☛ Cette critique est aussi disponible en français [➦].
Translated by Gabrielle Baillargeon-Michaud.
T.W. Domestic violence, intimate partner violence, sexual violence.
The American dream, gun violence, bouffant hairstyles, and high-cut leotards—these are the intriguing elements that the documentary series Killer Sally brings to the forefront.
Directed by Nanette Burstein, this three-part series delves into the life and trials of Sally McNeil, an American wrestler and bodybuilder who was convicted in 1996 for the murder of her husband, the renowned bodybuilder Ray McNeil. At the time, the case sent shockwaves across the United States.
Throughout the series, Burstein offers a window into the events that led to Sally’s imprisonment. Archival documents and interviews reveal the couple’s early romance, Ray’s ascent in the bodybuilding world, and the escalation of violent dynamics within their household.
Three decades after her conviction, Sally McNeil steadfastly holds to her story, asserting that she acted in self-defense. She claims that Ray routinely subjected her and her children, John and Shantina, to physical and psychological abuse.
As the series unfolds, a disturbing pattern emerges from the interviews. The French title of the series (Killer Sally: Murder on steroids) hints at the pivotal role anabolic steroids played during the trial. Ray’s aggressive behavior is repeatedly attributed to his steroid use—medication that, according to various interviewees, increased his aggression. This raises a critical question: Can steroid use justify domestic violence?
SOS Domestic Violence defines intimate partner violence as “situations where a partner uses different kinds of violent behaviors to establish power and control over the other partner's life and choices.” Moreover, the Regroupement des maisons pour femmes victimes de violence conjugale (Coalition of Shelters for Women Victims of Domestic Violence) notes that domestic violence encompasses not only physical but also psychological, verbal, sexual, and economic abuse.
Despite its occasional sensationalist tone, Killer Sally effectively exposes the dynamics typical of domestic violence. The documentary vividly illustrates how Ray inflicted physical, economic, and sexual violence against Sally. Additionally, the series tackles vital issues such as victim blaming1 and reactionary violence, and it sheds light on certain shortcomings of the U.S. justice system, particularly how Sally’s more “masculine” appearance worked against her during the trial.
Yet, despite growing discourse on the subject, a significant education gap remains concerning the dynamics of domestic violence. This makes the discussions prompted by Killer Sally increasingly vital.
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1 Victim blaming: Holding the victim responsible for a crime or harm, thereby blaming them.
Reference
Director/Creator: Nanette Burstein
Title: Killer Sally: Murder on steroids
Publication Date: 2022This documentary is available on Netflix.