foundland and beat the fuck out of people. I wrote a letter to an MP there. I was disgusted to be apart of a country where something so preventable could have been stopped. All that aside if you like documentarys it's a must watch.

On a technical level it's problematic -- there are a few scenes where the editing gets wacky on an almost surreal level given the story -- but it is about as personal a look at horrific grief you're ever going to see. Riveting to say the least.