Can I Tell You A Secret? Story:- Numerous women found themselves on the brink of despair due to an online stalker who not only infiltrated their lives but also destroyed their relationships. In the new true-crime documentary “Can I Tell You a Secret,” available on Netflix, three of these women tearfully share their harrowing experiences. The documentary, which could easily have been a feature film, has been split into two parts, likely to cater to the viewers’ preference for episodic content, resulting in a total viewing time of approximately 100 minutes.
Movie Ratings
| Release Date | 21 February 2024 |
| Language | English |
| Genre | Crime, Documentary |
| Episodes | 2 |
| Cast | Savannah Gracey |
| Director | Liza Williams, Natasha Gaunt |
| Cinematography | Jamie Cairney, Tom Doran, Anna Patarakina |
| Producer | Aloke Devichand, Nancy Strang |
| Certificate | 13+ |
The nefarious stranger targeted three vibrant young women — Liz, Zoe, and Lia — seemingly at random, sending them creepy messages that they initially brushed off. However, as the tone of the messages escalated to become more menacing, they began to fear for their safety. One of the women discovered that the stalker had sent explicit texts to her friend’s father, pretending to be her, while another learned that the stalker had obtained and circulated intimate photos from a boudoir photoshoot she had participated in.
Gradually, the women found themselves ensnared in an increasingly oppressive nightmare, unable to escape. Despite involving the police, they found little assistance, either due to the authorities’ lack of resources or disinterest. The documentary primarily features only one law enforcement officer on camera, opting instead to display statements from different police departments as on-screen text, which detracts from the cinematic experience.
While “Can I Tell You a Secret” may not be the most ambitious documentary, offering minimal detail and psychological insight, it effectively portrays the stalker’s menacing presence through the use of illuminated electrical cables, symbolizing the ever-expanding web of influence he wielded. Initially depicted akin to a slasher movie villain, reminiscent of the Ghostface killer from the Scream films, the documentary underscores the gravity of the stalker’s threat.
However, the documentary fails to provide a comprehensive understanding of who the women are as individuals or how their lives were impacted by their traumatic experiences. While it’s evident that their ordeal must have been terrifying, the show lacks a certain depth of perspective. Too often, it feels like these individuals exist in a separate world from our own, rather than highlighting the universal susceptibility to cyberstalking, which ideally should be the goal of such content. “Can I Tell You a Secret” opts to limit the number of talking heads, instead relying on rudimentary dramatic recreations to depict the events. Additionally, the documentary cuts costs by having the subjects themselves enact pivotal moments of their harassment.
A similar approach was taken in Netflix’s “Lover, Stalker, Killer,” which also offered a superficial examination of the issue. Neither project fully captures the mental toll that stalking can exact on its victims. Despite showcasing numerous close-ups of tearful faces, “Can I Tell You a Secret” commendably avoids victim-blaming. Director Liz Williams makes an effort to present a fuller picture of the stalker, delving into his youth, personal struggles, and emotional turmoil. However, while other films might dedicate significant time to the legal proceedings, “Can I Tell You a Secret” breezes through the trial in less than five minutes, and off-screen at that. While the inherently terrifying nature of the story makes it challenging to criticize too harshly, the documentary misses an opportunity to evoke genuine outrage and instead settles for a shrug.
