Netflix is turning one of America’s most infamous serial killer stories into a deeply personal documentary.
My Father the BTK Killer premieres on October 10, offering an unflinching look at Dennis Rader, the “Bind, Torture, Kill” murderer, through the eyes of his daughter, Kerri Rawson.
Unlike most true crime projects, this film centers on the family’s internal reckoning. Rader lived a double life as a seemingly ordinary father and Boy Scout leader while secretly killing at least ten people between 1974 and 1991. His daughter’s account reframes the narrative, showing how one man’s hidden violence shattered those closest to him.
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A daughter confronting the unimaginable
The documentary adapts Kerri Rawson’s 2019 memoir A Serial Killer’s Daughter: My Story of Faith, Love and Overcoming. Rawson describes discovering her father’s crimes after his arrest in 2005 and grappling with betrayal, fear, and the painful task of redefining her identity.
Director Skye Borgman, known for Unknown Number: The High School Catfish and Abducted in Plain Sight, guides the story with a steady, investigative tone. Borgman’s approach often balances fact-driven reporting with empathy for victims and survivors, a style likely to shape this film’s emotional depth.
More than a crime recap
While My Father the BTK Killer examines Rader’s decades-long evasion of law enforcement, its focus isn’t just procedural. The film delves into the private world behind the headlines, exploring how Rader maintained a façade of normalcy: raising children, attending church, and serving as a trusted community member while concealing sadistic murders.
By centering Rawson’s voice, the documentary shifts the conversation from fascination with the killer to the ripple effects of his violence. It’s a perspective often overlooked in true crime storytelling.
Netflix’s evolving true crime slate
Netflix has spent the past few years refining its true crime catalog, moving beyond sensationalism toward stories with emotional stakes. Borgman’s work fits neatly into this trend, intimate, survivor-focused, yet sharply reported. For audiences drawn to American Murder: The Family Next Door or Our Father, this documentary promises similar emotional resonance with a fresh narrative angle.
Production and creative team
The My Father the BTK Killer documentary comes from Campfire Studios, with Ross M. Dinerstein and Rebecca Evans producing. Borgman not only directs but also serves as executive producer alongside Elena Sorre, Ross Girard, and Mark McCune. Will Mavronicolas joins as co-executive producer, with Andrew K. Sachs as supervising producer. Bryan Donnell leads cinematography, while editing is handled by Fernanda Tomaghi and Cy Christiansen. The original score is by Jimmy Stofer.
Why this story matters now
Nearly two decades after Rader’s arrest, public fascination with his case hasn’t faded. But Rawson’s willingness to speak, both in print and now on film, reframes the narrative. My Father the BTK Killer isn’t about glorifying the murderer; it’s about confronting the human cost of living in his shadow.
For viewers fatigued by sensational true crime, this angle, intimate, painful, and survivor-led, could mark one of Netflix’s most nuanced crime documentaries to date.
A haunting, human perspective
The My Father the BTK Killer documentary aims to do more than revisit a notorious name. It gives Kerri Rawson the space to reclaim her story and challenges audiences to consider what it means when evil lives inside an ordinary home. With Borgman’s direction and Netflix’s platform, this promises to be both chilling and profoundly human.
Key Details: My Father the BTK Killer
- Release date: October 10, 2025
- Format: Documentary film (1h 33m)
- Director: Skye Borgman
- Studio: Campfire Studios
- Producers: Ross M. Dinerstein, Rebecca Evans
- Executive producers: Skye Borgman, Elena Sorre, Ross Girard, Mark McCune
- Co-executive producer: Will Mavronicolas
- Supervising producer: Andrew K. Sachs
- Director of photography: Bryan Donnell
- Editors: Fernanda Tomaghi, Cy Christiansen
- Music: Jimmy Stofer
- Source material: Based on A Serial Killer’s Daughter by Kerri Rawson
The Poster
