Gabby Petito was an up-and-coming influencer and travel vlogger from Blue Point New York. She loved recording her journey of life with her boyfriend, Brian Laundrie, as they traveled across the United States to various national parks and campgrounds in their van. The new Netflix documentary “Watch American Murder: Gabby Petito”, was released on February 17 and dives into her story individually as well as Brian’s story in detail, and helps the audience piece together who they were as people. The documentary also dives into their final moments on this earth, specifically leading up to Brian murdering Gabby.
When I began this series, I knew very little about the details of this case. I was practically walking into this show with no information. However, I was hooked from the first episode. Following my viewing of the first episode, I was left with so many questions and needed to know more. For this reason, I finished the show in one day.
I enjoyed the cinematic technique that executive producer Michael Gasparro used within the course. The show began with introducing Gabby with images and clips from her as a child and the narration of her parents, which introduced them as well. As a viewer, this helped me gain a sense of identity of Gabby and the kind of person she was, which is why I empathize with her story so much. Her parents, Nicole and Jim Schmidt, along with Gabby’s high school friends, painted a vivid picture of the person she was during her high school years and early adulthood, before she met her boyfriend, Brian. The masterful production gave me a better idea of Gabrielle’s story, spreading awareness of this information with an entertaining film.
This documentary is specifically for true crime lovers, and people who love investigative storytelling. This includes journalists, and criminologists. It is also compelling to domestic abuse awareness advocates as it touches on the mental and physical abuse endured by Gabby from Brian. But while this documentary is powerful, it may not be suitable for everyone. Those who have personally experienced domestic violence or abuse may find the content triggering, as it delves deeply into the details of the case, including police footage, distressing interviews, and real-life accounts from involved parties. If you are sensitive to such content, it may be best to approach this documentary with caution or opt for a written summary rather than a visual retelling. Overall, “Watch American Murder”; it is necessary for those who seek understanding or lack awareness of what actually happened to Gabby and spread awareness of domestic abuse.
