A man spent more than two decades on death row and begged the state to execute him. Then DNA testing proved he was innocent.
My colleague Rob Kelly ranked it #13 on our list of the best prison documentaries.
Trailer for “The Fear of 13”
You Can’t Make This Sh!t Up
- Nick Yarris spent more than 21 years on Pennsylvania’s death row. The isolation became so unbearable that he eventually asked the state to execute him rather than keep him alive in prison.
- Nick was convicted after inventing a story to avoid unrelated criminal charges. That lie spiraled into a murder conviction that nearly got him executed.
- While waiting to die, Nick taught himself to read at a much higher level, learned multiple languages, and read thousands of books. He later said, “Books became my escape pod.”
Watch “The Fear of 13”
You can watch “The Fear of 13” on Apple TV.
Ratings:
- My Rating: 94/100
- IMDb Rating: 7.6/10
- Rotten Tomatoes Ratings: 85/100 (Users); 94/100 (Critics)
Director’s Note: David Sington directs this 96-minute documentary. He’s best known for “In the Shadow of the Moon,.” Here strips away reenactments and flashy editing almost entirely.
Release Date: October 15, 2015
Other Unique Stuff
- Nick’s storytelling has led some viewers to question whether parts feel rehearsed. Personally, I found it hard to doubt the raw emotion behind what he’s describing.
- The title refers to the superstition surrounding the number 13, but also reflects the psychological fear that builds as execution becomes increasingly real.
- DNA testing—technology that wasn’t available at the time of Nick’s conviction—ultimately became the evidence that secured his freedom.
Wrap Up:
“The Fear of 13” is about wrongful conviction, survival, the power of education, and the fragility of our justice system. I couldn’t stop watching.
Thanks for reading!
Heather Fenty, Guest Writer, Daily Doc