This Chilling Netflix Documentary Is A Must-Watch - Because It Puts BTK's Daughter At The Center
Imagine learning from police that the BTK Killer is your dad. Then living with the stares, the questions, the headlines that never stop. That's the starting point for Netflix's "My Father, The BTK Killer," and it changes how the story lands - for you, for me, for anyone who thinks they've heard it all.
We've seen plenty of serial killer docs. Most retell the crimes, stack up experts, and move on. This one sits with Kerri Rawson (movies and tv series) - the daughter - and lets her speak plainly about the shock, the aftermath, and the strange, painful math of loving a parent who hid a monster.
Why This One Hits Different
The film doesn't gawk. It listens. Reviews so far point to a careful, human approach that gives Kerri space to process while also showing how she's helped investigators connect cold cases to Dennis Rader (movies and tv series).
There are moments that just stop you. Like Kerri watching a news segment and telling her dad the BTK letters looked like his writing. Or how he kept a "tool" kit in plain sight - ordinary enough to blend in - while teaching her basic life skills. It's the everyday details that make your skin crawl.
What The Documentary Actually Covers
You'll get the broad case context, but the focus is the family (movies and tv series) experience: the brief calm before the arrest, the sudden media glare, and the long tail of questions that don't have neat answers. It's not about excusing anything. It's about showing what violence leaves behind for the people (movies and tv series) who had no say in it.
And yes, the film addresses how BTK defied the stereotype - church leader, city worker, neighbor - the kind of man who'd never match the boogeyman in your head. If you need a factual primer on the case, the FBI's BTK case files are a good reference point.
For True-Crime Pros: What's New Here
Plenty of docs claim a "fresh angle." This one earns it by centering Kerri rather than building a monument to Rader's crimes. It's a survivor-adjacent perspective, and it raises tougher, better questions about who gets the mic in these stories - and why.
There's also smart connective tissue for TV folks: BTK has long hovered at the edges of scripted series. "Mindhunter" was clearly steering toward him before the show stalled. If you're still wishing for that arc, this documentary fills in real-world texture while you wait. For context, here's the official page for Mindhunter on Netflix.
Quick Facts
- Title: My Father, The BTK Killer
- Where to watch: Netflix
- Release date: October 10, 2025
- Runtime: 94 minutes
- Director: Skye Borgman
- Focus: Kerri Rawson's perspective and her work with investigators
- Why it matters: It prioritizes lived experience over lurid detail - essential for responsible true-crime coverage.
Here's Why It's A Must-Watch
Because it asks us to look past the headline and see the people left standing in the wreckage. Because it proves true crime can be thoughtful and still hit hard. And because Kerri's story - steady, honest, unflinching - will stay with you long (movies and tv series) after the credits.
If you cover TV, crime docs, or programming strategy, this one's worth your time. It's a clear example of how reframing the narrator can refresh a well-known case - and, honestly, make the truth land closer to the bone.
