When red flags go unseen: the silent cries for help in 'American Murder: Gabby Petito'

Oh, the irony. The happiest people on social media often have the darkest secrets, and the "American Murder: Gabby Petito" story is a brutal reminder of this truth.

If you've heard the name Gabby Petito before, it’s likely because of the tragic, gut-wrenching story that’s still a topic of discussion across social media. Netflix's docuseries is a reminder that behind every picture-perfect post, there’s often more than meets the eye. 

It digs deep into the couple’s seemingly happy journey across the United States, with Petito and her fiancé Brian Laundrie posting their “van life” adventures online. What they didn’t show their followers, however, were the cracks in their relationship.

Right from the start, the series pulls you into a real-life horror story, beginning with the bodycam footage of a police stop in Utah. In the footage, an emergency call has prompted officers to pull over the couple’s van after a domestic incident.

What follows is a scene that will stay with you: despite Petito’s bruises and distress, she’s labelled as the aggressor, and the police choose to separate the two for the night, sending Laundrie to a hotel and leaving Petito alone in the van.

Throughout the episodes, the facade of the perfect couple begins to crumble, revealing increasingly obvious flaws in their relationship. Petito, an outgoing and free-spirited individual who lived for the outdoors and social media, was trying desperately to hold it together. But behind the smiles and photos, there was a dark reality.

Initially seen as a quiet and awkward fiancé, Laundrie's true character began to emerge, revealing him to be controlling, manipulative, and increasingly toxic. His actions, like confiscating Petito’s ID to stop her from socialising with friends, were apparent to those who observed him.

She even reached out to her ex-boyfriend, Jackson, revealing to him that she was planning to leave Brian. She confided in Jackson that she was trying to figure out when and how to break free from the abusive situation.

This conversation was a telling moment, a “cry for help,” and it showed the desperation she was feeling.

By the time the final episodes roll around, the sorrow that lingers is overwhelming - not only for Petito, but also for her family, who lost someone they loved deeply. They remember her as a talented artist with a bright future, but the harsh reality of her death is impossible to ignore.

The documentary forces us to ask the hard question: why do the couples who appear happiest online often turn out to be hiding the most fractured relationships behind the scenes?

It’s not just Petito’s death that feels tragic, but the complete failure of those around her to recognise the warning signs. The police’s handling of the situation and their failure to properly intervene left her in a vulnerable position.

"American Murder: Gabby Petito" is a searing indictment of the toxic culture of social media and the damaging ways in which we often present ourselves online.  What’s painted as a fairytale adventure is, in truth, an all-too-familiar story of control, manipulation, and tragedy. 

Rating: *** solid and enjoyable, though not groundbreaking