10 Best True Crime Documentaries Of 2023 (So Far)
3. The Hatchet Wielding Hitchhiker
The Hatchet Wielding Hitchhiker recounts the larger-than-life tale of viral sensation Caleb Lawrence McGillvary, a.k.a. Kai - an unashamedly eccentric drifter who received nationwide press attention after using a hatchet to subdue a violent criminal attacking a woman. The story didn't end there though - Kai was convicted of a brutal murder roughly three months later.
Netflix had some ridiculously alluring subject matter to work with here and the streamer did not disappoint. Over the course of 85 minutes, The Hatchet Wielding Hitchhiker expertly juxtaposes Kai's wacky personality and the lighthearted manner he was portrayed by the media against the stark reality of the man's true nature. Kai was ultimately sentenced to 57 years in prison for beating an elderly man to death.
The Hatchet Wielding Hitchhiker adds a further engrossing element of authenticity by drawing upon legitimately compelling sources to add context to this unlikely tale. The testimonials from Kai's mother, as well as the reporters and police officers that dealt with his case, are first class, building a nuanced image of Kai as an individual and the macabre consequences that his newfound fame brought with it.