Three of Netflix‘s biggest hits in the past seven weeks share a common element: director Skye Borgman.
Recognized for her impactful 2017 true crime documentary, “Abducted In Plain Sight,” Borgman has entered into a three-year agreement with Netflix to create and distribute her films. Her latest project, “American Murder: Laci Peterson,” premiered on the platform in 2024, soon to be followed by three documentaries slated for 2025: “Fit for TV: The Reality of The Biggest Loser,” “Unknown Number: The High School Catfish,” and “My Father, the BTK Killer.”
“These projects were actually developed across a broader timeframe than it appears,” Borgman explains. “I initiated work on “About My Father” two years ago, before I started on “Unknown Number” and The Reality of The Biggest Loser.”
Borgman’s films, regardless of whether they delve into murder, deception, or the moral complexities of reality television, resonate deeply with audiences.
The director credits this connection to her primary interest in her projects: confusion.
“If a narrative leaves me puzzled, it instantly piques my curiosity because I want to dissect the reasons behind it,” she shares. “I’m aware that I may never uncover those reasons, but I’m drawn to stories that challenge conventional understanding.”
Borgman’s latest three-part docuseries “Fit for TV: The Reality of The Biggest Loser,” which provides an in-depth exploration of the production of the long-running competition show, launched on August 15. Just two weeks later, “Unknown Number,” which follows Kendra Licari, a mother whose incessant abusive texts targeted her teenage daughter and her boyfriend, broke into Netflix’s Top 10 global film chart in its debut week, generating significant buzz.
The documentary’s rapid ascent and the fervent social media discussions it sparked took Borgman by surprise.
“I anticipated that (the doc) would resonate with viewers, because how could it not? A mother sending such awful messages to her own daughter is shocking,” Borgman reflects. “However, I didn’t foresee the extent of the response it would provoke.”
Licari, featured in “Unknown Number,” has become a target of numerous online jokes and memes. It’s uncertain if she regrets participating in the documentary.
“She hasn’t contacted me, but I can only imagine it’s a lot to process,” Borgman states.
On October 10, Netflix debuted Borgman’s latest documentary, “My Father, the BTK Killer.” This gripping film investigates the crimes of Dennis Rader, the notorious BTK (blind, torture, kill) killer, who murdered ten individuals between 1974 and 1991, before being apprehended in 2005 during a lunch break as a seemingly ordinary member of the community.
While there have been several documentaries about Rader, Borgman’s film offers a fresh perspective, incorporating insights from his daughter, Kerri Rawson. The 94-minute film intertwines Rader’s crimes with personal anecdotes from Rawson regarding her relationship with her father, both prior to and following his arrest and conviction.
Borgman was inspired to create “My Father, the BTK Killer” after reading Rawson’s 2019 memoir, “A Serial Killer’s Daughter: My Story of Faith, Love and Overcoming.”
“The notion of a documentary chronicling the experiences of a serial killer’s daughter piqued my interest as it was something I had never encountered before,” Borgman explains.
The documentary features Rawson reflecting on family memories captured in photographs, showcasing an affectionate family image juxtaposed with haunting reminders of Rader’s actions, including a station wagon that he bought for her to drive during her high school years – the same vehicle used to transport one of his victims.
“He gave me that station wagon to drive in high school,” Rawson reveals in the film.
Since writing her memoir, Rawson has actively discussed the trauma stemming from her father’s heinous crimes. Rader’s actions not only inflicted deep psychological wounds but also compelled Rawson to reassess the authenticity of her childhood memories, complicating her healing process.
“Kerri’s journey and her healing are intricately linked to her decision to speak publicly,” Borgman comments. “While she faces considerable backlash as a result, it’s also an essential part of her growth. Her book served as an initial step, and it seemed necessary for her to further share her story through a documentary, deepening her engagement with the public about her experiences.”
