Unknown Number: The High School Catfish
★★★
Unknown Number: The High School Catfish is not the best documentary you’ll ever see, but it is one you will be talking about with friends. It has that addictive, can’t-look-away quality that explains the popularity of true crime stories.
The film follows a small-town high school couple who become targets of harassment by an unknown number in a group chat. What begins as vulgar messages stretches into a years-long investigation that escalates from the local school board to police and eventually the FBI. The reveal of who is behind the texts is shocking—and worth the wait.
What stands out most is the construction of the documentary. The filmmakers never present anything false, but they cleverly arrange information to guide you toward certain conclusions, only to pull back the curtain with a “gotcha” moment. It may feel manipulative, but it’s also what makes the story so effective and ensures Netflix has another buzzy hit.
Beyond the twist, the film captures the intersection of teen culture, technology, parenting and institutions such as schools and law enforcement. It highlights how adults never fully escape adolescent drama—we simply experience it again through our children, our communities and the systems we navigate.
On a personal note, I started watching during the Dallas Cowboys’ NFL opener against the Philadelphia Eagles, when a lightning delay paused the game. When play resumed, I had a choice: return to football or finish the documentary. I chose the documentary. For a diehard Cowboys fan, that says everything about how gripping Unknown Number really is.
