Sundance ’19: Lorena on Amazon Prime Sheds New Light on Historic Case

There is not a man alive who is not at least a little familiar with the Lorena Bobbit case.  For them, it is literally their worst nightmare.  Which is exactly what Steve Harvey jokes about during an opening clip where Lorena was his guest.  He simply asked, ‘what happened’ as we are instantly transported to the early morning hours  in Manassas, Virginia more than 20 years ago.

It was absolutely comical how all parties involved from the crime scene technicians, police department, urologist, microsurgeon, Lorena and John Bobbit recall the events of that night in 1993.  They mostly chuckle at not quite knowing what to call his lower private parts which Lorena tossed in a grassy area.  John Wayne Bobbitt himself referred to the moment the appendage was severed as feeling like Freddy Kruger’s hand coming through the wall.  At one point, law enforcement literally thought that Lorena had swallowed John’s penis.  Can you imagine?

This first episode features interviews with not only the aforementioned law officials and the subjects themselves, but features various talk show interviews on now defunct shows like Jenny Jones.

At the end of the day, it is speculated that Lorena Bobbitt was being sexually abused and literally just snapped.  The question comes into play about whether or not sex is considered rape if the victim is married.  We also learn that in an effort to control her narrative, Lorena Bobbit hires a private PR firm, participates in an exclusive Vanity Fair interview and shoot.  A move that would turn out to be detrimental for a young women whose own mother threw her under the bus as she continues to get legal justice for this crime.

When this first episode is done you find yourself asking what could John Wayne have possibly done to make Lorena act out in a shocking manner?  Why is what happened in the cases of Anita Hill, William Kennedy Smith and even as recent as the Kavanaugh hearings with Dr. Christine Blasey Ford any different from what happened with Lorena and John Bobbit?  Why are we still being entertained at the misery and misfortune of others?

For those answers and more, you’ll have to watch the entire four-part series airing on Amazon Prime February 15th.