Original Sin: My Son The Killer (2024)
Original Sin follows Thea Pretorius, the mother of Gerhard Jansen van Vuuren, who murdered his 25-year-old girlfriend Andrea Venter in front of her neighbours, security guards and CCTV cameras. He then escaped authorities in South Africa and Brazil for years, assuming three different identities and starting families with multiple women. After initially helping him escape, Thea slowly had to come to terms with her son being a killer. As she admits in the trailer, “He’s capable of worse things.”
Original Sin is directed by John Gutierrez, whose credits include Sons of the Sea, which won the Best South African Film at Durban, and editing the Grammy-winning Tom Petty and the Heartbreakers: Runnin’ Down a Dream.
The documentary feature is a co-production between Showmax, Rogan Productions (BAFTA winner Uprising, BAFTA nominees Freddie Mercury: The Final Act and Putin: A Russian Spy Story), and The Electric Shadow Company (BAFTA nominee McQueen, Hot Docs Jury winner Name Me Lawand), in association with Combined Artists (Strangers You Know, Carte Blanche) and Red Earth (Narcoworld: Dope Stories).
More like this
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.
Giants S1
A compelling docuseries that takes you deep inside the lives of players from one of South Africa's most iconic football clubs, Orlando Pirates.
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.
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.
Uncover the soul of South African football with the boxset of Giants
You can now binge-watch all five episodes of Giants, which takes an unprecedented look behind the scenes of a legendary football club: Orlando Pirates
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.
Tracking Thabo Bester
A documentary about the convicted murderer and rapist who faked his own death. All episodes are on Showmax.
5 reasons to pick up HBO’s Telemarketers
Scam caller alert! Five reasons to find out who’s really cashing in on a job that everyone hates, in the HBO documentary series The Telemarketers.
Tracking Thabo Bester: Elevating the chase
The Illuminated: It’s a matter of faith
More eye-opening documentaries
Iyanu: The Age of Wonders (2025)
When Meje, the living embodiment of the seven deadly sins, threatens the land, young warriors Dara and Ishe must prevent an age of darkness.
South Africa in third place at International Emmys, with four MultiChoice nominations
Stream all four International Emmy-nominated series Koek, School Ties, Chasing the Sun 2, and Catch Me a Killer on Showmax.
What to watch on Showmax in October 2025
Award-winning local content, hot new reality shows, The Office spinoff The Paper - it's all on Showmax in October.
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.
Latest Stories
The clash of the new number 9s: Gyökeres vs Woltemade
Red vs Blue: Showmax Premier League serves up a blockbuster weekend
Blockbuster Premier League weekend: Red vs Blue
Where to see the cast of Levels on Showmax
Showmax presents September 5: A riveting look at a pivotal moment in news history
From doubt to dynamo: Micky van de Ven's rise at Tottenham
Mhlongo's bold prediction: Pirates to clinch MTN8 Title for a fourth year running
Glory awaits: From MTN8 Kings to Manchester's Crown, football's biggest stage is on Showmax
Art, money and power: a blueprint for The Brutalist
Uncover the soul of South African football with the boxset of Giants
Rianza Snyman on Vaal Riviera and being a stay-at-home mom
The best Premier League signings of 2025's summer window
SA siblings’ debut film chosen for BFI London Film Festival
Simo Magwaza on his challenging role as De Klerk in Youngins
Christopher Jaftha gets top billing in raunchy Khaki Fever
Nkululeko Mahlangu on Makoto, marriage and more
Alexander Isak a great option for LFC's attack, say former Liverpool striker David Ngog
What to watch on Showmax in September 2025
Kate and Annie take charge in Ten Pound Poms Season 2
Tshepo Miya talks about being on Married at First Sight
Vilakazi's verdict: Sundowns to "edge it" in high-stakes MTN8 semi-final
Khaki Fever and more sexy Afrikaans movies and series
Rivalries reignite in thrilling Premier League games on Showmax
5 patients you’ll meet in The Pitt Season 1
