Common Sense Media Review
By Jennifer Green
,
based on child development research. How do we rate?
Serial killer docu with graphic images, described violence.
Parents Need to Know
Why Age 15+?
Any Positive Content?
Where to Watch
Videos and Photos
My Father, the BTK Killer
Parent and Kid Reviews
What's the Story?
In Wichita, Kansas, starting in the 1970s, a series of murders had everyone on edge, as we are reminded in MY FATHER, THE BTK KILLER. The man responsible turned out to be local Scout leader, parishioner, and family man Dennis Rader. Now, his daughter Kerri Rawson details what it was like growing up with Rader as her father, how the revelations about his crimes blew apart their family and left her with years of trauma, and how she has processed all this through therapy, writing, and working as a public advocate for victims of crimes. Police investigators and journalists who worked on the crimes in the '70s recall the tense moments of those years.
Is It Any Good?
This documentary sustains the tension around the story of its titular serial killer by combining investigator testimonials with the recollections of the killer's own daughter. Her presence in My Father, the BTK Killer adds a layer of personal insight to the known assassin as well as an understanding of how trauma passes down through generations.
Viewers might worry that her testimony will humanize a man responsible for multiple brutal murders. She does do this to a certain degree, describing some happy memories and tracking his bouts of unemployment to the timing of some crimes. But you'll have to watch to the end to see how that shifts. Warning: Getting there isn't easy.
Talk to Your Kids About ...
Families can talk about the fear people describe in My Father, the BTK Killer of knowing there was a serial killer on the loose for years. Can you imagine this scenario? Do you think the police, journalists, and community could have done something differently?
Rawson describes years of trauma, and it's clear she's still emotionally impacted by all that she's gone through. What impressed you the most about her story?
The film contains graphic images and descriptions of some of Rader's crimes. Considering he's said to have sought publicity, do you think there are reasons not to include such detail in a documentary like this? Were there details missing that you had previously heard or read about? How do you think filmmakers choose what to include in a film like this?
Movie Details
- On DVD or streaming : October 10, 2025
- Cast : Kerri Rawson , Dennis Rader
- Director : Skye Borgman
- Inclusion Information : Female Movie Director(s) , Female Movie Actor(s)
- Studio : Netflix
- Genre : Documentary
- Topics : Family Stories ( Dads ) , History ( Biopic )
- Run time : 94 minutes
- MPAA rating :
- Last updated : October 22, 2025
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