Over the past 5 years, more than 99 young people have been found hanged in Bridgend, South Wales. Bridgend, premiering on Netflix on November 11th, shines a light on a story almost too unbelievable to be true.
Boston, MA / ACCESSWIRE / November 11, 2014 / Director John Michael Williams' documentary film, Bridgend, premiering on Netflix on November 11th, shines a light on a story almost too unbelievable to be true. Over the past 5 years, more than 99 young people have been found hanged in Bridgend, South Wales, a small town just two hours north of London. Most of the victims knew each other. They were found hanged the same way. None of them left notes. They were friends, neighbors, family. The striking similarities between the deaths have confounded authorities and struck fear into the hearts of all who live there. Many residents believe the deaths are the result of a clever serial killer. Others believe it's a suicide pact. Headlines splashed across the UK have earned Bridgend the nickname "Death Town".
Bridgend is a groundbreaking documentary feature that investigates the chain of gruesome events that has caused the sleepy town of Bridgend to become the subject of headlines across the United Kingdom. Through exclusive interviews with family members and friends of the victims, the film Bridgend traces the victims' final hours, revealing the lives lost in this tragic story. One boy laid out his suit to attend his friend's funeral, and only hours later, walked to a tree next to the one where his friend had died and hanged himself. Another girl was found hanging in a bathroom just hours after hearing of the suicide of her younger cousin. A young man, having attended several of his friends' funerals, ended his life in a children's park after a night at the pub (within weeks, two of his ex-girlfriends were also found hanged). The stories leading up to the tragic deaths are varied, but they are starkly alike in their endings. The victims are left hanging from jackets or cell phone cords or ropes, from playground slides or banisters or the back of a closet door.
In Bridgend, Director/Writer John Michael Williams brings our attention to a difficult topic. Williams spent 5 years filming and investigating a story that he believes was intentionally hidden from most of the world. "The inextricable links between the deaths can't be denied, but officials tasked with the investigation can offer no answers or solace to the families left behind. Bridgend puts a lens on the macabre story still unfolding in a town haunted by one hundred lives lost to suicide," said Williams. "This was not an easy film to make, but this story needs to be told." At one point last year Williams was so distraught over the suicides that he was compelled to write and perform music that reflected the anguish of what he was experiencing. His trilogy of songs garnered 75 million views on YouTube, and Williams' song, "A World Without Love," plays over the film's closing credits. Williams also directed the documentary film, "The Gloucester 18," and the animated feature, "The Easter Egg Escapade," which Williams also wrote. He also composed the music and performed the love theme with Natalie Cole.
More people committed suicide in the United States last year than were killed in auto accidents. Over 34,000 people in the United States commit suicide every year; about one person every 15 minutes. It's the third leading cause of death for teen-agers. For 10-14 year-olds, the suicide rate has doubled in the last ten years. Williams believes because of the stigma that exists around suicide, too little is said or written in the media on the issue. "Kids should be taught in school not to kill themselves just as they're taught not to take drugs or to drink and drive or to get in cars with strangers."
While debate still rages over the cause of the Bridgend hanging deaths, the numbers continue to rise. One thing is for certain: there are innumerable friends and family members in Bridgend who have been directly affected by these tragedies. Bridgend probes the chilling drama unfolding in a town that will be haunted by the one question those are forever cursed to ask: Why?
About Bridgend:
Bridgend is a documentary premiering on Netflix on 11-11-2014. It is a multi-year project that has gathered together the resources from both sides of the Atlantic to shine a light on a powerful story. For more information, please visit http://www.bridgendthemovie.com or http://www.johnmichaelwilliams.com
Contact:
John Williams
[email protected]
(949) 555-2861
SOURCE: Bridgend