I get it, fiction can be so much more fun and interesting than reality. It can also be terrifying, but we find comfort knowing that it’s fake. But what happens when reality gets as twisted as fiction can be? We gather information and make it into documentaries.
Here are seven true crime documentaries that can be found on Netflix, for when you want to feel like a detective and also want to dive deep into some of the horrors of history.
Content warning for violence and death!
1. Night Stalker: The Hunt for a Serial Killer (2021)
This docuseries narrates the hunt for 80’s serial killer Richard Ramirez, who was convicted in 1989 of thirteen counts of homicide, five attempted murders, eleven sexual assaults, and fourteen burglaries around Los Angeles, California. Witnesses and detectives from the case talk about their experiences with this terrifying man. Check it out here.
2. Conversations with a Killer: The Ted Bundy Tapes (2019)
The limited documentary series shows the history of famous American serial killer Ted Bundy, focused on an interview of him made by Stephen Michaud, in which he revealed key elements of his own crimes. Bundy murdered 36 women in the 1970s, and it’s speculated that his victim count is much higher. Watch the series here.
3. Don’t F*** With Cats: Hunting an Internet Killer (2019)
Don’t F*** With Cats describes the online hunt thousands of people from all over the world did, after seeing a video of a man killing two kittens. Encouraged by the attention he was receiving, the killer continued to post more disturbing videos, eventually crossing into murder. Check out the series here.
4. Crime Scene: The Vanishing at the Cecil Hotel (2021)
Elisa Lam’s death in 2013 became known all over the world for the strange circumstances surrounding it, putting the Cecil Hotel, located in Los Angeles, in the spotlight. This short documentary series dives into the hotel’s history and how Elisa’s passing might have actual answers. Watch the series here.
5. American Murder: The Family Next Door (2020)
This hour-and-a-half documentary tells the story of murderer Chris Watts, who killed his wife and daughters to protect an affair, in 2018. Watts pretended to know nothing about the events and even worked with the police to find his “missing” family. The film uses archival footage including social media posts, law enforcement recordings, text messages, and home video footage to depict the events that occurred. Watch the series is here.
6. Abducted In Plain Sight (2017)
The documentary covers the kidnapping of Jan Broberg Felt, an Idaho teenager who was abducted by her neighbor Robert Berchtold in the 1970s. The victim, her family, and his own sit down to talk about the horrifying experience and his multiple delusions. Check out the series here.
7. The Keepers (2017)
The unsolved murder of Sister Cathy Cesnik is the main point of this one-season documentary. After disappearing in 1969, Cesnik’s body was found two months after. Until today, no guilty killer was found. This case is more than just a murder, though. Witnesses assure Cathy knew a secret related to child predators in her church. Watch the series here.
