Forensic Files II
Forensic Files II is a revival continuation of the long-running American documentary-style true crime series Forensic Files, which originally aired from 1996 to 2011 on various networks. Premiering on February 23, 2020, Forensic Files II's first season consisted of 16 episodes and was broadcast on HLN, with voiceover narration by Bill Camp. The original Forensic Files broadcast over 400 episodes during its original run.
| Forensic Files II | |
|---|---|
 | |
| Also known as | Forensic Files season 15 |
| Genre | Documentary True crime |
| Created by | Paul Dowling |
| Starring | Various |
| Narrated by | Bill Camp |
| Country of origin | United States |
| Original language(s) | English |
| No. of seasons | 1 |
| No. of episodes | 16 (list of episodes) |
| Production | |
| Executive producer(s) | Nancy Duffy |
| Running time | 22 minutes |
| Production company(s) | HLN Medstar Television |
| Release | |
| Original network | HLN |
| Picture format | 1080p (HDTV) |
| Original release | February 23, 2020 – present |
| Chronology | |
| Preceded by | Forensic Files (1996–2011) |
| External links | |
| Website | |
On May 12, 2020, the series was renewed for a second and third season. The second season will premiere in 2021.[1]
Development and overview
The last episode of the original Forensic Files series ("Expert Witness") originally aired on June 17, 2011. After the 2016 death of Forensic Files narrator Peter Thomas, the show's executive producer Paul Dowling ruled out the possibility of reviving the series, as he considered Thomas to be "irreplaceable".[2] In October 2019, it was announced that the show would be revived with new episodes to air first-run on HLN in early 2020,[3] with Bill Camp later announced as the new narrator.[4]
The revival was clarified as being the first season of a new show, rather than the 15th season of Forensic Files, explained by series producer Nancy Duffy as having been done to "differentiate the new episodes from those that came before". Duffy explained: "When we talked about bringing back Forensic Files, a lot of people thought we just meant that we were gonna be [airing] old shows that we didn't previously air on HLN and there seemed to be a confusion about that, so [we changed the title so] there could be no confusion."[5] Series creator Paul Dowling confirmed on Twitter that Forensic Files II was a new, separate show from the original Forensic Files.[6]
Event reenactments
Unlike in the original Forensic Files program, actors were not hired to participate in reenactments of the cases dramatized in Forensic Files II. Instead, various employees of CNN and HLN were utilized to portray victims, suspects, and other individuals for dramatic recreations of real-life events. Series producer Nancy Duffy explained that the reenactments are filmed in a more "impressionistic" way than in the original series, so that the individuals used in the recreations "don't have to look identical" to the people they are portraying. As a result, faces are not shown in the recreations, only bodies from the neck down. Duffy elaborated that employees would approach her and ask to participate in the reenactments, saying that many were "excited" at the prospect of portraying individuals involved in killing, hiding, kidnapping, or the use of physical restraint.[5][7]
Episodes
Season 1 (2020)
The series premiere began with two back-to-back new episodes on February 23, beginning at 10:00 p.m. Eastern time. Two new episodes aired back-to-back each Sunday, with the final episode of the first season airing on April 12, Easter Sunday.[8]
| No. in series |
No. in season |
Title | Original air date | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 1 | "Buried Secrets" | February 23, 2020 | |
|
A fire leads investigators to re-examine an unusual death. Note: This episode was dedicated in memory of original Forensic Files narrator Peter Thomas, who passed away in 2016. | ||||
| 2 | 2 | "On the Rocks" | February 23, 2020 | |
| The naked body of a young woman is discovered in a remote area with her head bashed in with nearby rocks--this leads forensic investigators on a search for clues to her identity and the identity of her killer. | ||||
| 3 | 3 | "The Green Pen" | March 1, 2020 | |
| When a Yale student mysteriously vanishes days before her wedding, investigators comb a secure research lab for clues. | ||||
| 4 | 4 | "Human Sawdust" | March 1, 2020 | |
| A suitcase leads to the gruesome discovery of a nearly perfect crime. | ||||
| 5 | 5 | "The Barn" | March 8, 2020 | |
| A popular handyman in a New Hampshire town is found murdered and investigators follow forensic clues to a shocking conclusion. | ||||
| 6 | 6 | "A Killer Disguise" | March 8, 2020 | |
| A young mother is murdered in a crowded parking lot in broad daylight. | ||||
| 7 | 7 | "The Ambush" | March 15, 2020 | |
| A mysterious murder is solved using mobile device forensics. | ||||
| 8 | 8 | "Portrait of a Serial Killer" | March 15, 2020 | |
| This episode documents Texas serial killer Daniel Lee Corwin, and how forensic technology was used to convict him. | ||||
| 9 | 9 | "Family Tree" | March 22, 2020 | |
| After the brutal slaying of a young couple on a road trip, the victims’ families begin receiving disturbing letters. Personal genomics is used to help solve the case. | ||||
| 10 | 10 | "The Letter" | March 22, 2020 | |
| The sudden and mysterious death of a health-conscious woman triggers an investigation. | ||||
| 11 | 11 | "Last Gasp" | March 29, 2020 | |
| After a young mom is found brutally murdered in her home, investigators find startling clues on her cell phone that could lead to her killer. | ||||
| 12 | 12 | "A Killer Snapshot" | March 29, 2020 | |
| An amazing new forensic tool turns a cold case around. | ||||
| 13 | 13 | "Church Lady" | April 5, 2020 | |
| A gruesome discovery in a small town church sends investigators on a search for a killer. | ||||
| 14 | 14 | "Inside Pocket" | April 5, 2020 | |
| An insurance agent is shot execution style in his office in broad daylight but the killer left no fingerprints and there was no murder weapon found at the scene…then investigators discover a critical clue invisible to the naked eye that cracks the case. | ||||
| 15 | 15 | "The Car Accident" | April 12, 2020 | |
| A healthy, young mother mysteriously dies after a minor traffic accident triggering an investigation to find out what caused her death. | ||||
| 16 | 16 | "The Black Hole" | April 12, 2020 | |
| Investigators search for clues after a body is discovered in a watery grave. | ||||
Future seasons
In May 2020, the show was renewed for an additional two seasons of 16 episodes each, set to begin airing in 2021. Bill Camp will return as narrator.[1]
References
- ""Forensic Files II", HLN's Highest Rated Original Series Ever, Is Renewed for Two Seasons with 32 Episodes". The Futon Critic. May 12, 2020.
- Schlichter, Jay (May 2, 2016). "Famed voice-over icon Peter Thomas dies at 91". Naples Daily News.
- Steinberg, Brian (October 1, 2019). "HLN Will Re-Open 'Forensic Files' in Quest for True-Crime Content (EXCLUSIVE)". Variety. Retrieved February 23, 2020.
- Walsten, Jessika (January 15, 2020). "Bill Camp to Narrate HLN's 'Forensic Files II'". Broadcasting & Cable. Retrieved February 23, 2020.
- Owen, Rob (February 20, 2020). "HLN reopens true crime series 'Forensic Files'". Pittsburgh Post-Gazette.
- @forensicfiles (February 17, 2020). "It's the first season of Forensic Files II" (Tweet) – via Twitter.
- Wilkinson, Amy (February 23, 2020). "Can Forensic Files II Recapture the Magic of a True-Crime Trailblazer?". Vulture. Retrieved May 12, 2020.
- "The Wait is Over! "Forensic Files II", Narrated by Bill Camp ("Dark Waters", "Joker"), Launches Sunday, February 23 at 10pm ET/PT Exclusively on HLN". CNN. February 11, 2020. Retrieved February 16, 2020.
