I Am a Stalker
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I Am a Stalker
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A Lot or a Little?
The parents' guide to what's in this TV show.
What Parents Need to Know
Parents need to know that I Am a Stalker, a spinoff of the series I Am a Killer, features lots of disturbing interviews that discuss violent acts, ranging from obsessively following people and frightening them to conversations about assault and murder. What it feels like to be the victim of a human predator is also addressed. While most of this is only talked about, photographs and archive video footage revealing these violent moments are sometimes shown. There's also lots of cursing, cigarette smoking is visible, and there are conversation about drinking and drug addiction. Marriage, infidelity, and having children are also discussed.
What's the Story?
From the producers of I Am a Killer comes I AM A STALKER, a docuseries featuring in-depth interviews with people convicted of stalking and their victims. From becoming obsessed and abusive after experiencing trauma and abusing drugs, to relentlessly harassing a co-worker that was once a friend, folks found legally responsible for their crimes talk about what they did, and their thoughts about them today. Family members and acquaintances of the convicted, as well as the people they targeted, share their thoughts and concerns about the situation. Meanwhile, experts and victim advocates highlight some of the behavioral patterns that lead to stalking behaviors, while prosecutors and legal analysis explain the systemic loopholes that make it difficult to convict and sentence people for these crimes.
Is It Any Good?
This disturbing series highlights the prevalence of stalking in the United States, and why some people are driven to behave in ways that are obsessive, abusive, and violent. It also offers some insights into what can contribute to (but not excuse) a person's propensity for these types of crimes, including trauma, mental illness, and addiction. Both the stalkers and their victims' narratives are harrowing, as are the moments highlighting the inability of the criminal justice system to keep these crimes from happening. Especially noteworthy is the minimal amount of time that their abusers are incarcerated unless prosecutors can find ways to convict them for other violations. Overall, I Am a Stalker reveals a lot about what goes on in the mind of a stalker, but reveals more about how the legal system is failing those who are most being affected by their actions.
Talk to Your Kids About ...
Families can talk about why stalking is a crime. At least 40% of the 3 million reported stalking cases a year escalate to violence. Why? Are there things that can be done to keep this from happening?
What are some of the elements used to make I Am a Stalker more dramatic? Is this series' format an appropriate way to address obsessive violent crime on TV? Or is it more entertaining than insightful?
TV Details
- Premiere date: October 28, 2022
- Network: Netflix
- Genre: Reality TV
- TV rating: TV-MA
- Last updated: October 31, 2022
Our Editors Recommend
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I Am a Killer
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Conversations with a Killer: The Jeffrey Dahmer Tapes
Serial killer docu is detailed, focuses on sexual violence.
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Conversation with a Killer: The John Wayne Gacy Tapes
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