Netflix’s latest documentary, Unknown Number: The High School Catfish, tells a truly shocking and fascinating story. It’s the kind of documentary that grabs your attention right away and keeps you watching, just to figure out how something so strange could actually happen in real life. The story is emotional, intense, and raises some big questions about trust, online safety, and the people we think we know.
But while the story itself is incredible, the way the documentary tells it isn’t perfect. In fact, it feels like the filmmakers were more focused on building drama and suspense than on giving a complete and fair version of the story. As a viewer, I couldn’t help but feel like there was more to the situation than what we were being shown.
One of the biggest problems is that the documentary feels very one-sided at times. It focuses heavily on certain people’s perspectives while leaving out others that could have given the audience a fuller understanding. Instead of digging deep into the why and how of the situation, the film spends too much time trying to shock the audience.
Also, while the documentary tries to be emotional and intense, it sometimes feels like it’s doing that at the expense of the truth. Some parts feel overly dramatic or edited in a way that makes the story more entertaining than informative. Not only that, but the kids who are involved in this story feel as if they’re being used or exploited during this documentary. For a situation this delicate and serious, that kind of approach can make it harder to trust what’s being shown.
That said, the documentary is still worth watching. The story is one of the most bizarre and unbelievable things you’ll hear all year. It will definitely make you think twice about how we communicate online and who we trust. But if you watch it, keep in mind that you’re not getting the full picture. There’s more to the story than what the documentary chooses to focus on.
So yes; watch it. Be shocked. Be saddened. Be angry. But afterward, ask: what parts of this story were left in the dark? And how would the film have changed if it had been as brave in its skepticism as it was in its reveal?
