In 2009, police were called to the Louisville, Kentucky, residence of a couple, Joseph Banis and Jeffrey Mundt, over a domestic dispute that ended with the discovery of a body in their basement. Both Banis and Mundt fessed up to the body’s existence, but both also pointed the finger at one another over who killed local drag performer Jamie Carroll. Murder in Glitterball City explores this bizarre ambiguity and how either man could have committed the heinous crime.
Part of what makes Murder in Glitterball City such an exceptional documentary is its refusal to offer easy answers for its audience, instead allowing the story to flourish in the murky gray areas. Mundt and Banis are portrayed in vivid (and disturbing) detail, and both men are depicted as equally capable of committing the crime — even Carroll is shown to have been a flawed person. Featuring interviews with experts, testimonials from neighbors and community members, local history and trial footage, Murder in Glitterball City excels as a captivating and well-made documentary.
