A horrifying documentary about child abuse has terrified Netflix users, forcing some to turn it off.
The four-part series The Outreau Case: A French Nightmare, which premiered this week, examines one of ‘the largest scandals in French history’.
A ‘tragic tale of child abuse and judicial disaster’, it relates the narrative of a paedophilia criminal case that occurred in Outreau, northern France, between 1997 and 2000.
It all started when schoolteachers and social workers noticed ‘strange sexual activity’ in four of the Delay-Badaoui family’s children, prompting an inquiry into alleged sexual abuse.
After the youngsters began to share specifics about what they were going through, the accused confessed.
After their parents, Thierry Delay and Myriam Badaoui, acknowledged to horrifying acts of sexual abuse, the couple began naming neighbours and acquaintances who they claimed had molested their four kids, who were then ages seven to eleven.
The 18 suspects included a priest who resided in their apartment block, a court bailiff from a nearby town, his wife, a cab driver and a worker and his kid.
The documentary then follows the ensuing trials, which included several twists and turns as many people maintained their innocence.
However, tuning in has left many viewers stunned and outraged, particularly by the depth of detail in the sexual abuse.
‘Just started watching The Outreau Case: A French Nightmare on Netflix and the sheer depravity of what’s unfolding on my screen has left me speechless,’ user Silka posted on X.
‘The Outreau case on Netflix is absolutely vile,’ Bella shared.
‘I started watching the Outreau case on Netflix…..let me tell you there is not a single trigger warning that could prepare u for what those kids said happened to them I had to turn that s***off MY GOODNESS,’ Aaliyah commented.
Others said they were so shaken they were close to ‘throwing up’ while another said they ‘turned it off within 10 minutes’ after being shocked by the ‘disturbing level of detail’ included.
The video goes on to show how a succession of cases led to unjust convictions, considerable media coverage, and popular outcry.
The documentary reveals the flaws and misjudgments that plagued the investigation and trials through interviews, including one with a victim, historical material, and expert analysis.
The Outreau Case: A French Nightmare is now streaming on Netflix.