Netflix’s latest new-crime documentary: Unknown Number: The High School Catfish, is getting a lot of attention and for a good reason. Directed by Skye Borgman, this movie takes a look into one of the most disturbing cases of cyberbullying and constantly keeps the audience on the edge of their seats until the very end.
Opening in a small town in Beal, Michigan, the movie centers around a teenager, Lauryn Licari and her boyfriend being cyberbullied from an anonymous number for over a year. What starts off as a mystery soon unravels into one of the most twisted secrets one could expect. SPOILER: The person at the center of cyberbullying – harassing Lauryn for months straight, every hour of the day – was her own mother, Kendra Licari.
Borgman grasped the realness and horror of cyberbullying. Seeing how hurt Lauryn was when she became aware of her mother’s horrific acts, gives audiences a sense of Lauryn’s distraught and sadness while hearing her story. While this movie was well directed, it definitely radiated a negative energy.
Not only does Unknown Number capture intense and surprising moments throughout the whole movie, it also reveals the disgusting parts of the internet. Throughout their ordeal, both teenagers received many harassing and abusive texts for more than a year straight which deeply affected them.For example, her mother (pretending to be a teen girl) texted Lauryn, “He will be with me while your lonely, ugly [redacted] is alone.”
The documentary dives into how cyberbullying can completely affect a teenager’s emotional health and personal life, as well. Viewers saw the cruelty of the texts Lauryn received, many of them filled with hate about her appearance, or threats, and sexually explicit comments.
In the end (after having been found guilty), Kendra’s legal agreement states that she is not permitted to contact Lauryn both physically and directly, and prohibits seeing her in person, making Lauryn’s father Shawn, now having full custody of her.
In the end, Unknown Number: The High School Catfish is an intense, disgusting, and haunting case, but is a necessary watch. Not only does this movie tell a story, but it exposes the reality of cyberbullying. Cyberbullying isn’t something that anyone should experience, if you see or are being cyber-bullied, please report it to a trusted adult or friend.
