Unseen - Special Edition [Blu-ray]

This documentary blew me away. Between this and the Vice short, I’m saddened how people can be considered throwaways. This is what happens when people do not see others as sympathetic victims. I know it also must have been hard to for the director to leave in the calloused words of the shop owner, but I’m glad they did. We have to talk about the inner thoughts that drive people’s actions. This film did a great job highlighting the importance of intersectionality: misogyny, race, poverty, addiction, community mental health and etc all coincided and had a lethal cocktail of violence and indifference. I fear though that we’ve learned nothing since this horror happened. 😢 As a Masters Addictions Counselor, I cannot stress how important this film is. The survivors are living proof that beyond the veneer, a diamond and a beautiful human with so much to give has always been there. No one should be ignored or seen as a lesser than. I’m so moved by their strength and determination to survive and change despite the horrors they lived through.

This documentary shows another example of how disposable people without money truly are. No one can honestly deny that if even ONE of those women had been from a well to do family, the police would have been all over it. Let's face it, America might be the land of opportunity for some, but it is the land of the lost for far too many. No one is to say that any of those women might not have turned her life around at some point and changed the world. Now...we'll never know. I am not a Christian, but I loved the preacher, especially when he said, "I never know when I'm talking to someone I love for the last time."

Viewers judge for yourself because there were a lot of pros and cons. #1 I do not remember this story of Anthony Stonewell the serial, rapist, and murderer getting much news coverage. I had a big problem with 11 missing African American women within a few block radius that come up missing and Cleveland authorities completely ignored it. Then you had at least 2-3 women that escaped and came directly to police station visually beaten and brutalized, but still their reports fell on death ears. Lastly, the despicable store owner ( who lost his brother to murder in the store). Note: How dare you come set up a business in a neighborhood of black people that you have know vested interest in, but fix you mouth to say that you wish there were more Anthony Stonewell to clean up more of the garbage ( referring to the prostitute/crack addicted AA women) in the neighborhood. Would you feel the same way if your wife, or daughter was working in the store alone with Stonewell living next door? Do you think he would not take an opportunity to hurt one of your female relatives Mr. Imperial Store Owner? He was a sick monster, and while those addicts were easy prey, he would not think twice take down any women if he had a chance. I do not know what made me more sick Anthony Stonewell, or the store owner taking up business in a black neighborhood, and referring to those women as garbage (he probably knew that foul smell were the dismembered bodies when he had his worker pour bleach in garbage can). They were loved by mothers, fathers, children, spouses, siblings, and friends. The money you put in your pocket to keep that raggedy store open to feed your family was those crack addicts, and other poor people that lived that area of Cleveland. Shame on you store owner from the Middle East to come open a business in neighbor with GARBAGE PEOPLE.

Dear Father in heaven........the words of the storekeeper were so devoid of compassion. Why did he felt that death waspreferable for these souls? Is it because it is difficult to understand evil? Is it because this level of inhumanity is incomprehensible? Is it because some feel that people that succumb to drug addiction, prostitution and alcohol are not worthy of life? Where is the answer my God? Is the answer within us? There are people that take a wrong turn, and soon after they become slaves to addiction. Why take the first step when you know that drugs will bring nothing but despair and desolation? How can others prevent adults from exercising their will? Drug addiction and alcoholism are destroying the lives of many and the only way out is for humans to understand that every deed has a consequence. If there is anyone reading this review that is living the hell of an addiction please stop and seek help.......... You are worthy!

I've seen many true crime documentaries, but Unseen is one of the most moving ones I've ever had the pleasure of watching. It will make you think, make you feel and make you cry. The victims and their loved ones are given the spotlight here, rather than the killer, and it's beautiful and heart-wrenching to watch. The victims and survivors deserve a voice, regardless of their mistakes of the past. And that is exactly what Unseen is about; giving a serious voice to those who were forgotten.The women who were raped and killed by Anthony Sowell were drug addicts, crackheads, prostitutes, mothers, and black women. They were ignored by the rest of the world, looked down upon, not believed and not taken seriously by police. Sowell could have been stopped much sooner, but the cops truly dropped the ball. What remained was a horrific nightmare of voiceless screams and empty despair, behind the walls of a crazed man's house of death.Please watch this. It is meaningful and thorough, fair and emotional. I highly recommend it.♡

I've heard and read about this case and saw a few documentaries on this case - but this film stands above the rest. What is important to know is that these women were sick -- and because of their addiction, society turned their backs on them - thought of them as trash....just like the store owner said. His revelation was not shocking to me -- especially living in these times. He was just brave enough to voice it publically. And - sadly, there are a lot - a lot of people who feel the same way this man feels. I won't judge him - because he judged these women...and that says a lot about his character. I pray all Sowel's victims are resting in peace -- as he was a man that was probably consumed by evil.