everyone knows netflix subscribers love a bit of true crime so its hardly a surprise that the hatchet wielding hitchhiker a new addition to the platform has jumped to the top of its uk streaming chart in just two daysthe film which premiered on january 10 centers on the rise and fall of nomad caleb lawrence kai mcgillvary who became a viral sensation back in february 2013 when he supposedly saved a womans life after she was grabbed by the man he had been catching a ride with across california the video which was released by local fox affiliate kmph in fresno sees mcgillvary reenact how he used a hatchet to smash smash suhmash the man jeff simmons mcbride over the head and was subsequently branded a hero by the interneton may 16 2013 mcgillvary was arrested and accused of killing 73yearold lawyer joseph galfy in new jersey the previous night while mcgillvary maintained that he fought off galfy in selfdefense having allegedly been drugged and sexually assaulted by the victim while staying at his home he was ultimately found guilty of firstdegree murder and is now serving a 57year prison sentencewhile the movie is proving to be a hit on netflix it doesnt seem to be going down well with the majority of viewers many who tuned in have taken to twitter to slam the producers for villainizing mental illness and criticize the new jersey justice system others called for the documentary to be longer so that it couldve delved into his relationship with galfy his difficult childhood and morethe hatchet wielding hitchhiker is a bad documentary really really bad one social media user claimed it could have been compelling even meaningful it was at best lazy genuinely disgusted by itjust watched kai the hatchet wielding hitchhiker and now im just sad he was failed by so many but the exploitation of this young man was egregious i knew so many people like him in my 20s that were in need of mental health services and now theyre wasting away in prisonjanuary 10 2023see morewatching the hatchet wielding hitchhiker and all i see is everyone trying to exploit kaijanuary 10 2023see morewatching hatchetwieldinghitchhiker on netflix and im only 25 minutes in but think i hate this is this whole documentary just interviews with these slimy insufferable showbiz people theyre all vultures exploiting others for their own 15 minutes of famejanuary 11 2023see moreactually in awe of how stupid everyone on the kai the hatchetwielding hitchhiker documentary is the guy has obvious serious mental illness and everyone rushed to be the first to exploit himjanuary 10 2023see morethe hatchet wielding hitchhiker is streaming now if true crime is not your thing check out our list of the best netflix movies for some viewing inspiration