Sneha Jaiswal (Twitter | Instagram)
Netflix’s documentary ‘Evil Influencer: The Jodi Hildebrandt Story’ opens with a police officer recalling how their department uncovered a disturbing child abuse case in Ivins, Utah, after a young boy appeared at a neighbour’s home visibly emaciated and covered in wounds. The child had been living at the residence of American counsellor Jodi Hildebrandt, where his sister was also found in a severely neglected condition. Both kids were the children of popular YouTuber Ruby Franke, who was later arrested on charges of aggravated child abuse, along with Jodi Hildebrandt.
What the documentary does not feature is just as striking as what it does. There is no interview with Jodi Hildebrandt herself (who, as of 2026, is alive), no participation from Ruby Franke, no testimony from the children who were rescued, and not even an interview with their father, who was part of the investigation process. Instead, the creators rely on interviews with Hildebrandt’s former clients, law enforcement officers involved in the case, lawyers, and one of her relatives, among a few peripheral voices.
While these perspectives are interesting, the absence of voices most directly affected by the abuse leaves a noticeable gap in the story. Had I submitted this documentary during my journalism training, it likely would have earned a middling grade, perhaps a 5 out of 10, or I would’ve been sent back with a directive to return to the field and make a more rigorous attempt to secure interviews with those at the centre of the story.
That said, the documentary does succeed in one area: it clearly demonstrates how Jodi Hildebrandt, a licensed mental health counselor, leveraged her religious authority (she was a devout follower of LDS Church and on their referral list) and standing within her community to exert influence over multiple people, including Ruby Franke. Without absolving Franke of responsibility for the abuse of her children, the film offers insight into how such ideological manipulation and unchecked authority can distort parental judgment.
The filmmakers rely on CCTV footage, police recordings, and YouTube clips to piece together the case, but spend too much time charting Jodi Hildebrandt’s rise as a Christian counselor. Viewers interested in understanding her personality, especially since the title positions this as her story, may find themselves engaged. However, opening the documentary with the harrowing 911 call that reports the child abuse sets up an expectation of a deeper investigation into the case itself, an expectation the documentary ultimately does not fulfill.
True-crime documentaries often hinge on exposing systemic failures in policing, but in the case of Jodi Hildebrandt, law enforcement acted swiftly, rescuing the abused children and moving quickly to apprehend those responsible. Where the documentary is more effective is in outlining Hildebrandt’s modus operandi: targeting emotionally vulnerable clients and exerting control through manipulation and moral authority. In that sense, the film ultimately works best as a cautionary tale, one that warns against the unchecked power wielded by figures positioned to influence, guide, and quietly exploit those seeking help.
Watch ‘Evil Influencer: The Jodi Hildebrandt Story’ on Netflix.
Read Next: ‘People We Meet On Vacation’: Desperately Derivative (Audio Version Below)