Why The Idaho Murders: College Nightmare filmmakers took a victim-first approach 

The 3-episode true crime docuseries The Idaho Murders: College Nightmare premiered yesterday exclusively on Netflix. The filmmakers of this show implemented a victim-first approach to honor the four University of Idaho students whose dead bodies were recovered from an off-campus home in November 2022. The director of the show, Skye Borgman, said,

"That choice was probably the easiest choice to make — to really focus on these four individuals and not on the perpetrator."

Borgman revealed that the families of those four students deserved recognition because the public discussion at that time focused only on questions like "Who did this?" and "Who could have done this?" while their names were not remembered.

She further pointed out that the concept of applying "a victim-first approach" shaped every creative decision behind the camera. According to her, the filmmakers did not create the series to tell a story about the crime or the person responsible for their deaths.

The entire production team decided to highlight the real identity of these four university students and ensured that the story remained focused on the students' actual lives rather than exposing the person behind killing them.

The Idaho Murders: College Nightmare filmmakers reveal the reason behind choosing a victim-first approach in

While speaking to Tudum, the director of The Idaho Murders: College Nightmare explained that when he met the families of the four students, both before filming and during production,they emphasized on one clear message - they were not only victims.

Skye stressed that it was essential for the families to share this truth and highlight what had been lost. She further explained that Xana, Ethan, Kaylee, and Maddie should not be identified as tragic victims to the public. People should know them by the lives they were building.

Borgman wanted to talk about the students' real lives

Skye Borgman described Kaylee as someone who was preparing for a new job and learning how to manage work, relationships, and life after college. She wanted to focus on the turning point of Kaylee's life, which is familiar to many 21-year-old youngsters.

Borgman further added that Ethan and Xana were experiencing the early stages of a tender relationship. She continued,

"They had this young love, they hadn’t been together that long... they were these really intelligent, amazing, full-of-life people."

The director mentioned that the objective of this show was to help viewers see the four students as more than victims of a crime. Skye wanted audiences to remember them as young people filled with promise, humor, close friendship, and ambition.

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Also read: The Idaho Murders: College Nightmare shocking details

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