The Hatchet Wielding Hitchhiker isn’t your average viral-to-villain true crime doc. In just 85 minutes, it captures the bizarre rise and brutal unraveling of Caleb “Kai” McGillvary, the drifter who became an internet folk hero with a hatchet in hand. What begins as meme-fuel turns into a darker reflection on fame, media vultures, and the thin line between folk legend and cautionary tale.

New true crime documentary releases September 2025: Netflix, Hulu, HBO, Oxygen, Lifetime and more. Full list of upcoming docuseries and shows.

From viral chaos to devastating tragedy, Netflix’s Trainwreck series dives into the stories that spiraled out of control. I watched all eight episodes and ranked them from worst to best, unpacking what worked, what didn’t, and which ones still haunt me. Here’s how the collapse played out.