Here’s What to Watch Next If You Enjoyed ‘Monster: The Ed Gein Story’

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With *Monster: The Ed Gein Story* still topping Netflix’s most-watched lists, a new true-crime documentary is giving it strong competition. *My Father, The BTK Killer*, released on October 10, 2025, explores the disturbing crimes of Dennis Rader – known as the “Blind, Torture, Kill” serial killer – who terrorized Wichita, Kansas, in the 1970s. The film reveals a chilling look into Rader’s life and the horrific acts he committed.

Combining unsettling archival footage from the 1970s with the deeply personal story of his daughter, Kerri Rawson, *My Father, The BTK Killer* provides a disturbing look at the life of Dennis Rader – a man who appeared to be a normal father and community leader, but secretly murdered at least fifteen people. Unlike other sensationalized true crime stories like *The Ed Gein Story*, this documentary offers a unique and insightful exploration into the psychology of one of America’s most infamous serial killers.

‘My Father, The BTK Killer’ Offers a Unique Perspective


Netflix

The Netflix documentary *My Father, The BTK Killer*, directed by Skye Borgman, tells the disturbing true story of Denis Rader, who terrorized Wichita, Kansas in the 1970s. Known as the BTK Killer because of his horrific method – binding, torturing, and killing his victims – Rader escalated his crimes by sending letters to the media, boasting about his actions and listing those he’d murdered. The 93-minute film offers a chilling look at these events.

This documentary stands out from typical true crime stories by including an interview with the BTK killer’s daughter. Kerri Rawson shares her childhood experiences growing up with Rader in Kansas during the 1970s and 80s, revealing the early warning signs of his disturbing behavior. Combining historical footage and interviews with investigators, the film offers a complete and captivating look at the case, all within a concise and fast-moving timeframe.

Rawson recounts that her father marked her first birthday by also sending a mocking letter to the police about his crimes. Later, after having children, Rader’s communications decreased, leading many to believe he had stopped killing. However, having a family actually helped him blend in and avoid suspicion, allowing him to continue committing murders while appearing to be a normal father. The documentary about his case has quickly become popular on Netflix, reaching the #3 spot in just its first four days.

‘The BTK Killer’ Weighs Celebrity vs. Infamy in His Return


Netflix

A particularly compelling part of the documentary *My Father, The BTK Killer* is how Dennis Rader’s need for recognition ultimately caused his capture. After a lull in criminal activity from the late 1970s to the early 1990s, Rader resumed his crimes once his son was grown. The film suggests that Rader was motivated less by a desire to kill and more by a craving for notoriety, delving into his disturbed mind as he brazenly took credit for incredibly brutal crimes.

After a 25-year break from killing, Rader relocated from Wichita, Kansas, and resumed his crimes in Park City, Utah, where he worked as an animal control officer. A particularly unsettling moment in the new true-crime documentary shows Rader being questioned by police – he calmly eats French fries while officers interrogate him. This composure, even when facing capture, highlights Rader’s psychopathic nature, suggesting he was more motivated by the thrill of recognition than by any fear of consequences or feelings of guilt.

Rader’s confidence and boldness enabled him to commit murders for years without being discovered. The documentary examines how he deceived not only his family – his wife, Paula, and children, Kerri and Brian – but also his entire community and church. It powerfully emphasizes the shock of learning that a seemingly kind and respectable man could be a serial killer for decades. Told from the perspective of his daughter, Kerri, as an adult, the film culminates in a deeply moving exploration of the lasting impact of her father’s crimes.

Most true-crime documentaries center on the criminals and those they harmed. It’s unusual to hear directly from family members who were unaware of their relative’s crimes. The documentary *My Father, The BTK Killer* does just that, and with a powerful impact. Kerri shares her conversations with her father, Dennis Rader, leading up to his 2005 arrest for murders he committed between 1974 and 1991. Hearing her read their letters provides a unique look at how the family coped with the arrest and the subsequent public and legal proceedings.

Kerri Rawson Works Through the Trauma Years Later


Netflix

The last half-hour of *My Father, the BTK Killer* focuses on the lasting trauma experienced by Rawson since her father, Rader, was arrested in 2005. For the past two decades, she’s attempted to move on, but public attention keeps bringing up the past. Rawson describes how Stephen King turned her father’s crimes into a script, which caused her PTSD to resurface and forced her to relive the pain and face public scrutiny all over again.

I have to admit, the documentary spends a little too much time on Kerri Rawson trying to write her own book about her father’s crimes, and it draws a parallel to his own pursuit of notoriety, which felt a bit drawn out. But honestly, it does a much better job of making you *feel* for Kerri than the movie *Monster: The Ed Gein Story* did. That film’s attempt to get us to understand Ed Gein through his messed-up relationship with his mother just didn’t ring true for me. It felt over-the-top and unbelievable compared to hearing Kerri’s actual story firsthand. Rawson’s testimony was far more compelling and genuinely moving.

Netflix has found success with true crime, and should focus on documentaries rather than fictionalized dramas. The current trend of creating scripted shows about serial killers, seemingly to explore their motivations, feels overdone. It’s much more impactful to center the stories of the victims instead of giving killers attention for entertainment. You can currently watch *My Father, The BTK Killer* on Netflix.

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2025-10-15 02:48