Hulu’s documentary game is strong, especially when it comes to true crime, and there are plenty of great documentaries and docuseries available at all times. As a follower of true crime myself, I am more than happy to do the leg work and find our readers some good recommendations.
Three of these picks have been up on Hulu for a while, and two of them have yet to hit the streaming platform. The two unknowns just sounded interesting, and I definitely plan to check them out!
Captive Audience: A Real American Horror Story
Most true crime followers of a certain age (*Sheepishly raises hand) are familiar with the sad story of Steven Stayner and his older brother Carey. Steven was abducted by child molester Kenneth Parnell when he was only seven years old and lived with the man for the next seven years. When Steven was 14, Parnell arranged to abduct 5-year-old Timmy White, and not wanting the boy to go through what he had, Steven went into action. When Parnell left for work, Steven took Timmy, left the house, and ended up at a police station.
In what the public saw as a happily ever after event, Steven (seen as a hero for saving the younger child) returned to his family. But things were not rosy after all these years, and Captive Audience takes a look at the aftermath. In addition to struggling with trauma and his long-term absence from the family, a television mini-series called I Know My First Name is Steven was released, which both helped and hurt the family’s situation.
And it wasn’t only Steven who struggled, as years later it was discovered that his brother Carey was a serial killer. Captive Audience is a fascinating 3-part series that focuses on multiple aspects of the Stayner family and their struggles.
Mastermind: To Think Like a Killer
This three-part docuseries examines one of the pioneers of criminal profiling, Ann Burgess. In the 1970s, criminal investigations and interviews were usually conducted by men, and Ann ended up working with two of the best in the field: John Douglas and Robert Ressler.
Burgess didn’t initially set out with the intention of getting involved in criminal science; instead, she obtained a degree in nursing (along with her BS and MS degrees). But she ended up specializing in treating trauma in rape victims, co-founding a program at Boston City Hospital with Lynda Lytle Holstrom. The two did a massive amount of research dealing with Boston rape victims in the 1960s, which captured the FBI’s attention.
Burgess was at first unsure if she should get involved in such darkness, especially since she had young children. But, as she says in Mastermind, "I was feeling pressured to make the right decision. I mean, I didn't care much about the offenders; they were killers. The biggest motivation from my perspective was helping victims. I focused on that as much as I could.”
She was given access to Douglas and Ressler’s interview tapes with serial killers such as Ed Kemper and Charles Manson, and her input was instrumental in the fledgling development of criminal profiling. Mastermind takes a close look at Burgess and gives true crime fans an inside look at what it took for a woman to succeed in such a career.
Perfect Wife: The Mysterious Disappearance of Sherri Papini
As we all know, missing/abducted person cases seem to captivate the general public the most if they involve young, attractive women. Sherri Papini was exactly that: blonde, blue-eyed, a young mom who seemed to be living a dream life with her husband Keith.
Sherri disappeared while out jogging in her neighborhood, and the country was riveted to the case. Obviously, a lot of suspicion was projected onto her husband, who had found her cell phone and earbuds in the area from which she disappeared. Surprisingly, Sherri reappeared three weeks later on Thanksgiving Day with her hair cut off, her nose broken, covered in bruises, and still wearing restraints.
She claimed to have been released by her captors, who she described as two Latino women. But some things in her story didn’t add up, including the evidence found on her person. Despite her claim that the only captors were the two women, both male and female DNA were found on her, and there were inconsistencies in her story.
When the truth finally emerged, it was a jaw-dropping story with similarities to Gillian Flynn’s book and movie Gone Girl, and it’s covered thoroughly in this three-part docuseries. If you don’t already know the outcome of Sherri’s story, prepare to be shocked.
Child Star
Former child stars such as Christina Ricci, Drew Barrymore, JoJo Siwa and Kenan Thompson participated in this series, which takes a look at their experiences working in show business as kids.
Demi Lovato directed Child Star, and sits down with these now-adult actors to discuss their stories. Most of us can only imagine what it was like growing up in the spotlight, but Drew Barrymore has spoken many times about her experiences drinking and clubbing as a young child. Her mother allowed all of it, and it caused Barrymore some trauma. No doubt, the other actors who are interviewed have similar stories.
Child Star started streaming on September 17.
Out There: Crimes of the Paranormal
This eight-episode series explores true crime cases with a paranormal twist. Each story is told through interviews with eyewitnesses, victims, and experts. The stories take place all across the country and involve a variety of people and events.
The cases include that of six-year-old Dennis Martin, who disappeared during a camping trip in the Smoky Mountains, a suspected UFO crash in Long Island, and ghosts in San Francisco’s Chinatown.
Out There: Crimes of the Paranormal comes to us from the team responsible for Hulu’s Sasquatch, and began streaming on September 24.