Perhaps Netflix’s next great true-crime smash has just been released. The Hitchhiker!
The service has released a long documentary about a man who went viral in 2013 and the tragic events that unfolded because of his fame.
![Hatchet-wielding Hitchhiker: Netflix's next big true-crime documentary](https://thepunkrockprincess.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/01/Hatchet-wielding-Hitchhiker-Netflixs-next-big-true-crime-documentary-.webp)
It’s called The Hatchet, by the way. Kai Lawrence, a homeless man who “smashed” a man over the head with a hatchet to stop him from killing a woman, is the film’s protagonist.
After a video of Lawrence talking about the event went viral online, he was immediately seen as a hero and became a celebrity.
He was in high demand, with many talk show presenters eager to conduct interviews, and bands like Justin Bieber eager to work with him.
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But Lawrence’s tale didn’t conclude there. Three months later, he stood trial for the murder of New Jersey attorney Joseph Galfy, claiming he acted in self-defence.
In the opening narration of the trailer, we learn, “Have you heard about Kai, the hitchhiking hatchet hero? This once-admirable man is now a murder suspect.
Interviewee: “If you’re going to laud someone, you better know who you glorify.”
The streaming service is banking on the Colette Camden-helmed documentary gaining traction through word of mouth, like it did with American Murder and The Tinder Swindler.
![Hatchet-wielding Hitchhiker: Netflix's next big true-crime documentary](https://thepunkrockprincess.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/01/Hatchet-wielding-Hitchhiker-Netflixs-next-big--1024x576.jpeg)
“This disturbing documentary looks at how a happy-go-lucky wanderer went from being a viral sensation to going to prison.”
It’s good news for viewers that the documentary is a concise 90-minute film rather than a drawn-out series.