The new Netflix documentary Don’t F**k With Cats: Hunting an Internet Killer has been creating a huge buzz on social media. The true crime doc comes with a warning announcement, but not even that is enough, as some viewers claim to have been left disturbed by what they saw. The series tells the story of an online army of sleuths who join together to track down a person who they believe is a cat murderer. However, the story does not end there and it only gets more twisted as it gets deeper.
Deanna Thompson, who is featured in the Don’t F**k With Cats documentary series, says “You can post porn, violence, somebody getting pushed down stairs, religious statues being defamed… and nobody gives a crap,” when talking about what gets posted online. “But in this seedy underbelly, there’s an unwritten rule. And rule zero is ‘don’t f**k with cats.'” This is where the series gets its name and also where the online sleuths begin their mission, as they fear the man in the social media video killing the kittens is capable of much more.
Killing kittens, or any defenseless animal, is definitely horrible and not something that anyone wants to see, which includes many viewers of Netflix’s Don’t F**k With Cats. One viewer says that the documentary is “not recommended if you suffer from any kind of anxiety,” and goes on to say, “the documentary is literally one of the most twisted things I’ve seen in a very long time.” This seems to be the general consensus surrounding the new series which is a deep dive into animal cruelty. After posting the kittens video, the man in question, Luka Magnotta, is the subject of a massive online manhunt. Netflix had this to say about the documentary.
“Don’t F**k With Cats: Hunting an Internet Killer is: A) One of the most unpredictable true crime docs you’ll ever see B) Very tough to watch at times C) A testament to the power of internet sleuths that will leave you thinking D) Now Streaming E) All of the above.”
As it turns out, the fears of the online sleuths were founded when Luke Magnotta produced another video in which he brutally murders Jun Lin (who is also identified in the press as Lin Jun), who was an international student in Canada. Magnotta was eventually captured in Berlin, Germany after sending parts of Lin’s body to elementary schools and to different political parties all over the world. Magnotta confessed to the crime, though he attempted to plead insanity. He is currently serving a life sentence and is eligible for parole in 25 years. While many are disturbed because of the subject matter, others are more concerned with the true crime genre as a whole. One viewer had this to say.
“True Crime is an exploitative genre that harms victims and their families. Imagine being Lin Jun’s family and seeing a documentary about the brutal, horrific racist torture and murder of your relative (just 7 years ago) be released with the cheeky title Don’t F**k With Cats.”
The elements of a true crime documentary can be argued, but there’s no hiding that it is currently one of the biggest draws to Netflix and other platforms serving it up. Making a Murderer seemed to be the turning point in which the genre went from niche to worldwide phenomenon. Has Don’t F**k With Cats taken it too far? Some viewers believe that to be the case for a variety of different reasons.
While “Don’t F*** With Cats” did a good job creating a suspenseful true-crime tale, it really failed Jun Lin, the case’s one human victim, who seems almost an afterthought.
Social media is talking about the animal cruelty, but I see dishearteningly little about this man. pic.twitter.com/nDGy2qwdv7
— David Friend (@dfriend) December 20, 2019
True Crime is an exploitative genre that harms victims and their families. Imagine being Lin Jun’s family and seeing a documentary about the brutal, horrific racist torture and murder of your relative (just 7 years ago) be released with the cheeky title “Don’t F*k with Cats.”
— Relia (@shazari) December 19, 2019
Don’t f**k with cats on Netflix has had me sat like this for 3 hours pic.twitter.com/fg0a6za8fO
— Rachel Utting (@rachelutting96) December 18, 2019
Watching Don’t F*ck With Cats on Netflix without knowing anything about it! pic.twitter.com/AFd0hTtJTg
— NetflixGIFs (@NetflixGIFs) December 19, 2019
“Don’t F**k with Cats” on Netflix was really good but definitely needs a trigger warning. I can handle true crime & horror really well but this had me crying and hugging my dog all day 🐶 Content Warning for Animal Abuse
— Ina (@ladybird_ina) December 19, 2019
don’t f**k with cats should have been called “luka magnotta was a vicious murderer who is a master manipulator”. yes the animal abuse was horrible and disgusting, but they should have focused on jun lin and not these annoying ass internet sleuths.
— KRISSY W. 🕊 (@KRRRISSY) December 19, 2019
Don’t F**k With Cats on Netflix is INTENSE.
Warning there’s animal abuse and killing involved. I know some stuff about this case and the documentary is WAY more disturbing.
Nevertheless it is very interesting I binge watch it in 1 sitting. pic.twitter.com/l9CWLhtVBr
— Hanna Claus 🎄 (@hannabunnyb) December 20, 2019
Hey important PSA: if you get an advertisement for a Netflix series called, “Don’t F**k with Cats,” I am here to give you the extreme content warning the trailer doesn’t give you.
Big ass CW: animal cruelty
— Jeff Ramos (@ohjefframos) December 19, 2019
