The Hatchet Wielding Hitchhiker review: A free-spirited nomad who goes from being a hero to a killer

3/5

Story:

The Hatchet Wielding Hitchhiker, as the title suggests, talks about a free-spirited nomad who goes places by taking lifts with people and travels to different cities. However, one incident turns him into a hero on the internet, while another turns him into a murderer in front of the whole world.

Review:

Smash! smash! smash! The word that brings Kai fame throughout the United States is his bravery in saving a woman from a psychotic, racist man while hitchhiking on the highways; however, this hitchhiker is soon convicted of a heinous murder.

Earlier in the day of the incident, the hitchhiker gets picked up by Jett Simmons McBride, who is the same person that tries to kill a black man and also assault a woman, which compels Kai to hit him hard and save those people. When a journalist arrives at the spot, he finds him and takes the statement, in which the hitchhiker proudly enacts the way he injured his own driver to save others. The reporter shares the video of Kai on his YouTube channel, and it becomes a sensation overnight.

A few months after the incident, Kai becomes one of the most important beings in the US and gets hunted by big news channels as well as television shows such as Jimmy Kimmel Live for just one interview. After a lot of searching, the famous talk show finally gets to feature him. This Kai is becoming increasingly popular.

However, within a few months, he gets charged with the murder of a 71-year-old man, whom he refers to as his assaulter. He tries to cook up a few stories to save himself, but all the proof speaks against him, and he gets 57 years in a maximum-security prison in New Jersey.

The docuseries showcases how social media is fast and highly influential, where the image of a person changes overnight and makes him a sensation. The Netflix show is an interesting watch as it does not display only one angle of the story but all its aspects with a thorough investigation. The Hatchet Wielding Hitchhiker is also a realistic watch because the show successfully gathers most of the people involved in the Kai incidents to speak about their experiences and perspectives on this hitchhiker.

Verdict:

The sensational life of Kai is definitely worth watching in this documentary, as it simply portrays the hitchhiker and his reality without nonsensical drama. Stream the documentary film on Netflix.