Don’t Pick Up the Phone is a true crime documentary series directed by Sara Mast and focuses on a series of shocking hoax phone calls that shook America to its core. The series has 3 episodes, each with a runtime of around 45 minutes.
Netflix’s description of the series reads:
This docuseries follows the investigation into a hoax caller who talked managers into strip-searching employees at fast food businesses across the US.
– Don’t Pick Up the Phone Review Does Not Contain Spoilers –
There are a few moments in life when you watch something just so bewildering that you can’t help but wonder whether Netflix is pulling a rude prank on you. The newest true-crime fare on the streaming platform, Don’t Pick Up the Phone, is one such show – just honestly so mind-numbingly odd that I first wondered whether my understanding of the subject is correct.
The show talks about a shocking series of hoax phone calls across the US wherein the caller manipulated managers of small-town fast-food chains to strip search employees on the pretext of some petty crime.
Yes, you heard that right – someone impersonated a police officer and manipulated store managers into sexually harassing their subordinates.
At first, I honestly had nothing to say while watching the series. The series hits you like a bucket of cold water to the face, wherein you can’t help but wonder how something like this could happen. Taking place in the year 2004 and eventually going back years, the series is a reminder of the need for sex education among children and the necessity of teaching consent.
Every case that you hear in the series leaves you feeling dumbfounded, and just a bit numb as you constantly ask yourself if this is even possible. It follows the same documentary format as others – tons of reenactments and shaky real footage from the crimes, as well as the law enforcement officers, victims and everyone else involved in the case coming together to give their version of the events.
It’s an interesting and very uncomfortable watch, and the story itself is so bizarre that, honestly, nothing else registers. It’s dumbfounding to hear someone telling the audience the slow and agonising process of a manager in a fast food restaurant strip searching young, impressionable teenagers without any proof whatsoever.
An interesting part about the series is how these youngsters were so impressionable and obedient that they went through the whole ordeal without red flags going off in their heads. Maybe things have gotten better now, but in 2004 and before, kids were told to listen to their elders and those in authority and do as they are told. You feel angry on their behalf and the more you watch it, the more you want answers and revenge.
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It’s heartbreaking as one of the victims recounts this very fact, and maybe also a little nice to know that we, as a society, have come a long way from trusting anyone blindly. Or, at least, that’s what my glass-half-full mind tells me.
Now, since the incident is so bizarre, you sit there with bated breath to know whether the culprit gets caught in the end. As the series throws more and more stories at us and gives us horrible twists in an already twisted story, you wouldn’t be able to think of anything else other than how something like this happened over so many years.
The most baffling thing is the predator’s thought process and how they can just boldly make phone calls from literally everywhere and anywhere. The series discusses these aspects really well and gives us points to mull over even after the runtime is done and dusted.
Summing Up: Don’t Pick Up the Phone
Don’t Pick Up the Phone is a disgusting story that makes you feel extremely uncomfortable from start to end. The victims’ stories and the lack of empathy from authorities will make you want never to leave your home. It’s a haunting watch, honestly.
Don’t Pick Up the Phone is streaming on Netflix.
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I remember hearing about this when it happened. Back then, I thought, “Who is dumb enough to believe…” And nearly 20 years later, I’m still saying that. There’s a reason he was mostly calling small towns, because the people are stupid and will fall for anything.
It was very disturbing that these people followed some phone caller’s instructions,and the guy who made them got off scot free.
I think the fact that the caller targeted gullible and law-abiding citizens of small rural towns says a lot. Considering this was not a time when Googling was the norm, I think it worked in the caller’s favour. It was a different time – although I agree that it’s pretty naive and stupid to follow an unknown person’s instructions to commit sexual abuse.
I was pretty angry while watching the series wondering the same thing haha.
How could these managers be so ignorant to believe such nonsense. The police would never do that. Has any of the victims sued any of these facilities?
Both Ogborn and Summers sued McD’s. Ogborn got a hefty sum.
How in the Hell could anyone fall for this the man that got head needs to go to jail and everyone else working there
unfortunately the perpetrator was acquitted 🙁
Really? How dumb are they to actually follow these orders and not realize that its a hoax along the course of it? The managers, what kind of training do they have and not be able to identify it and what they were doing was wrong? America, known as a power house country with a lot of intelligent and talented people and yet victimized by this dumb case?
I think the fact that the caller targeted gullible and law-abiding citizens of small rural towns says a lot. Considering this was not a time when Googling was the norm, I think it worked in the caller’s favour. It was a different time – although I agree that it’s pretty naive and stupid to follow an unknown person’s instructions to commit sexual abuse.
I don’t know where you’re from, but most of the world sees Americans as very stupid. This documentary doesn’t help lol
I understand your sentiment and considering that the US is a first world country, you’d expect more. But considering this takes place between 1995 and 2004, I think there wasn’t as much awareness as there is now.