In 1969, Los Angeles was on edge after a bloody killing spree in the Hollywood Hills - one of the victims, a pregnant movie star. The killers all said they committed their crimes at the direction of their leader, Charles Manson. While the Manson Family murders still fascinate today, one question remains unanswered: how was the mastermind able to convince his followers to kill at his direction? Was his charismatic hold that strong? Or did Manson’s powers of persuasion get a boost from the government?

In CHAOS: The Manson Murders, Oscar-winning filmmaker Errol Morris explores the connections between the infamous cult leader and the CIA’s MK-Ultra mind control experiments. Were the slayings truly motivated by Manson’s Helter Skelter plans for a race war? Or had Manson unwittingly become part of the government’s secret research into brainwashing?

In this episode of You Can't Make This Up, host Rebecca Lavoie interviews director Errol Morris.

SPOILER ALERT! If you haven't watched CHAOS: The Manson Murders yet, make sure to add it to your watch-list before listening on. 

Dig deeper into all of your favorite Netflix documentaries and films at Tudum.com. There you can find out more about CHAOS: The Manson Murders and its connection to Tom O’Neill’s book. 

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