I don't know if it is just me, but the early episodes of unsolved mysteries (87-94) had a more cinematic look and a darker atmosphere. It really added to the stories and gave the murder stories the creepy edge they needed. The episodes that aired from the mid to late 90's lost that edge and feel, but still retained some of it. The episodes made exclusively for lifetime however lost nearly all of it and had a very cheap look to them and the re-enactment footage looked like it was shot on cheap videotape similar to a soap opera.
The ironic thing is I remember reading that the earlier episodes were low budget and yet they still had cinematic picture quality and creepy atmosphere.
Anyone else have any thoughts on this?

I don't know if it is just me, but the early episodes of unsolved mysteries (87-94) had a more cinematic look and a darker atmosphere. It really added to the stories and gave the murder stories the creepy edge they needed. The episodes that aired from the mid to late 90's lost that edge and feel, but still retained some of it. The episodes made exclusively for lifetime however lost nearly all of it and had a very cheap look to them and the re-enactment footage looked like it was shot on cheap videotape similar to a soap opera.
The ironic thing is I remember reading that the earlier episodes were low budget and yet they still had cinematic picture quality and creepy atmosphere.
Anyone else have any thoughts on this?

Agreed. The early UM was more cineamatic and creepy. They were more rewatchable too I think.

I think the biggest difference was the use of film in the earlier seasons, roughly '87 through '93, then they switched to video for everything after that.

I think the biggest difference was the use of film in the earlier seasons, roughly '87 through '93, then they switched to video for everything after that.

I really wish that if they were to revive unsolved mysteries that they would shoot the re-enactments on film like in the 87-93 seasons, however I have a feeling it would be done on video or come across more slick than it should look.