The 10 Most Disturbing Documentaries Streaming on Netflix Right Now
Few apps feed the true crime fans as well as Netflix does. They’ve accumulated a rather impressive library of disturbing documentaries that leave viewers shocked on a nearly weekly basis. This is why we felt it was time to highlight 10 films that have been living rent-free in our collective minds these last few years. Read on, and then watch them at your own risk.
Abducted in Plain Sight (dir. Skye Borgman)
12-year-old Jan Broberg is abducted from a small church-going community by a close family friend. She is eventually returned home only to be abducted by the same man again. This Netflix documentary is disturbing and shocking for so many reasons. It also makes me so angry every time I think about how this happened to the same child, not once, but twice.
The Act of Killing (dir. Joshua Oppenheimer)
This film explores the horrifying mass killings of 1965–66, where accused communists in Indonesia were executed while their corrupt executioners were celebrated. These types of stories always get under my skin, and this one always feels like it is too soon because we live in such a broken world. However, if you want a disturbing documentary with a history lesson, you might want to check it out.
American Murder: The Family Next Door (dir. Jenny Popplewell)
Shanann Watts and her two young daughters disappear in Colorado. When the heartbreaking details emerged, the family’s story made headlines. This eerie documentary uses social media posts, law enforcement recordings, text messages, and home video footage to drive home this senseless act. While it waits too long to reveal the inevitable conclusion, it’s still a very upsetting watch. It’s even more alarming because the murderer never revealed a motive for what he did.
Casting JonBenet (dir. Kitty Green)
Filmmakers interview actors during the casting process for re-enactments in the documentary about the chilling case. This film explores the cultural impact and the upsetting legacy of JonBenét Ramsey’s death. Like most 90s kids, this unsolved murder haunts me. So, anything having to do with it is always sad and fascinating.
Girl in the Picture (dir. Skye Borgman )
A mother’s mysterious death and her son’s subsequent kidnapping reveal the woman’s true identity. It also leads to a decades-long mystery and the federal fugitive at the center of everything. This harrowing film is based on the books A Beautiful Child and Finding Sharon by Matt Birkbeck. It’s a disturbing tale in too many ways to list in a streaming guide, and it gets more upsetting with every revelation.
Memories of a Murderer: The Nilsen Tapes (dir. Michael Harte)
Serial killer Dennis Nilsen shares his disturbing crimes via tapes recorded from his prison cell. The only thing that is more disturbing than hearing the atrocities committed by serial murderers is hearing it in their own voices. It is chilling and upsetting because giving the worst of humanity a microphone gives me the ick. However, few things will be as disturbing as this Netflix documentary.
Our Father (dir. Lucie Jourdan)
A woman’s at-home DNA test reveals multiple half-siblings, which leads her to discover a shocking scheme involving the controversial fertility specialist Doctor Donald Cline. This documentary is another one that is equal parts shocking and disturbing. It’s also how I found out about this awful betrayal that led to this man fathering 94 kids without his patient’s knowledge or consent.
Tell Me Who I Am (dir. Ed Perkins)
A man loses his memory after a motorcycle accident and trusts his twin to tell him about his past. However, he realizes that his brother is hiding a dark family secret. This heartbreaking tale of child sexual abuse is told in three equally upsetting parts. It’s hard to not cry as one brother is trying to get answers from the other who, after carrying the truth for all these years, wants to believe the version of their childhood he made up to protect his twin.
Tell Them You Love Me (dir. Nick August-Perna)
A white professor initiates a controversial affair with a non-verbal Black man who has cerebral palsy. This disturbing story gets into lack of consent, power dynamics, race, and disability. It is also a prime example of white women playing the victim card when they cross an unforgivable line. If you want to feel real rage, you should hit play today.
Voyeur (dir. Josh Koury and Myles Kane )
A Colorado motel owner is caught spying on his guests from the motel attic, where he documented their private moments. This is one of my biggest secret fears when I travel. We’ve all had a bad stay in a hotel, Airbnb, etc., but having the owner watching without knowledge or consent is unnerving. Just thinking about this documentary sends me to hell.
Are you planning to check out any of these disturbing documentaries on Netflix this month? Then let us know at @DreadCentral.
Categorized:Editorials
