What distinguishes The Jinx from other entries in the genre is the unprecedented access Jarecki gained to his subject. Unlike most true crime subjects who remain distant or silent, Durst proactively reached out to Jarecki after seeing the director's fictionalized version of his life in the film All Good Things . This led to a series of that form the backbone of the series. Throughout the six episodes, viewers are treated to a chillingly intimate portrait of a man who is simultaneously eccentric, articulate, and deeply unsettling.
He says, clear as day:
The audio is muffled but unmistakable. As water runs, Robert Durst whispers: The Jinx- The Life and Deaths of Robert Durst -...
To understand The Jinx , you must first understand the "life" part of "The Life and Deaths." Robert Alan Durst was born into privilege on April 12, 1943. His father, Seymour Durst, built a billion-dollar empire (the Durst Organization) managing skyscrapers in Manhattan. Young Robert witnessed a profound childhood trauma: at age seven, he watched his mother jump from the roof of their family home in Scarsdale, New York, as he stood helplessly on the lawn.
The Jinx: The Life and Deaths of Robert Durst solidified its place in true-crime history with a 2015 "hot mic" confession that led to the arrest of the millionaire subject for the murder of Susan Berman. The 2024 follow-up, What distinguishes The Jinx from other entries in
Born in 1943, Robert Durst was the eldest son of Joseph Durst, the founder of the Durst Organization, and his wife, Bertha. The family's real estate empire was built on a legacy of innovation, with Joseph Durst pioneering the concept of modern residential buildings in New York City. Robert Durst was groomed to succeed his father, attending Harvard University and later joining the family business. However, his early life was marked by a series of personal tragedies, including the death of his younger brother, Donald, who drowned in the family's swimming pool at the age of 18.
When the HBO documentary series first aired in 2015, it didn’t just capture the attention of the public; it fundamentally altered the landscape of true crime storytelling. Directed by Andrew Jarecki, the six-part series promised a chilling biography of Robert Durst—the estranged son of a New York real estate mogul—who had been suspected of three major crimes spanning nearly four decades: the disappearance of his first wife, the execution-style murder of a close friend, and the dismemberment of a neighbor. Throughout the six episodes, viewers are treated to
When confronted with this evidence in the final episode, Durst excused himself to the bathroom. Still wearing his wireless microphone, he whispered to himself: "There it is. You're caught... What the hell did I do? Killed them all, of course."
The documentary argues that the crucial turning point was the murder of Susan Berman. Susan was the daughter of a Las Vegas mobster and Durst’s unofficial spokesperson. She had covered for him after Kathie’s disappearance, falsely claiming to have received a phone call from Kathie after the disappearance.