Untold: The Shooting at Hawthorne Hill Review
Director: Grace McNally
Date Created: 2026-04-21 17:57
3.5
Untold: The Shooting at Hawthorne Hill Review: Grace McNally directs this episode from Netflix’s series Untold, which runs for 1 hour and 13 minutes, about a disturbing event that occurred in the arena of dressage competitions. The movie is focused on Michael Barisone, who was an Olympic athlete, as well as his student Lauren Kanarek, and tells the story of a 2019 shooting at their residence called Hawthorne Hill.
Untold: The Shooting at Hawthorne Hill Review
The Untold: The Shooting at Hawthorne Hill documentary seems to be a slowly unfolding character analysis. Dressage seems like an appropriate setting for such a story, elegant, costly, and intensely competitive. There is some kind of built-in pressure in the sport, which is hinted at in the film, revealing that this was not one incident, but rather months of tension between two strong characters.
It was an effective technique of storytelling, I think. The Netflix documentary Untold: The Shooting at Hawthorne Hill is quite non-judgmental in its beginning stages, at least. It brings forth different perspectives, namely those of Michael, Lauren, and others around them, thus allowing the viewer to feel that uncomfortable confusion about whose side to take. However, it is that very uncertainty which made me keep watching the documentary because, in reality, it was about a lot more than just a shooting.
Michael Barisone emerges as an intriguing individual. He seems successful, to say the least. However, the way in which he mentions Lauren raises some doubts in my mind. He sounds rather indifferent and even condescending at times. At other times, the film makes me feel as though it tries to make me feel for the guy. Specifically, his psychological background is explored in some detail. One can only comprehend the feelings Michael had, but never justify what he eventually decided to do.
Because let’s be clear, regardless of what Netflix’s The Shooting at Hawthorne Hill documentary tries to tell us, killing cannot be justified under any circumstances. This is precisely where I feel the documentary teeters on the edge. The documentary deals extensively with the theme of “insanity defence,” and it makes us wonder whether justice was served at all in this case. Personally, however, that uneasy feeling just kept gnawing at me throughout the whole process.
Unlike Lauren Kanarek, however, who isn’t presented as a clear victim in any way, either, and that is one of the main things that makes this documentary interesting but also rather annoying to watch. Lauren’s behaviour, including her social media comments and even her actions, complicates the situation, and it was nice to see that she wasn’t just shown in an entirely sympathetic light by the filmmakers, but there were moments when I felt that her image was being portrayed too negatively.
It is this moral dilemma which becomes the greatest asset and at times the Achilles’ heel of the film. Firstly, it makes the work interesting and multifaceted as well. However, at times it gives an impression that the director tries to give as much weight as possible to different aspects of the story, even when the importance of one particular element (such as shooting somebody) exceeds everything else.
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What I have found the most fascinating part was definitely the courtroom episode in the documentary. Everything starts from the very beginning: the discussion of what is going to happen with Michael, the whole procedure itself is fascinating, and the whole insanity plea appears absolutely surreal. Michael not being convicted because of insanity became the main thing that lingered on after watching the documentary.
However, it definitely could have dived deeper in some cases. In particular, there is mention of the psychological states of both of the people involved, but this topic is not thoroughly discussed. More specifically, I would like to have gotten some additional information regarding why each one of these people had reached such a point.
Moreover, another flaw that I believe exists within this documentary is that it is rather rushed in some of its later parts. In particular, considering the significance of the outcome, I would expect it to have been analysed a little better.
Netflix Untold: The Shooting at Hawthorne Hill Review: Summing Up
In conclusion, Untold: The Shooting at Hawthorne Hill is a fascinating and stimulating documentary film whose strength lies in its uncertainty. While it may disappoint some viewers who expect clear answers, it excels at generating discussion, which can be equally valuable.
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