image courtesy of Hulu promotional materials

I still remember the shock of seeing the news headlines that renowned family Youtuber mom Ruby Franke had been arrested for child abuse. I remember when her daughter Shari Franke posted on her Instagram story an image of police officers with the caption “finally.” The world of family vlogging was turned upside down in the wake of Ruby’s arrest. 

Devil in the Family: The Fall of Ruby Franke premiered on February 27 on various streaming platforms. The documentary consists of three episodes, each one diving deeper into a story of tragedy and manipulation. 

I prefer the thrillers in the documentary world, specifically those containing suspenseful tragedies that leave me on the edge of my seat. Going into this documentary, I did not expect it to captivate me; however, I was wildly wrong to assume this. From the first minute of the first episode to the final minute of the last episode, my eyes were glued to the screen with my jaw on the floor. 

The story is told from the perspective of individuals with unique connections to the Franke family. This includes neighbors, friends, and even Ruby’s estranged husband, son, and daughter, Kevin, Chad, and Shari Franke. 

Having the story told from so many perspectives gave me insight from various different angles, which allowed me to fully grasp the extent of the story. It’s a horrendous story that Kevin and Shari had the strength to share. 

What really made my head spin was the topic of Jodi Hildebrandt, the once family therapist turned Ruby’s secret lesbian affair. The documentary interviews various couples who were part of Jodi’s counseling class, who were also led by both Ruby and Kevin. Brainwashing and manipulation are the only two words that I can confidently say Ruby and Jodi are talented at, and are two words that the documentary portrays them to be. 

While four of Ruby’s children are not interviewed or shown due to their age, the documentary describes the brutal torture that these four endured. Having already estranged Kevin, Chad, and Shari and moved in with Jodi, Ruby has privacy to inflict the abuse, which included starving, harming, and binding her children. 

The final episode ends with the triumphant rescue of the children, which quite literally brought tears to my eyes as the innocent children’s cycle of abuse was broken. 

This documentary is phenomenal. It reveals the truths that the world needs to hear. Family vlogging is dangerous, and this documentary proved how vulnerable spotlight families are. Thank you Kevin, Chad, and Shari for your strength.