The new short documentary has proven a tough watch for Netflix viewers
Netflix fans have been left in tears over the “saddest” true crime documentary that they are forced to “take a break” from.
Just this month, the streaming giant quietly added a short, but “poignant”, true crime documentary which aims to highlight the need for action against the “rising epidemic of gun violence” in America.
All The Empty Rooms on Netflix is around 35 minutes long but is a powerful story following reporter Steve Hartman and photographer Lou Bopp who embark on a journey to memorialise the bedrooms of children who were killed in school shootings.
Netflix states about the documentary: “The untouched bedrooms of American children killed in school shootings tell a story of memory, loss and enduring love in this poignant short documentary.”
The documentary was released on December 1 with true crime fans urged to give it a watch. But for some, it is a struggle to watch in one go as they are left “sobbing”.
Taking to X, formerly Twitter, one Netflix fan said: “I just watched All the Empty Rooms documentary on Netflix and wow 30 minutes of sadness. Everyone should watch it.”
Another wrote: “All the Empty Rooms documentary on Netflix … the saddest 30 min documentary I’ve ever seen. Cried my eyes out!”
Over on TikTok, may videos have been made as one user warned: “When I tel lyou this one is going to have you stopping to catch your breath, I’m not being dramatic, please heed this warning.”
One fan replied: “Every gun owner should be made to watch this before getting a gun. I’m sobbing.”
Another penned: “I just started this in the UK. It’s crazy. I can’t believe it’s normalised. The dirty clothes in the laundry basket [crying emoji] poor souls [broken heart].”
A third echoed: “Ohhhh!!! I started it tonight and I had to stop… had to take a break. I may try later tonight but may have to wait until tomorrow. I feel guilty for stopping it but I just can’t make it in one sitting.”
In another video, one true crime fanatic said: “This is the most powerful and heartbreaking 33 minutes of anything I’ve ever watched.”
As one person replied: “I bawled so hard I actually couldn’t finish it, it’s just… haunting…”
The short film, by Oscar-nominated Joshua Seftel, follows the after effects of school shootings and the heartbreak families are continuing to endure several years after the tragedies. Reporter Steve speaks to families involved as they share of their heartache and what the rooms now mean to them.
In an emotional trailer, the clip starts with a video of a young girl speaking to the camera as she says “Hi”. This is then followed by an emotional Steve who can be heard saying: “I’ve been typecast as, you know, the feel good happy news kind of guy… What I’ve been doing is just whitewashing the whole thing.”
Writing in another clip, it reads: “For seven years, journalist Steve Hartman has documented the empty bedrooms of children lost to school shootings.”
Heartbreaking clips are then shows of some of the children who were killed as fans were quick to comment on the heartbreaking watch. One person posted on the YouTube trailer: “The feeling this trailer gave me was just a visceral punch to the stomach that I think is really needed right now. The empty rooms become memorials in place of their child and I can’t even fathom the weight of that.”
All The Empty Rooms can be streamed on Netflix now