Truth on True Crime: Why The True Crime Category On Netflix Should Be On Your Watchlist

True crime — it’s as compelling to watch as it is unbelievable. True crime stories paint some of the most elaborate, diabolical and completely outlandish crimes known to history, so much so that the genre tends to captivate audiences with its out-of-the box absurdity. Typically, tales containing the same wild storylines are found in works of fiction, that is unless  you’re looking into the “True Crime” section on Netflix, where the enjoyment of fiction is translated into real life.

One of my personal favorites is the three-part Netflix series dubbed “Don’t F*** With Cats: Hunting an Internet Killer.” The show follows a Facebook group of people all over the world who attempt to hunt down the culprit of a series of horrific YouTube videos depicting the vile murder of kittens — as if that isn’t crazy enough.

But the story doesn’t end there. In a series of events involving a gruesome murder with an icepick, fake identities and a potential conspiracy, this docuseries is sure to leave anyone in nail-biting anticipation.

If the summary doesn’t catch your eye, then I can assure you the killer crime’s that the series features will. If you were to watch the series, you would more than likely think to yourself that this kitten killer could’ve been that creepy guy down the street, pulled directly from a fictional movie. 

Well, that’s because he technically is.

In this twisted story of deception, vanity and sadism, viewers get to watch some of the most popular scenes from fictional works like “Fatal Attraction” and “Catch Me If You Can be warped into unspeakable acts. Various scenes and movie tropes are turned into a twisted reality by a killer who aspired to become the main character in a movie of his own creation and world, his audience.

If you don’t have the stomach for homicidal crime or serial killer stories and are more interested in outrageously shameless cons, then “Tinder Swindler” is a perfect watch. This near two-hour film takes viewers through the crimes committed by a man under the alias of Simon Leviev, presenting himself as the son of Israeli-Russian diamond tycoon Lev Leviev on the online dating app, Tinder. 

For those who matched with him on the site, he was a wonderful and wealthy boyfriend, until it’s revealed to them that he’s a scam artist by the name of Shimon Hayut that’s been spending thousands of their own hard earned cash on other women around the world. The show details how this man ran his multi-operation, and nobody found out until it was too late.

This internet catfish story is unbelievable until you see Hayut’s name all over the news. He not only orchestrated a multifaceted con that spanned various countries, but lived a lavish life of partying, expensive cars and private flights to exotic locations — all for free unless you count selling his dignity. I loved the modern take the film had on online dating and the dangers that come with territory, only this story takes it to a whole other level. The ruse is so complicated and the story filled with such intrigue that it’s hard not to fall in love with the film out of sheer interest in such a bizarre crime.

And if crimes of passion or serial killers don’t strike a chord with you, the Netflix series “Dirty Money” should be queued next on your watchlist. The two seasons the show has to offer are filled with stories about ruthless, illegal business practices that have left people crippled with debt or empty bank accounts, while also covering topics such as Volkswagen lying about their “clean diesel” product, Big Pharma and even an episode based right here out of Kansas City about the infamous five-time NASCAR champion Scott Tucker. 

If the shady underbelly of the business world interests you, you’re in for a treat because these stories are some of the best out there, particularly due to their scale and inconceivable appeal, not to mention you can watch a story set right outside East’s backyard. While every episode shares a different story, I was captured by the explorations each story took into the darker side of the business realm. It isn’t often people get a true peek into that kind of world, but the series does this effortlessly, which is why it was so enjoyable to watch. 

So, if you’ve found yourself feeling bored with your typical show genres, look into giving one of the above three true crime pieces a watch. The brilliant appeal of true crime doesn’t just come from the fact that the film itself is based on true events, but that it’s based on true events that are so wildly abnormal, you can barely believe them.