Common Sense Media Review
By Barbara Shulgasser-Parker
,
based on child development research. How do we rate?
Disturbing true crime docu; language, offscreen violence.
Parents Need to Know
Why Age 14+?
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Where to Watch
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Maternal Instinct
Parent and Kid Reviews
What's the Story?
In MATERNAL INSTINCT, even though it's clear early on that the outgoing, smiley Taylor Parker has lied her way through life, it's still a shock to learn how far she was willing to go to support her fabrications. She lies her way into a relationship with Wade, a farm worker with little income. She falsely claims she will come into a lot of oil money if only her interfering mother would let the inheritance flow. She buys an expensive car for Wade's mom and a tractor for Wade, and negotiates million-dollar land deals. When Wade's interest in her nevertheless fades, Taylor announces she's pregnant. Wade continues to ignore friends, family, and those who knew Taylor long ago when they warn him she's sterile and can't be pregnant. With Taylor's "due date" approaching, the pressure on her erupts in violence and she does the unthinkable to come up with a baby.
Is It Any Good?
The canny makers of Maternal Instinct present an unfussy and adroit portrait of remorseless antisocial behavior. Taylor Parker is right up there with the strangest and most violently sociopathic of any true crime documentary subjects in recent memory.
Among the rapists, child molesters, scam artists, kidnappers, bad neighbors, and catfishers such documentaries commonly feature, Parker stands alone, an uncategorizably dark, grim, selfish, needy, violent, and wrong-headed character. All the filmmakers needed to do to make a riveting movie about her was present her as she was. They make skillful use of riveting of police body camera footage. Taylor tells some of her worst lies on camera, all juxtaposed against interviews with those she scammed and hurt. No lengthy exposition is needed to explain how she supported her fake pregnancy—we see online searches for silicon pregnancy bellies and fake pregnancy tests. And although there are no images of what she did, we are left to imagine the carnage she brought upon two innocent beings in order to come up with a baby. As a friend of Wade's puts it, "There is evil in our land. Evil people do evil things."
Talk to Your Kids About ...
Families can talk about how Wade's refusal to believe Taylor was lying led to tragedy. Why do you think Wade stubbornly maintained that Taylor was believable?
Why do you think people tell false stories about themselves even when the possibility of being exposed as liars is ever present?
A court imposed severe punishment on Taylor. Do you think it was deserved? Why or why not?
Movie Details
- On DVD or streaming : June 12, 2026
- Cast : Jessica Dimmock
- Studio : Netflix
- Genre : Documentary
- Run time : 94 minutes
- MPAA rating :
- Last updated : June 14, 2026
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