Netflix viewers confused over unresolved detail after watching American Nightmare
Topics: Netflix, TV And Film, Crime, True Crime
Rhianna Benson
Featured Image Credit: Netflix
Topics: Netflix, TV And Film, Crime, True Crime
Has a Netflix documentary ever been so utterly mind-boggling that you've been left playing it over in your head again and again days later?
Well, you and me both. And according to millions of other box-set bingers, there's one particular true-crime show that has left them reeling ever since.
We are, of course, talking about psychological thriller American Nightmare, which - despite only having landed on Netflix less than a week ago - has seemingly had a long-lasting impact on fans.
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The three-part chiller - which tells the harrowing story of the 'real life Gone Girl' - soared straight to the No. 1 spot within a matter of days for its staggering plot twists and unfathomable interview footage.
A note for viewers who haven't yet been taken on a ride by this ever-twisting tale of kidnap, drugs, rape and astonishing levels of police neglect: Spoilers lie ahead...
The series centres on California couple Aaron Quinn and Denise Huskins, who, back in 2015, were awoken by intruders in the middle of the night.
While Aaron was tied up and drugged, Denise was taken, thrown into the boot of a car, and driven off.
After the drugs wore off the next morning, Aaron alerted the police that his girlfriend had been abducted, and that they intended to hold her for ransom.
Instead of offering to help find a missing Denise, corrupt investigating officers turned the tables onto Aaron himself.
After discovering that he'd been exchanging messages with ex-fiance Andrea - with whom he and Denise both worked at a physical therapy hospital - they pointed the finger at him.
And much like the plot of Gone Girl - which was released the year prior - after finding blood in his apartment, authorities accused him of killing Denise after she discovered he'd been unfaithful.
In a plot twist that viewers certainly didn't see coming (which also resembles that featuring in the Ben Affleck blockbuster), days later, Denise unexpectedly reappeared three days later.
Claiming she was released by her abductor near her family's hometown of Hunting Beach, 400 miles away, she quickly corroborated Aaron's story to police.
Denise went on to explain that she'd been held hostage at a remote cabin and was tragically raped twice before being released.
What she didn't expect, however, was that after recalling her story, she and Aaron would be accused to fabricating the entire event to mirror the 2014 movie.
Police branded the duo 'hoaxers' and even attempted to sue them for wasting their time.
What they never expected, however, was that months later Denise's kidnapping would be linked to a separate case involving another masked intruder.
Police tracked down perpetrator Matthew Muller who subsequently pleaded guilty in 2016 to one count of federal kidnapping and was sentenced to 40 years in prison.
Despite the end of the documentary telling viewers that Muller faced additional state charges of rape by force, robbery and burglary, and that Aaron and Denise successful sued the Vallejo Police Department for a $2.5m settlement, many viewers have been baffled over a loose end that the documentary never ties up.
During Aaron's initial statement to the police, he claimed that the intruders apologised to him and Denise, claiming they intended to kidnap his ex Andrea.
Similarly, when Denise recalls her time in captivity, she says Muller repeatedly told her that Andrea was their initial target.
And even more shockingly, it was revealed during the final episode that the FBI agent assigned to the case, David Sesma, had previously dated Andrea, leading many to believe he may have had a part to play in the abduction.
Filmmakers Felicity Morris and Bernadette Higgins have since claimed, however, that "there’s no reason to believe that David or Andrea had anything to do with anything that happened".
Despite this, viewers have been unable to withhold their questions.
"I want answers on Andrea and why bro was looking for her, Andrea’s link to the FBI agent, i want answers on why the Vallejo police officers still have jobs… I WANT ANSWERS," one penned on Twitter.
Another demanded: "Watched AMERICAN NIGHTMARE and I need to know what the hell the Andrea connection was".
"so many loose ends in this American Nightmare documentary. i need more info about Sesma and Andrea - also sucks to live in a world where we cannot even trust the police to help and protect us", a third went on.