Netflix’s Lover, Stalker, Killer review – Well-paced true crime docufilm explores the twisted case of fatal love triangle

3.5/5

Lover, Stalker, Killer documentary

The true crime documentary focuses on Nebraska auto-mechanic Dave Kroupa, who starts dating Liz Golyar and Cari Farver, simultaneously. His dating life takes a sinister turn when he gets nasty messages and becomes a victim of obsessive stalking and wicked ambitions, after an attempt at romantic adventure results in a brutal murder.   

Lover, Stalker, Killer review

Netflix’s latest true crime documentary film - Lover, Stalker, Killer - explores the dark realm of online dating and the twisted case of stalking with an unexpected murder. The docufilm chronicles the hard-to-believe criminal case of a love triangle gone awry. Based on staged footage and several interview segments, the recently dropped docufilm paints a gory picture of obsessive love and serves as an intriguing watch.

With a runtime of about 90 minutes, Lover, Stalker, Killer is a self-contained documentary film that solves a ruthless and cold murder case after an intense four-year crime investigation.

Lover, Stalker, Killer traces back the monotonous life of a single dad who ventures into dating after his marital separation in 2012. During this time, he meets a single mother, Liz Golyar, and they hit it off instantly over mutual interests. However, things go awry when another love interest, Cari Farver, comes into the picture. The documentary then follows a disturbing chain of events such as stalking and murder, without deviating from its factual narrative.

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Interestingly, the makers have opted to highlight the dark reality of advanced technology and new-age love by reenacting the story led by the victim, Dave. The steady and well-executed narrative was offered along with the narratives of prosecutors, technical associates, and police detectives involved in the sinister crime.

Directed by Sam Hobkinson, this true crime piece brings real-life participants together to recount their harrowing experiences of mistrust and new technology that let the culprit escape law enforcement for at least four years. The unravelling of the hidden truths serves as a wake-up call to the viewers, forcing them to accept the dark challenges of internet dating. The use of fake emails, chats, and hidden IP addresses makes you wonder how dangerous information technology is and how easy it is to impersonate someone else.

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The unsettling and menacing background score during the key moments adds to intriguing tone of the documentary. Each segment is meticulously shot with several talking heads that present their point of view on the shocking case.

Notably, in the end, the makers also shared the final verdict of the court over the murder trial, which charged Liz Golyar with first-degree murder and sentenced her.

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Lover, Stalker, Killer verdict

If you’re a lover of true crime genre, this twisted tale of online love will appeal to you, but what’s even more intriguing about the project is the gripping criminal investigation and the final court verdict.

Lover, Stalker, Killer has been among the top trending titles on the streaming platform ever since its Valentine’s Week release on February 9 and is currently among the most-watched documentaries on Netflix. Stream it for the gut-wrenching consequences of online dating and stalking.