Documentary enthusiasts have a lot to celebrate this week, as Netflix continues to add intriguing titles to its lineup. Recently, two eerie true-crime documentaries, The Idaho Murders: College Nightmare and A Toxic Love Story, have captivated viewers and climbed the U.S. Top 10 charts. As August rolls in, Netflix is set to deliver even more compelling content to keep audiences engaged.
This weekend, Netflix is premiering three new documentaries: the second season of an intense Australian survival series, a bewildering Scandinavian financial mystery, and my favorite this week, a British comedian’s month-long culinary challenge that could leave you feeling a bit uneasy—not just due to the food.
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Alone: Australia (Season 2)
Survival of the fittest in New Zealand’s wilderness
While Alone: Australia may not strictly fit the documentary mold, it vividly portrays the genuine and well-documented struggles faced by survival contestants. They aim to outlast others for a hefty prize of $250,000 (approximately US$165,000). The first season broke records for SBS as its most successful original series, and the recently released second season has exceeded expectations.
This time, ten contestants were transported to New Zealand’s wild and unforgiving South Island, cut off from one another and equipped with only basic survival tools, including bows and arrows. Each participant must fend for themselves, navigating the challenging elements to secure food, shelter, and water while documenting their experiences. Prepare for an engaging journey through ten episodes, plus a reunion special, of this addictive survival saga. While the landscapes are stunning—being the setting for the Lord of the Rings—the extreme weather conditions will challenge all but one to their limits.
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Inside the Trustor Scandal
The tantalizing tale of a financier’s long-awaited confession
If financial fraud and heist stories pique your interest, then Inside the Trustor Scandal is a must-watch. Directed by Swedish filmmaker Karin af Klintberg, this new documentary accomplishes the extraordinary feat of securing the first on-camera interview in decades with the orchestrator of one of Sweden’s largest financial crimes—Joachim Posener.
The 102-minute film delves into the complex 1997 takeover of the investment firm Trustor AB, led by Posener, who cunningly involved British aristocrat Lord Jonathan Guinness Moyne to lend credibility to the transaction. He subsequently siphoned off around 600 million kronor (approximately $80 million at the time) and evaded capture, remaining a wanted man in Sweden until charges lost their power after a decade. The documentary combines Posener’s retrospective insights with additional interviews and archival materials to piece together the details of the heist and the fate of the missing funds.
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Big Chicken: A Fast Food Conspiracy
Mo Gilligan’s 28-day fried chicken spree
Inspired by Morgan Spurlock’s groundbreaking 2004 film Super Size Me, British comedian Mo Gilligan undertakes a similar culinary experiment in Big Chicken: A Fast Food Conspiracy. Gilligan splurges on fried chicken exclusively for 28 days straight, traveling from London to the U.S. to indulge in his obsession.
With producers from Louis Theroux: Inside the Manosphere, Gilligan embarks on this humorous yet enlightening quest to explore the societal, economic, and industrial implications of the global chicken consumption phenomenon. He examines everything from farming practices to the influence of fast-food chains, even partaking in a covert nighttime visit to a chicken farm with animal rights activists.
Like Spurlock, Gilligan also shares candid insights into the health repercussions of his eating challenge, engaging with historians, nutritionists, farmers, and industry experts to offer a comprehensive view of this culinary journey. It’s an enjoyable and thought-provoking documentary.
Endless viewing options await
Whether you choose one of the recommended documentaries or explore something else, Netflix and other streaming platforms always have fresh content to discover. For those who use multiple services, take a look at what’s trending across platforms this weekend, and if you’re seeking recommendations for shows to download for offline viewing, we’ve got you covered as well.
