The Puppet Master: Hunting the Ultimate Conman
For a true crime series to be successful it needs to have two things: a truly despicable villain and a real-life tale that’s stranger than fiction and as gripping as any suspense novel. Netflix’s latest crime caper Puppet Master: Hunting the Ultimate Conman is all this and more as it shines an investigative spotlight on the twisted crimes of one Robert Hendy Freegard, who managed to con thousands from his victims through deceit and manipulation.
The docuseries primarily centres around two cases that took place 20 years apart: one part follows the harrowing ordeal a brother and sister faced when their (now missing) mother got together with Freegard; the other chronicles the bewildering story of the criminal’s earlier victims, who were lied and manipulated into going into hiding for ten years, and the ensuing police investigation that led to his arrest.
Divulging any more details would ruin the dozens of twists and turns this larger-than-life story takes with each new shocking revelation; but no matter how unbelievable these events become, the series keeps itself firmly anchored in reality by never letting audiences forget the devastating human impact of these crimes. Interviews with the victims’ families – especially the siblings – are a brutal portrayal of the lasting marks trauma can leave, but they’re also a testament to how far people are willing to go to help the ones they love the most. In this sense, Puppet Master shows the best and worst parts of humanity emanating from the actions of one evil individual, with the final piece in the puzzle reinforcing how malign the conman can be.
Only three parts long, with a total time of approximately two-and-a-half hours, Puppet Master is a series viewers can easily get through in one sitting. It’s gripping, shocking, and would be impossible to believe if it weren’t a true story. Moreover, the ongoing nature of this case will likely capture the attention of some. Whether or not this series will lead to any more development remains to be seen.
Andrew Murray
The Puppet Master: Hunting the Ultimate Conman is released on Netflix on 18th January 2022.
Watch the trailer for The Puppet Master: Hunting the Ultimate Conman here:
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