Entertainment

Netflix tip of the day: The Hatchet Wielding Hitchhiker

By Wieke Veenboer | #!31Mon, 08 May 2023 12:30:03 +0200+02:000331#31Mon, 08 May 2023 12:30:03 +0200+02:00-12Europe\/Amsterdam3131Europe\/Amsterdam202331 08pm31pm-31Mon, 08 May 2023 12:30:03 +0200+02:0012Europe\/Amsterdam3131Europe\/Amsterdam2023312023Mon, 08 May 2023 12:30:03 +02003012305pmMonday=9#!31Mon, 08 May 2023 12:30:03 +0200+02:00Europe\/Amsterdam5#05-08-2023#!31Mon, 08 May 2023 12:30:03 +0200+02:000331#\/31Mon, 08 May 2023 12:30:03 +0200+02:00-12Europe\/Amsterdam3131Europe\/Amsterdam202331#!31Mon, 08 May 2023 12:30:03 +0200+02:00Europe\/Amsterdam5#

Yes, there’s another delicious doc ready on Netflix. A bit of true crime, but mainly a very bizarre and captivating story. The Hatchet Wielding Hitchhiker (that’s quite a mouthful) is about Caleb Lawrence McGillvary (again, quite a mouthful), who also called himself Kai. He is a Canadian who went viral worldwide as ‘Kai the Hatchet Wielding Hitchhiker’ (you can see that video here) in which he tells that during his travels (he was living a nomadic life at the time) he witnessed a crime.

This was in 2013 and he became instantly world-famous; he even appeared on Jimmy Kimmel's late-night show. That was in February 2013, and in May of that year, he was arrested because he was suspected of murder. He allegedly murdered lawyer Joseph Galvy. He denied this vehemently: according to him, he was drugged by Galvy after the lawyer offered him to stay overnight.

The police thought differently; according to them, it was premeditated murder after the two had sex. Complete nonsense according to McGillvary, who said — and I quote — ‘do you know how many hot chicks… Never mind. Even if I were gay, do you know how many hot guys would want to f*ck me after that sh*t in California? And I’m not even vain. That’s just life. No offense, but Galvy was not exactly a looker.’

In other words: McGillvary felt like a pop star after going viral with his interview on YouTube. After he was arrested, he only became more famous and his interview was watched even more. Funds were even set up where people could donate for his legal costs. After five years, it finally happened: his trial began.

And that trial is, to say the least, bizarre. He completely lost it in the courtroom and was almost thrown out. Such outbursts are usually not appreciated by the jury; he was found guilty and is still in custody in New Jersey.

All of this, including that bizarre trial, is told in this documentary. Not really a true crime doc that keeps you on the edge of your seat (because you already know how it will end), but truly a bizarre story and very well put together by Netflix. Highly recommended.