True crime enthusiasts are being strongly encouraged to binge-watch what many are calling the "most disturbing documentary ever" to appear on streaming platforms. The series in question is the 2019 Netflix production titled 'Don’t F**k with Cats: Hunting an Internet Killer', which has left viewers horrified and deeply affected since its release.
The Harrowing True Crime Story
This three-part docuseries meticulously chronicles the chilling case of Luka Magnotta, a criminal who first gained notoriety by sharing a vile video online depicting himself killing two kittens. The documentary follows a group of amateur internet sleuths who, upon discovering this animal cruelty, launched a determined online manhunt to identify and locate Magnotta.
As the investigation unfolded, Magnotta's crimes escalated dramatically, culminating in the brutal murder of a Chinese international student. The amateur detectives, operating primarily through a dedicated Facebook group, painstakingly built a case against him by analyzing the snippets of his crimes that he had posted online.
Viewer Reactions and Lasting Impact
The series has sparked an intense and visceral reaction from audiences worldwide. Many viewers continue to recommend it as one of Netflix's most disturbing true crime programmes, with comments ranging from praise for its compelling narrative to expressions of profound discomfort.
One viewer described it as "a brilliant watch, it gets more horrendous as you watch too," while another admitted, "100% yes, but I found it disturbing, ngl." Several viewers have noted the documentary's lasting impact, with one stating, "That’s the one documentary I can’t watch again. So disturbing," and another echoing, "This documentary is horrific. It's stayed with me ever since I watched it."
Additional viewer testimonials highlight the documentary's intensity, with descriptions including "incredibly intense and horrific," "unforgettable," and "spellbinding and mesmerising and sickening but ultimately rewarding." One particularly detailed review praised the storytelling: "I was glued from beginning to end. Deanna and John did a wonderful job of describing their experience. There were many times I asked myself if this documentary was fiction cause it was so unbelievable at times."
Ethical Considerations and Filmmaker Perspectives
The documentary's creators have openly discussed the ethical challenges involved in producing such content. Producer Felicity Morris revealed at a 2020 Bafta session on the making of the documentary that significant conversations were held about whether they were giving Magnotta an inappropriate platform by telling his story on Netflix.
After extensive discussions with the two key internet sleuths featured in the series, Deanna Thompson and John Green, producer Mark Lewis explained their philosophical approach: "We arrived at what we thought was a comfortable position, looking at the complicity with everyone who reads a crime story in the newspaper and who reads a crime novel. Crime and murder is something that we’re all fascinated in, and in a sense it was part of the story that we’re all - whether filmmakers or viewers - sort of complicit in this fascination with true crime and murder."
Case Resolution and Availability
Luka Magnotta was ultimately convicted of murder in 2012 and is currently serving a life sentence for his crimes. The Netflix synopsis for the docuseries reads: "A twisted criminal’s gruesome videos drive a group of amateur online sleuths to launch a risky manhunt that pulls them into a dark underworld."
'Don’t F**k with Cats' remains available for streaming on Netflix, continuing to attract viewers who are both fascinated and disturbed by its unflinching examination of one of the internet age's most notorious criminal cases.
