Netflix viewers have been thrown into crisis after discovering a new thriller based on a true and terrifying bullying story.
Scottish comedian Richard Gadd retells the traumatic experience of being bullied for years in the tense miniseries Baby Reindeer.
After offering a woman a free cup of tea in the pub where she was having pints, Gadd was inundated with 40,000 emails, 740 tweets and a staggering 350 voicemails, as well as hundreds of letters, in one case of harassment that lasted more than five years.
Despite informing the police, unfortunately they couldn’t do much because the unwanted communication was “obviously” not threatening.
Using her trauma, Gadd created a work called Baby Reindeer, a nickname her stalker had given her and which has now been transformed into the disturbing Netflix series.
Scottish comedian Richard Gadd has transformed his own terrifying experience of bullying into a disturbing new miniseries on Netflix called Baby Reindeer (Richard Gadd as Donny, pictured)
Martha, based on Gadd’s stalker, becomes enthralled with actor and writer Donny after he offers her a free cup of tea at the pub where he works (Jessica Gunning as Martha, pictured).
Recasting his own ordeal, the spooky show focuses on the life of aspiring comedian Donny (Richard Gadd), who is being stalked by Martha (Jessica Gunning).
Mirroring Gadd’s story, Martha becomes obsessed with the actor and writer after he gives her a free cup of tea while she drinks.
At first, Donny appreciated Martha’s attention and sometimes even flirted back.
However, as the stalker begins to cross boundaries, we see their friendly encounter turn into a terrifying story, unearthing Donny’s past trauma of sexual abuse.
“Stalking on television tends to be very sexual,” Gadd told Netflix.
‘It has a mystique. It’s someone in a dark alley. He’s someone who’s really sexy, who’s really normal, but then he slowly gets weird.
‘But bullying is a mental illness. “I really wanted to show the layers of bullying with a human quality that she hadn’t seen on television before.”
The law requires that the real-life Martha not approach Gadd or any of her friends or family.
Netflix fans were impressed by how the Scottish comedian managed to retell his trauma in the heartbreaking story, with several calling it a “masterpiece.”
Although their meeting initially begins as a friendly chat, Martha crosses several boundaries and discovers Donny’s past trauma.
The title of the disturbing miniseries based on Gadd’s true story comes from the nickname his own stalker gave the actor.
Netflix fans have flooded social media timelines with rave reviews of the gripping miniseries, calling it “absolutely gripping.”
“Baby Reindeer is crazy, but the fact that 1) it’s a true story and 2) the main actor is the real victim of the true story in real life makes it that much CRAZIER.”
“I binged Baby Reindeer on Netflix yesterday and it’s completely amazing.
‘It goes from funny, strange and creepy to genuinely heartbreaking. “It’s not an easy watch, but it seems really important.”
‘OMG, #BabyReindeer on Netflix is somber but brilliant. Black humor and much more than a story of harassment.
‘A powerful study of trauma, abuse and mental health. Incredible writing, performances and production. It’s not an easy watch at times, but it is absolutely engrossing.’
“It is an honor to have known the Baby Reindeer mix, it is a true masterpiece.”
‘Richard Gadd is brilliant in Baby Reindeer! If you haven’t seen it on Netflix you have too!!!! He is absolutely amazing!’
Wow, ‘Baby Reindeer’ is one of the most powerful shows I’ve ever seen and knowing it’s true is just heartbreaking. I’m so glad you told your story
‘Baby Reindeer on Netflix… one of the best things I’ve seen in a long time. Highly recommended.’
“The baby reindeer was a 10/10 and made me cry so much.”
Gadd said: ‘Stalking is a mental illness. He really wanted to show the layers of bullying with a human quality that he hadn’t seen before on television.’
The law now requires that real-life Martha not approach the actor or any of his family or friends (Jessica Gunning as Martha, pictured)