14 Of The Most Disturbing Documentaries On Netflix Right Now

Why watch it?

Do you know what sleep paralysis is? 'Cause you're about to — and maybe also never sleep again?? In this documentary, eight people share their experiences with the phenomenon, and it's all illustrated with some very frightening, surrealist scenes. We have to warn you: don't watch this alone.

Why watch it?

Knox was notoriously charged with the murder of her roomie in Italy, and as the documentary finds, all evidence points to two possible theories: either she is completely innocent, or she's a very manipulative killer. Which is it?? That's for you to decide.

Why watch it?

Forget the horror movie binge — this'll scare you all on its own. Do you have any idea how close rats are to us, constantly? Did you know that they can invade your house by way of the toilet? Throw in a few extra-squeamish scenes of these rodents, and you can kiss your peace of mind good-bye.

Why watch it?

JonBenet Ramsey's murder was one of the most talked about cases in modern history, especially since the main suspects were members of her own family. This documentary will have you on the edge of your seat because you will feel like you're getting closer and closer to solving the case — only to be continually foiled along the way.

Why watch it?

It seems that Jim Carrey can get pretty freakin' dark: Jim and Andy delves into a very different side of the actor, following the tale of when a role so transformed him that, for a while, he became that character 24/7, even when he wasn't on set.

Why watch it?

It's the poster child of shocking documentaries that follows the story of Tilikum — a killer whale involved in the deaths of three people while in captivity — as only the starting point. The doc then goes on to expose the suffering these huge aquatic animals experience in confinement, and it's upsetting, and you'll never want to even think about Sea World again.

Why watch it?

Aileen Wuornos was a serial killer who admitted to having killed seven men, all of whom tried to rape her (or succeeded in doing so) while she was a sex worker. This documentary delves into her mind in order to try to understand the motivations for her crimes.

Why watch it?

William Friedkin directed both The Exorcist and this documentary, because he was always curious about capturing exorcisms outside of fiction. This time, he follows the story of Father Amorth in an attempt to test his own skepticism by documenting a live exorcism.

Why watch it?

In the United States, a group of young women were turned into sex slaves through classified advertisements published in the newspaper. The documentary follows these women as they recount the horrors they lived through at the same time they try to find justice.

Why watch it?

Medical innovation hasn't always led to stellar results —implants sometimes accidentally liquefy organs, cancer-inducing tomographies happen, and robots that are supposed to operate on the body don't work out. Suffice it to say that you should watch this only if you have the stomach for some very disturbing stories.

Why watch it?

In Iceland, six people are convicted for two strange murders. Despite the fact that the bodies were never found, the confessions by the alleged criminals are enough to convict them. But, forty years later, many doubts arise, and no one's very sure ab out anything anymore.

Why watch it?

Recorded over a 20 year period, this documentary follows a sect in California and Michel, its eccentric guru. What seemed like a loving space for meditation, practicing yoga, hugging each other, swimming and working, becomes unraveled twenty years later when former members of the sect reveal very dark secrets about their leader.

Why watch it?

In 1994, a circus elephant in Honolulu attacked and killed its trainer during a live show and escaped, rambling through the streets and terrifying the citizens. This event sparked a very important conversation around animals in captivity and their desire for freedom. Disturbing, but it also ends up being very touching.

Why watch it?

Another documentary about a real exorcist, in this case: Malachi Martin, a very important priest for the Vatican. The director attempts to profile this man through interviews with believers (as well as critics). To give you an idea of how important Malachi was, know that he's the one who inspired the story for The Exorcist.