“I have watched them all and let me tell you – it is by far one of the most disturbing and horrific.”

Content warning: This post discusses documentaries with disturbing topics and themes. 

“I finished it, but I felt changed as a person."

About the documentary: In this documentary, a relationship between a married white professor and a Black man with cerebral palsy sparks controversy when the man’s mother alleges that her son is incapable of consent — leading to a nationwide debate over power dynamics, disability, and race.

"I literally couldn't believe what I was seeing and stopped 10 mins in."

"Absolutely brutal. Heartbreaking how truly evil and cruel some people can be."

About the documentary: This true-crime documentary investigates the 2011 torture and murder of Vera Jo Reigle, a mentally challenged young mother in Findlay, Ohio.

"I was on maternity leave with my firstborn when I started watching it and I just could not. Five years later and there’s still no way."

About the documentary: A child's brutal murder and the ensuing trials of his guardians and social workers lead to questions about the system's protection of vulnerable children.

"I ain’t no quitter, but dear Zachary affected me more than any documentary/movie/show ever has. It’s probably the best documentary I’ve ever seen but is such a hard watch."

About the documentary: This documentary is about the killing of Dr Andrew Bagby, and the injustices that ensued after his killer and ex-girlfriend fled to Canada and had his baby. 

Where to watch: PBS America Channel (Amazon)

"This is one that is hardly mentioned in a lot of these posts. I’ve mentioned it a couple of times because it literally made me cry at the end because I was sad for the girls at the end, and I was so pissed off over all the disgusting acts that he did. It was really heavy on my heart for quite a while."

About the documentary: This documentary is a deep dive into the rise and fall of the disgraced weight-loss sensation, and the investigation into awful crimes that brought him down. 

“I had to shut it off. It was so senseless and hateful, and someone very loved got ripped away. Kids being told they lost their mother… Nope.”

About the documentary: This documentary is all about a neighbourhood dispute in Florida that escalated to deadly violence. We see and hear from police bodycam footage and investigative interviews that expose the consequences of Florida's "stand your ground" laws.

“I had to revisit it and then just blow through all of it. It was so heavy, but it’s definitely a necessary watch.”

About the documentary: This series looks into the decades-old murder of Sister Catherine Cesnik and the suspected link to a priest accused of abuse.

"I couldn't get past the first episode. All that kept going through my mind was how utterly disturbing the man was but also, how much depravity he got away with."

About the documentary: This two-part documentary focuses on the life of famed presenter Jimmy Saville, who, after his death in 2011, was the subject of more than 450 disturbing allegations of sexual assault and abuse, with victims as young as five.

"I got only a couple minutes in. I did not feel it was necessary to actually show portions of the animal torture videos to get their point across and I for sure wasn’t going to put myself through watching it."

About the documentary: This three-part documentary series follows the crowdsourced internet investigation that tracked Luka Magnotta from animal abuse videos to an international murder manhunt.

"This is one of the few documentaries I have regretted watching. Stay away."

"Rally hard to watch. Probably one of the more difficult ones I’ve seen."

About the documentary:  Using raw, firsthand footage, this documentary looks into the disappearance of Shanann Watts and her children, and the awful events that followed.

"I just remember being so disgusted as what is being pumped out online."

About the documentary: Louis Theroux, with wide-spanning access, investigates the rising ultra-masculine networks and the polarising influencers at the centre of them.

"It’s the epitome of the corporate greed we’re living in that is destroying this country and humanity. It’s a heavy cloud of real darkness that will end humanity."

About the documentary: This documentary looks into the two Boeing 737 MAX crashes that killed 346 people. It investigates the root cause of the disasters, and the human impact too.  

"It just made me sick, I made it about 30 mins."

"I finished it, but I was in a middle seat on a plane from the east coast to the west. I work adjacent to public defense and I have never been more angry, depressed, and motivated in my life."

About the documentary: This investigative film exposes the extreme, excessive violence, corruption, and fatal conditions of Alabama's state prison system. It investigates severe overcrowding, drug overdoses, guard brutality, and suspicious killings.

Where to watch: Sky Documentaries, Sky Go, and NOW

"I have watched them all and let me tell you – it is by far one of the most disturbing and horrific."

About the documentary: This three-part documentary series is all about the horrific murders committed by Fred and Rose West. It tells their story using newly discovered police recordings and first-person accounts.