Hulu<\/a>, follows the chilling case of the popular mommy vlogger who eventually pleaded guilty to child abuse for the horrific torture of her children. The case has already been international news, tabloid fodder and discourse grist, but unlike a lot of buzzy streaming documentaries, \u201cDevil\u201d is not a sloppy rehash. Instead, it is pointed and insightful.<\/p>\n\u201cDevil\u201d includes interviews with Franke\u2019s two oldest children, Shari and Chad, and with her husband, Kevin. (According to the documentary, he has filed for divorce.) Its other big draw is unreleased footage that Franke recorded over several years, outtakes that include startling and cruel exchanges. \u201cJust be yourself!\u201d she snaps at one of her young daughters.<\/p>\n
\u201cThat is myself,\u201d the little girl pleads.<\/p>\n
\u201cWell then change it,\u201d Ruby says.<\/p>\n
She admonishes her husband and Chad for not being chatty and expressive on camera. \u201cBe excited,\u201d she tells her son icily. \u201cEven if you have to fake it. Fake being happy. \u2019Kay?\u201d In another clip, she prods him to participate more, reminding him that he gets $10 for doing so. Kevin says in the documentary that the family\u2019s YouTube channel brought in $100,000 per month at its peak.<\/p>\n
There are a lot of disturbing details here, and the director Olly Lambert manages the scope of the story well while still acknowledging its larger context. As much as \u201cDevil\u201d is a story about control, faith and abuse, it is also a story about YouTube, fame and performance.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n