Documentary Channel Takes an Unflinching Look at the Dark Side of Human Nature Every Sunday in January

NASHVILLE, Tenn., Dec. 7, 2011 /PRNewswire/ -- This January, Documentary Channel (DOC) examines both the darkness and the resilience of human nature with the premiere of a powerful new film every Sunday night in primetime.  This special month of programming begins Sunday, January 1 (8 p.m. ET/PT), with the U.S. television premiere of "Terror Island," a shocking new documentary that recounts the terrifying mass murders, by right-wing extremist Anders Breivik, on an idyllic island in Oslo, Norway on July 22, 2011. Last month, Breivik was declared legally insane by a Norwegian court.  Later in the month, Documentary Channel explores whether it is possible for a mass murderer to be truly transformed in the U.S. television premiere of "The Redemption of General Butt Naked." Airing on January 22  (8 p.m. ET/PT), this documentary retells the improbable story of Joshua Milton Blahyi, a brutal warlord from Liberia who is responsible for the murders of thousands but has now renounced his past and become a fervent evangelical Christian. With unique insights into some of the most shocking true stories of our time, each of these Sunday night premieres uncovers a dark truth while reminding us all of the deep strength of the human spirit even in our darkest hours.

PREMIERE SCHEDULE

• "Terror Island" on Sunday, January 1 (8 p.m. ET/PT)
• "War is Not a Game" on Sunday, January 8 (8 p.m. ET/PT)
• "I Survived B.T.K." on Sunday, January 15 (8 p.m. ET/PT)
• "The Redemption of General Butt Naked" on Sunday, January 22 (8 p.m. ET/PT)
• "Conviction: The True Story of Clarence Elkins" on Sunday, January 29 (8 p.m. ET/PT)

FILM SYNOPSES

"Terror Island" (January 1, 8 p.m. ET/PT)

On July 22, 2011 the horrifying act of one single individual shattered the lives of hundreds of Norwegians while changing the hearts and minds of the entire country – even the world.  "Terror Island" is the shocking tale of a peaceful summer paradise destroyed when a lone gunman invaded an idyllic Oslo island taking 69 young lives.  Filled with exclusive footage documenting the terrifying rampage, the film also shares the stories of both the victims and the survivors to reveal the remarkable ability of the human race to find light in the darkness and endure.

"War is Not a Game" (January 8, 8 p.m. ET/PT)

Filmmaker Lode Desmet's revealing examination of the helpless nature of war, "War is Not a Game" explores the experiences of eight different soldiers at war on several continents and the ineffectual nature of the many international agreements aimed at regulating armed conflict.  Sharing a look at the international treaties ratified up to the present day by our government the film further assesses what these choices imply for us as a human race as it challenges our attitudes to war and its consequences for all of the worlds' citizens and for the combatants who must wage it. 

"I Survived B.T.K." (January 15, 8 p.m. ET/PT)

The real-time telling of a survivor's personal journey through one of the most unique serial killer cases in U.S. history, "I Survived B.T.K." is the powerful story of Charlie Otero, the oldest surviving member of the Otero family who on January 15, 1974 became the infamous BTK's first victims.

"The Redemption of General Butt Naked" (January 22, 8 p.m. ET/PT)

Joshua Milton Blahyi – aka General Butt Naked – was a ruthless and feared warlord during Liberia's bloody 14-year long civil war.  Today, he has renounced his violent past, reinventing himself as a Christian evangelist on a journey of self-proclaimed transformation.  Now the man, dubbed "General Butt Naked" for fighting with nothing more than an AK-47 and a pair of leather shoes, travels the nation of Liberia as a preacher, seeking out those he once victimized in search of an uncertain forgiveness.  Filmmakers Eric Strauss and Daniele Anastasion tracked this complicated warlord's troubling path, finding both the genuine and disconcerting in Blahyi's efforts.  A rare look at an admittedly controversial individual, "The Redemption of General Butt Naked" forces us to question the very nature of what true, meaningful reconciliation looks like in a country where justice has not been available.

"Conviction: The True Story of Clarence Elkins" (January 29, 8 p.m. ET/PT)

The gripping story of Clarence Elkins, a man convicted of the brutal rape and murder of his mother-in-law and his wife's eight-year legal battle to clear her husband's name, "Conviction: The True Story of Clarence Elkins" paints an eye-opening picture of the realities of the criminal justice system.  A story of strength, determination, persistence and unyielding love, "Conviction: The True Story of Clarence Elkins" is too unbelievable to be anything but true.

Documentary Channel is primarily available through satellite television services DISH Network (Channel 197) and DIRECTV (Channel 267). 

About Documentary Channel®:  Documentary Channel (DOC) is the USA's first 24-hour television network exclusively devoted to documentary films and the independent documentary filmmaker, providing viewers with round-the-clock opportunities to see fascinating, eclectic and award-winning documentary films of all lengths and genres.  For more information on DOC, visit the network website at www.documentarychannel.com, in addition to www.facebook.com/DocumentaryChannel or www.twitter.com/doc_channel.

MEDIA CONTACT:

Ashley Sandberg
Triple 7 Public Relations, LLC
347.735.6480 | [email protected]

SOURCE Documentary Channel