Fred and Rose West: A British Horror Story – Review | Netflix

FRED AND ROSE WEST: A BRITISH HORROR STORY on Netflix is a true crime documentary series in three parts. Even if you know the story, this one is worth watching. Read our full Fred and Rose West: A British Horror Story docuseries review here!

FRED AND ROSE WEST: A BRITISH HORROR STORY is a new Netflix documentary series about the true crimes committed by Fred West and his wife, Rose West. Exactly what role each played has been debated heavily, but this docuseries focuses on facts.

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The first episode is about Fred, the second focuses more on Rose (though often indirectly), and finally, we’re getting to the trial. Many young women and girls died at the hands of Fred West. Calling his crimes a “British horror story” is no exaggeration.

Continue reading our Fred and Rose West: A British Horror Story review below. Find it on Netflix now.

A British Horror Story indeed

With Fred & Rose West: A British Horror Story, we’re getting a definitive documentary about the prolific husband and wife serial killers. Over the three episodes in this series, we’re getting to know the lives and crimes of Britain’s most notorious married serial killer duo.

Not only are we getting exclusive access to previously unseen police video and unheard audio recordings, but we also hear from victims who got away, relatives of murder victims, and people who worked on the case.

Most notably, we’re getting interviews with the defence attorneys of both Frederick “Fred” West and Rosemary “Rose” West, respectively.

With more than 107 police interview tapes offering over 50 hours of interrogations, this three-part docuseries offers much never-heard-of or seen material that helps shed light on the case. A case involving the murders of at least 12 women.

Fred and Rose West were finally stopped in 1994. It was after a tip from social services in Gloucester, England, that police visited 25 Cromwell Street.

A horrifying rumor said the children of the house were told to behave or they’d be buried under the patio along with their sister, Heather, who had been missing for years. In fact, she hadn’t been seen since 1986, but her parents had never reported her missing.

The known victims of Fred and Rose West from top-left to bottom-right: Heather West, Shirley Robinson, Alison Chambers, Thérèse Siegenthaler, Shirley Hubbard, Lucy Partington, Juanita Mott, Lynda Gough, Carole Ann Cooper, Catherine “Rena” Costello, Ann McFall, Charmaine West

Hazel Savage is brilliant

While Fred & Rose West: A British Horror Story is obviously about the West couple, I have to highlight Hazel Savage as well. She’s one of the police investigators working the case, so you’ll hear her voice on tape (and see her on video recordings) with Fred West.

During interrogation, she is, well, savage in the best ways. Listed on the transcripts as “H. Savage”, you will hear Fred call her “Hazel” plenty of times as he tries to be charming, but Hazel is having none of it. She’s tough as nails, and I love it.

She’s the kind of investigator you’d want working on a case.

When it comes to Fred West, he might try to appear charming in many ways, but I sure don’t see the appeal. How Rose ever did is a mystery at first, but there might be an obvious explanation.

The two met when Rose was just 15 years old, and Fred West was close to 30 years old. Shortly after meeting, Rose became pregnant and they were married. Much has been said about Rose being groomed, which she clearly was, but does that excuse her actions? No.

It does help explain some things, but many are (unfortunately) abused in various ways without continuing the cycle of pain and abuse. “Hurt people hurt people” isn’t just a clever phrase, but it also doesn’t excuse anyone’s actions. It simply helps explain them.

Watch Fred & Rose West: A British Horror Story on Netflix now

Fred West has confessed to at least 12 murders. According to him, the first victim was Ann McFall, a nanny he employed in 1967. This was when he was married to Catherine “Rena” Costello. She was hired to care for their child, Charmaine West. Both were also murdered.

The remains of nine women were found buried at 25 Cromwell Street. One of them was Fred and Rose’s own daughter Heather. Another was a tenant, Shirley Robinson, who was eight months pregnant with Fred’s child.

Fred and Rose often targeted young, vulnerable women. Many of them were runaways or without guardians, but not all. The victims are Alison Chambers, Thérèse Siegenthaler, Shirley Hubbard, Lucy Partington, Juanita Mott, Lynda Gough, and Carole Ann Cooper.

If you want a comprehensive true crime documentary that focuses on victims and the serial killers alike, then this is a good choice. A brutal and terrible case where the serial killers could’ve been stopped much sooner. However, they got away with a fine early on.

Yes, a fine! You cannot make this stuff up, but it happens in real life.

Fred & Rose West: A British Horror Story is on Netflix from May 14, 2025.