The Crash is a shocking story that shakes our beliefs as a society. Unlike many Netflix documentaries, this one is not in episodes; it is a one-and-a-half-hour movie that hits you like a huge wave of horrifying events.
It is about a horrible car accident that killed two young men. The car was driven by the 17-year-old Mackenzie Shirilla, and the story has more to it than you might think at first sight.
The Idealization of Youth
As a society, we tend to avoid looking at very young people as evil. We like to think they are naive and kind. Are they immature? Totally. Are they reckless? No doubt. But cruel?
We don't like to think of our teens that way, but it happens more often than we'd like.
Regular Teen or Bad Parenting?
The documentary begins by portraying Mackenzie Shirilla as a regular teenage girl, but you quickly realize she isn't. Her behavior and attitude go beyond those of a regular teen in many ways.
She is rude, she is mean, and she has no rules or limits - apparently no real parenting.
I'm a parent myself, and I hate to blame it on parents because I know how it works. We do the best we can with what we have, and sometimes the unbelievable happens. It's not always a parent's fault, but in this case it's hard not to blame them.
How can they, after all they heard in court, still make excuses for her? The way her mother talked in the courtroom, especially the final message, looked really bad, to say the least.
She is nice; it's just her language that's the problem. Really? Do they follow her on socials? Are they blind? That really disturbed me because they don't look like bad people; quite the opposite, actually. They love their daughter, and their impulse to protect her is natural, but they raised an inconsistent monster in the process.
They are in absolute denial.
The Friends
Naturally, Mackenzie's closest friends are having a hard time admitting to themselves that she was this kind of person.
They are kids themselves, and you can't really blame them. They are the naive youth we'd like to believe all teens are. They can't imagine that kind of evil in someone they like.
However, one of her friends really upset me - I believe it is the same girl who refuses to talk to the police.
She doesn't say "I don't know," or "I don't believe." She simply keeps making excuses for Mackenzie, justifying with sentences like "Anyone my age knows..." Sweetheart, we are not talking about clothes, the older people reprove; we are talking about murder. It really shocked me.
The Families' Pain
Losing a son, a brother, a friend is something you never get over. There is no way. It is the worst nightmare you could have. Watching the pain of the boys' families is too much to bear, and I dropped a few tears.
Looking at this in the coldest possible way, it was a horrible tragedy caused by a brat who never heard a 'no'.
Besides, let's think for a moment. She killed 2 people. Her boyfriend, Dominic Russo, was the target - for no other reason than her inability to relate, jealousy, and pure selfishness.
If you think about it, even more disturbing is the other kid's death - Davion Flanagan - not because his life was more valuable than Dominic's, but because he had nothing to do with the situation. He just happened to be there, in the car, and Mackenzie didn't care. That shows exactly how human life means nothing to her. He was just an extra, nothing else.
The Interview
I believe that Mackenzie and her family want this documentary to show their side and try to convince people she is the victim, but it went so wrong...
Her posture after being in jail is quite different, isn't it? She is sad that she doesn't have a boyfriend anymore, that she is in jail, that... many things, but not that she killed someone. She is not repentant because, in her words, she knows she is not a monster.
That alone says a lot, doesn't it? Now, there is a specific moment that shows us how staged everything was. She goes from crying and being very emotional to asking "Is this OK?" in a second. It's really disturbing.
And how about that apology in court?
I ended up asking myself whether this girl really believes she is a victim or is a very good, manipulative liar.
Causonary Tale
I'd like for parents to watch this show as a cautionary tale about what can happen when you decide to excuse yourself from your responsibilities.
A person who grows up without hearing a no doesn't know how to live in society. And the first time someone says no... things like this happen. So next time you're trying to be a nice parent, remember this and ask yourself whether you should say no. It's not about love; it's about limits, and they are vital for your kids to grow up and live their lives in peace.
As shocking as this documentary can be, it is, without a doubt, a must-watch for all of us. What society are we building with this idea of being friends with our kids instead of parents?
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