Dark Side of Glory on Showmax
24 July 2024

Must watch trailer: true-crime doccie Dark Side of Glory

Showmax has just dropped the first trailers for Dark Side of Glory, a true crime documentary series that tells the stories behind shocking cases of murder in the world of sport. 

Dark Side of Glory is directed by Arianna Perretta and produced by CMG Productions, who won Best Documentary at the 2023 Broadcast Digital Awards for The Footballer, His Wife and the Crash and were nominated for a 2024 True Crime Award for Football Fraudster. 

Watch the trailer for Dark Side of Glory - The Durban Axe Murderer: The Rugby Killer

The first episode, The Durban Axe Murderer: The Rugby Killer, premieres on Showmax on Wednesday, 31 July 2024. The jaw-dropping 76-minute feature documentary follows Joseph Ntshongwana, who played for South Africa at U21 level and for the Blue Bulls between 1998 and 2001. Ten years later, he was arrested for killing four men with an axe, and wounding two others. Joseph claimed to be avenging the gang rape and subsequent HIV infection of his daughter - but police found he had no children…

“There’s a saying that goes, ‘He couldn’t hurt a fly,’” says his former Blue Bulls teammate, Springbok winger McNeil Hendricks. “It’s hard to believe that Joseph Ntshongwana, as we knew him, had chopped people’s heads off.”

Former Springbok McNeil Hendricks in Dark Side of Glory

Other interviews include captain Rico Naidoo, colonels Jason McGray and Ze-Ev Krein, detective Marius Van Der Looy, and former South African Police Service head profiler Dr Gérard Labuschagne, as well as senior state advocate Nadira Moosa, psychiatrist Dr Zuber Moola, rugby journalist Brenden Nel, and key witnesses, among others. 

Detective Marius Van Der Looy in Dark Side of Glory

“I felt it was crucial to ensure that the testimonies of the victims and witnesses in The Durban Axe Murderer were heard,” says Perretta. “Fikile Mkhwanazi, the partner of murder victim Paulus Hlongwa, sharing her story was particularly powerful.” 

Watch the trailer for Dark Side of Glory: Death in the Heartlands

The second episode, Death in the Heartlands, premieres on Showmax on Wednesday, 7 August 2024. The 86-minute feature documentary investigates the murder of three female runners in Kenya in 2021: Edith Muthoni, a day later Agnes Tirop, and six months later Damaris Muthee Mutua. All had allegedly been killed by the men closest to them – their partners or coaches. 

Two of the murders happened in the elite running community of Iten, known as the Home of Champions. Tirop, an Olympian and two-time World Athletic Championship medalist, was found stabbed to death in her home there - soon after clinching a 10 000m world record in Germany. She would have been a favourite at the upcoming Paris Olympics. 

“The culture of elite sport is that we celebrate tunnel vision in order to pursue our goal. But then we become highly vulnerable,” says Stanford academic Dr Yetsa Tuakli-Wosornu.

Other interviews include Directorate of Criminal Investigation inspector Andolo Munga; coach Joseph Cheromei; Agnes’ family and neighbours; and Olympian Viola Cheptoo Lagat, who co-founded Tirop’s Angels to stand in unity against gender-based violence. 

“Death in the Heartlands exposes the harsh challenges young, especially female, athletes face and celebrates the resilience and courage of the women who have organised to challenge the culture and system around elite running in Kenya," says Perretta. 

"Dark Side of Glory puts the spotlight on the real voices behind these cases, from the relentless Durban police team that brought Joseph Ntshongwana to justice, to the courageous friends and families of Agnes Tirop, Edith Muthoni, and Damaris Muthee, who exposed the exploitation of female athletes,” says Perretta. “These are raw, powerful, and shocking stories.”

Dark Side of Glory is being distributed internationally by CMG Productions.

Share:

More like this

Mobland S1 is on Showmax

MobLand S1

Tom Hardy and Pierce Brosnan propel this gripping, gritty crime drama series that follows two powerful families engaged in an intense power struggle.

MobLand on Showmax

Big mobs, small jobs: 10 crime series to stream on Showmax

Not everybody can be the Godfather. From MobLand to The Cleaning Lady to Gangs of London, we look at 11 small but essential jobs that take care of the organising behind organised crime. 

Michael C Hall as Dexter in Dexter: Resurrection

Dexter's deadly to-do list in Dexter: Resurrection

Dexter’s son Harrison “killed” him in the finale of Dexter: New Blood. But he’s back from the dead and on a mission: tie up loose ends.

Dexter: Resurrection S1 on Showmax

Dexter: Resurrection S1 

The city that never sleeps has a new guest. Set a few weeks after Dexter: New Blood, Dexter Morgan chases a missing Harrison to New York, where Captain Angel Batista is hot on their trail from Miami.

Seen and Heard documentary on Showmax

Seen & Heard: The History of Black Television

Take a journey through TV history, exploring Black representation, from early on-screen appearances to modern creators, revolutionising the industry.

First
Task S1 is on Showmax

Is HBO’s Task “the best crime thriller of the year”?

Brad Ingelsby talks Task, HBO’s gritty crime thriller with Mark Ruffalo and Thuso Mbedu. New episodes Mondays on Showmax, express from the US.

First
Task S1 on Showmax

Task S1

Mark Ruffalo plays Special Agent Tom, who leads a task force in working-class Philadelphia to put an end to a string of violent robberies.

First
Flight 149: Hostage of War is on Showmax

Flight 149: Hostage of War (2025)

When Flight 149 landed in Kuwait, its passengers became pawns in Saddam's invasion, held as human shields. Decades later, survivors seek justice and the truth.

First

Single Kiasi S4, now streaming

Reckless S1, now streaming

Latest Stories

Bafana Bafana live on Showmax Premier League

Bafana Bafana composed for Durban showdown against Zimbabwe

Arsenal live on Showmax Premier League

Arsenal and Liverpool early front-runners ahead of Premier League international break

Catch the fiery battle between Chelsea and Liverpool live on Showmax Premier League

The Premier League canvas: a Saturday masterpiece painted in blue and red

Godfrey Odhiambo on Reckless on Showmax

Godfrey Odhiambo on Reckless, his career, and the evolution of Kenyan film

Catch Newcastle v Arsenal live on Showmax Premier League on Sunday, 28 September at 17:30

The clash of the new number 9s: Gyökeres vs Woltemade

Thelma on Showmax

June Squibb wins Best Actress award at age 95 for Thelma

Catch the blockbuster Premier League weekend live on Showmax Premier League.

Red vs Blue: Showmax Premier League serves up a blockbuster weekend

Catch all the action from the Premier League live on Showmax PL.

Blockbuster Premier League weekend: Red vs Blue

Minne Kariuki as Mariah in Single Kiasi S4 on Showmax

Minne Kariuki on Single Kiasi, motherhood and being a “gold digger” 

Gerard Butler as 'Big Nick' O'Brien and O’Shea Jackson Jr. as Donnie Wilson in Den of Thieves 2: Panthera. Photo Credit: Rico Torres.

Gerard Butler and O’Shea Jackson Jr chat about Den of Thieves 2: Pantera

Catch the London derby between Tottenham Hotspur and West Ham live on Showmax Premier League.

From doubt to dynamo: Micky van de Ven's rise at Tottenham

Catch the MTN8 final between Orlando Pirates and Stellenbosch, live on Showmax Premier League.

Mhlongo's bold prediction: Pirates to clinch MTN8 Title for a fourth year running

The Mommy Club NBO on Showmax

Carey Priscilla dishes on The Mommy Club NBO drama 

Catch the Manchester Derby live on Showmax Premier League.

Glory awaits: From MTN8 Kings to Manchester's Crown, football's biggest stage is on Showmax

The Brutalist on Showmax

Art, money and power: a blueprint for The Brutalist

Catch all the action from the Premier League live on Showmax PL.

The best Premier League signings of 2025's summer window

Task S1 on Showmax

What to watch on Showmax in Kenya in September 2025

Catch Liverpool v Arsenal live on Showmax Premier League on Sunday, 31 August 2025 at 17:30

Alexander Isak a great option for LFC's attack, say former Liverpool striker David Ngog

Ten Pound Poms S2 on Showmax

Kate and Annie take charge in Ten Pound Poms Season 2

Single Kiasi S4 on Showmax

First look: Single Kiasi returns for Season 4

The Mommy Club NBO on Showmax

Radio queen Cess Mutungi to host The Mommy Club NBO reunion

Sibusiso Vilakazi believes his former club Mamelodi Sundowns will edge out Pirates in the second leg of the MTN8 semi final.

Vilakazi's verdict: Sundowns to "edge it" in high-stakes MTN8 semi-final

Newcastle and Liverpool battle it out at St James Park on Monday, 25 August 2025. Catch all the action live on Showmax PL.

Rivalries reignite in thrilling Premier League games on Showmax

The Pitt S1on Showmax

5 patients you’ll meet in The Pitt Season 1