Elize Matsunaga: Once Upon a Crime

Inside Netflix’s Chilling True-Crime Docuseries Elize Matsunaga: Once Upon a Crime

Netflix’s Elize Matsunaga: Once Upon a Crime (2021) peels back the layers of one of Brazil’s most infamous crimes—a case so shocking it reads like a twisted fairy tale. The four-part documentary miniseries, directed by Eliza Capai, revisits the 2012 murder of Japanese-Brazilian businessman Marcos Matsunaga by his wife, Elize, in a story that blends wealth, betrayal, and a descent into violence. latestnetflix.com's take is that but beyond the courtroom drama, the series offers a rare glimpse into the making of a true-crime sensation, with behind-the-scenes details that reveal just how close this project came to never existing at all.

The Star Who Almost Walked Away

Elize Matsunaga, the convicted killer at the center of the story, was initially hesitant to participate. Sources suggest she only agreed to interviews after years of legal battles and public scrutiny, making her involvement a coup for the production. Her firsthand accounts—delivered with eerie calm—provide the series’ most unsettling moments, from her early life as an escort to the unraveling of her marriage. The documentary doesn’t shy away from her contradictions: a woman who claims self-defense while admitting to dismembering her husband’s body.

Co-star Thaís Nunes, who portrays Elize in dramatic reenactments, reportedly spent months studying the real woman’s mannerisms, including her infamous courtroom demeanor. "It was like stepping into a psychological thriller every day," an unverified production insider claimed in a YouTube breakdown. The series’ mix of documentary footage and scripted scenes blurs the line between fact and dramatization, a choice that’s drawn both praise and criticism.

A Race Against Time—and the Law

The production faced legal hurdles from the start. Brazil’s strict privacy laws meant Capai’s team had to navigate a minefield of restrictions, including sealed court documents and gag orders. Some key witnesses, like Marcos’ family, refused to participate, forcing the crew to rely on archival footage and expert testimony. The series’ release date—July 8, 2021—was reportedly pushed back multiple times due to these challenges, though Netflix has never confirmed the delays.

The documentary’s title, Once Upon a Crime, plays on the fairy-tale framing of Elize’s life: a Cinderella story turned nightmare. But the reality was far messier. The series includes never-before-seen police footage of the crime scene, which was leaked to the press during the trial but only fully revealed in the docuseries. Viewers see the gruesome aftermath of Marcos’ murder, including the discovery of his dismembered remains—a detail that’s as disturbing as it is pivotal to the case.

The Netflix Effect: Did the Series Go Too Far?

Critics have debated whether Once Upon a Crime sensationalizes its subject. The series’ 5.9/10 rating on SensCritique reflects mixed reactions, with some viewers praising its depth and others accusing it of exploiting tragedy. One YouTube analysis argues the docuseries omits key details about Elize’s mental state, leaving audiences to fill in the blanks. Others point to the lack of remorse in her interviews as evidence of a calculated performance.

The series also sparked renewed interest in the case, with Brazilian media revisiting the trial’s controversies. Elize’s defense team, led by lawyer Luiz Flávio D’Urso (who appears in the series), has long maintained she acted in self-defense after years of abuse. The documentary doesn’t take sides, but its inclusion of D’Urso’s arguments adds fuel to the debate.

The Aftermath: Where Are They Now?

Elize remains incarcerated, serving a 19-year sentence for murder and body dismemberment. The series’ release reignited public fascination with her story, with some viewers sympathizing with her claims of abuse while others see her as a cold-blooded killer. Marcos’ family, who declined to participate, has largely stayed out of the spotlight, though his brother, Luciano Santoro, gave a rare interview in 2022 condemning the docuseries as "exploitative" [unconfirmed].

As for the production team, director Eliza Capai has moved on to other projects, but the series’ impact lingers. It’s become a case study in how true crime can reshape public perception—even nearly a decade after the fact.