We begin this documentary with a strange kidnapping; two roommates are abducted in the middle of the night. The male victim, Michael, is a local legal weed store manager. The female roommate, Mary, has only lived there two days; she is barely acquainted with the third, absent roommate who invited her to stay while she was down on her luck. Three masked men grab them and hustle them into a van. They seem to have Spanish accents and keep demanding a million dollars from Michael. They have to stop for gas before they are taken to a remote area in the desert, which makes it seem like the kidnappers are not great at planning.
Michael says he has no more than seven thousand in the bank, he is beaten and tortured, and they finally cut off his penis and say they are taking it to their boss. The two are dumped out, still blindfolded and zip-tied, Michael bleeding badly. Mary gets her feet free and walks to a road, where she gets help. A strange saga of a poorly planned crime follows, with various associated characters, some of whom are wealthy and high in the social register. We follow the steadfast homicide detective, diligent district attorneys and able defense lawyers through years of pursuit. Just when you think it’s over, it surprises you.
Although I can’t say I’m a fan of True Crime stories, this one kept my interest throughout, and I would recommend it if you want something a little different. The villain is charming and repellent, and I guarantee he will creep you out. The actors bring a natural flare to the re-enactments of the tale. Jonathan Ignatius Green, who is part of a new series on AMC+ called True Crime Story: Smugshot, ably directs Dickweed.
Directed by Jonathan Ignatius Green
Cast:
Ronald Douglas as Michael
John Fantasia as John Shegerian
Rizzy Fuentes as Kyle Handley
Jerry Gregorio as Hossein Nayeri
Greg Kriek as Detective Peters
Emily Pokora as Mary Barnes
Kristen Vaganos as Cortney Shegerian