Con Mum

Well. This is a toe-curlingly agonising watch!

Con Mum is an above average con story documentary.

A vulnerable man and his partner are expecting a baby, when an old woman comes into their lives seemingly out of nowhere. What unfolds is a story of mind-boggling amoral manipulation, greed and financial destruction. No spoilers.

The power of this show comes from the honesty of the real-life protagonists in front of the cameras. All of them, except one. We really feel for those on the receiving end, especially and particularly the vulnerable man and his family. It's appalling to watch. Shredding. Chilling.

Even so - we learn a whole lot about one of our human conditions: the need we have to want to believe. Once a scammer knows this vulnerability about us - they have us.... That's what's happened here in Con Mum.

Recommended.

Wow...what was that forced, fake, vocal fry affectation all about? It ruined the whole thing for me, and that's saying something considering what a naive, greedy, selfish dick Graham turned out to be. How could he have really fallen for it all? The answer seems to be that his head was turned by his mum's lies and deceit. I know he was put through the wringer, but look at the pain his little boy, greedy naivety caused. He was so stupid and gullible. Ach, maybe we all would get taken in, by this kind of thing supposedly dropping in your lap, who knows. I like to think, though, that I'd smell a rat quite early on.

With all these con related documentaries you always find yourself saying 'how are people so gullible'. Well for the first 20/25 minutes the con seemed plausible, until we find out Netflix are holding back on some of the important information.

The name of the show is a bit of a spoiler in itself. I won't be giving anything away by saying the 'Mum' is a con woman. The story is about how she dupes her 'son' 45 years after she gave birth to him and gave him away as a newborn.

He thinks he's getting the dream reconciliation, where in fact it turns into a nightmare for him and his family.

It's intriguing enough to keep you interested. You probably won't remember it in a years time.

In this gripping film, the intricacies of deception unfold as it reveals how the scammed were, in many ways, willing participants in their own downfall. The direction is sharp, effectively showcasing the receipts of their misplaced trust. One can only hope that the total amount lost pales in comparison to the film's production costs. The narrative cleverly highlights that those scammed were ultimately biding their time, anticipating a payoff upon her demise. While I don't condone scamming, this story serves as a cautionary tale, illustrating that sometimes, those seeking a quick gain get exactly what they deserve. A thought-provoking watch!

Con Mom had potential - the story is wild, the production isn't bad, and it's the kind of show that should pull you in easily. But there's one thing I just couldn't get past: Heather Kaniuk.

She plays one of the main characters, but her voice is so painfully forced - like this fake, low, raspy tone that sounds like she's trying way too hard to be intense or mysterious. It's not natural, it's not engaging... it's just ugh. Every time she speaks, it completely takes me out of the story. It feels like a parody of a true crime character rather than a believable performance.

I'm sorry, but it's genuinely one of the most irritating and frustrating vocal performances I've ever heard on a show. It's killing the vibe entirely.

I wanted to like it, but I just can't sit through it with that voice constantly dragging things down.