Netflix’s Compelling New True Crime Documentary

With the nights drawing in and the frenzied buying of pumpkin spice everything, we’re definitely due for some cozy evenings! And what makes a cozy night even cozier? A gripping true crime documentary.

Netflix has delivered yet again with its latest offering: Unknown Number: The High School Catfish. With a title that catchy, it’s no surprise the documentary revolves around 13-year-old Lauryn Licari, a high schooler from a small town in Michigan, USA. Lauryn herself is interviewed in the documentary. A talented basketball player and good student, she is described by peers as friendly but reserved. She comes across as very guarded, but once the documentary reaches its horrifying climax, we understand why.

From the outset, interviewees emphasize that their town and high school are small—everybody knows everybody. Interestingly, the teenagers confidently tell the audience there was “no drama” in their school and that everyone was friends. Much like the fictional world of Twin Peaks, once you scratch the surface of this “friendly small town” veneer, darker truths emerge. Lauryn’s idyllic slice of Americana is soon torn apart.

Lauryn is dating a childhood friend, Owen. In 2020, both Lauryn and Owen began receiving harassing text messages from an unknown number. The sender is particularly vitriolic toward Lauryn, criticizing her looks and claiming Owen will break up with her. After a brief disappearance, the harasser returns in September 2021, crueler than ever.

Over time, thousands (no exaggeration) of harassing texts are sent to the two teenagers. The messages escalate to include a sexual element, targeting the minors directly. The unknown texter taunts Lauryn, saying Owen will break up with her because she won’t perform sexual acts, while alleging that they themselves have done so with him. The relentless harassment eventually drives Lauryn and Owen apart.

Their parents, the school, and eventually law enforcement—including the FBI—get involved. Still, the texts don’t stop, and the messages escalate to urging Lauryn to kill herself. At one point, Owen tries dating a girl from a nearby city, and her mother also begins receiving threatening texts from the same unknown sender.

The documentary encourages the audience to examine the evidence as it unfolds. It’s clear the sender knows an alarming amount about Lauryn, including her nickname (“Lo”) and even what she was wearing on a given day.

The unveiling of the unknown sender—if you don’t already know the twist—is nauseating. After the perpetrator is revealed, the documentary continues for about 30 minutes, focusing on the fallout. In my opinion, this is the most intriguing part, particularly Lauryn’s ongoing relationship with the perpetrator. However, as many viewers have pointed out, the documentary raises more questions than it answers. How much did Lauryn really know? Why wasn’t the perpetrator placed on the sex offender registry? The scars clearly run deep in this small—and not-so-friendly—community.

All in all, the documentary makes for very compelling viewing.

Rating: ★★★☆☆ (3/5)