The Puppet Master: Hunting the Ultimate Conman (2022) Netflix Documentary Review
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- เผยแพร่เมื่อ 17 ม.ค. 2022
- Here is my The Puppet Master: Hunting the Ultimate Conman (2022) Netflix Documentary Review. Over the course of a decade, Robert Freegard controlled, conned, and fleeced at least seven women and one man, stealing close to a million pounds. His victims were led to believe they were accomplices in highly elaborate secret service operations and that their families were in grave danger if they did not obey. This true-crime documentary on Netflix is available now, but should it be on your watchlist? Thanks for checking out my The Puppet Master: Hunting the Ultimate Conman (2022) Netflix Documentary Review!
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*****
My couch rating system:
5 - A must watch - do not pass this one up
4 - It's really good, you should see it
3 - It's OK - maybe good for a rental
2 - It's not that good and I wouldn't recommend it
1 - It's terrible and I definitely don't recommend it
0 - Cutting off a finger is better than watching this - บันเทิง
I believe after watching the series, the current legal system is too outdated to deal with conmen like this guy. In my opinion, life sentence was the right call. I really felt sorry for what this guy was able to put through these families. The evidence is there, I don’t see how the court was able to overturn his case. I hope those kids find their mother soon, he will probably dump her when her money is gone.
Exactly, psychological entrapment isn't seen as kidnapping... It's haunting to see how outdated it is, certainly when having had a father that was a psychopath... There is no justice is the legal system if you're trapped by these victims... As when I was growing up, no one believed me or my mother, because he was so charming. Even to the legal system, that in fact attacked me in stead: saying I had to be a better son and best to keep my grades up... My grades in fact WERE good, the judge however got trapped by his persuasiveness..
Look out, there's people around that are there to trap you.
@@psyaviah If it's an emotionally abusive father that's a different story. Children are totally vulnerable.
If you're an adult and some joker comes up to you talking about how he's MI6 and you need to fork over your life's savings, that's called being a total moron.
@@tylerjeb7888 don't underestimate the power of charming, context and how vulnerable these ppl were at the time
Great review , I’m honestly in shock watching the full thing. How he’s not in prison is so disgusting & how Sandra’s children haven’t seen her in years
Her children haven’t seen her because he’s a dumb as leaving everything . She was wipped and inlove with this man and left everything .
He's not in prison because he didn't break any laws. He just manipulated a lot of naive, gullible people.
@@keith6591 gullible to make you run for 10 yrs away from your family ? Those are jst plain stupid and dumb ppl
What crime? Tricking woman to give money isn't a crime, there are gullible as hell and severe psychological problems to believe such lies. Why can't they charge this fucker freegard having fake passports, 100% using false identities, and can't prove it but pretty he is accessing sandras bank account. That is a crime. It's one thing scamming people but using in possession of others passports and clearly knowing he is using fake names at hotels gets a pass and can't be prosecuted? That makes no sense. Conman get away and hardly ever get charged because they swindle money which isn't a crime just morally unethical. But no repercussions in using fake identities is ok ? WTF
Yes, he's a bad guy. But also....if you don't use your brain you're kind of asking for trouble.
You went 10 years driving around England with some random guy telling you he was MI6 with zero evidence while your dad was telling you he was a conman......................? ........10..........effing..............years.............? That's like brain significant brain damage levels of stupid.
How did Robert know the dog buyer had spoken to the police?? Just like he knew that info about Sarah, clearly someone in the police force was helping him.
So strange....as a documentary, I needed to understand the timeline...this one,that one...who, where, when?
And yes, I adored the Daddy - his devotion & intelligence; in fact, he could feature in a drama as the central character!
🙏🏻💔🙏🏽
He reminds me of David Bowie!
@@mercedesnieves4463:
Take care & be well, Mercedes!
🙏🏽🌹🙏🏻
There should be a law that when a person is suspected to be in the control of a conman/cult that they be required to spend time away from that person just to see if the control could be diluted.
I liked this docuseries, but it felt unfinished in many ways. I hope that they do a season 2, with more focus on who Robert was before he worked in the bar, what his marriage was like, what his daughters think about all this, the psychological factors, and anything that happens because the docuseries went out. Everyone is asking the same question... where is he now?
Other comments say he was recently seen in France in 2022. He had ANOTHER woman manipulated. (The mom, Sandra, went home and is with her kids. This was a new lady. Another con.)
So he manipulated this lady and they also bred show dogs and sold them.
Well the French police found him for some reason (because of the Netflix doc but also because I think they weren't paying bills? Late notices? Final notices? Not quite sure on the reasons. Just that many people were looking for him).
Anyways he tried to run but hurt 2 cops trying to get away. (Which is illegal)
He did get away eventually and fled to Germany, but now France wanted him because of the injuries. So Germany extradited him to France and currently he is in jail awaiting trial for 2 attempted murder of police.
And actually the woman was still Sandra, not new woman.
But she is home now with her kids.
Oh yes. I agreed
I found this interesting. More so about the psychology of the human mind. The fact he did this and was able to do so is quite apparent, but as there were more than one I was amazed how easily people are fooled but more amazingly for a very long period of time and still so.
I'm glad the father of the two children are there for them. They seem like lovely people and I wish them well.
No question this guy is still doing this
The ONLY smart intelligent victim with ANY backbone in this documentary was Peter Smith, the farmer, the father of Sarah Smith.
HE did ALL that he could do, collecting evidence against this conman. Yes! You got it at 3:11!
I’m not understanding allowing some new man you met to change how you behave or act towards your children. The first episode disgusted me with the mom.
Looking forward to your Ozark season 4 review!
Just completed part a
I found it very fascinating, but I also missed more information on the psychology of it all. Also I was surprised that it was over, when it was over. Seemed like they took everything that was more or less public knowledge and put it in the documentary, but when it might have been time to really start digging, it was over. Nevertheless nice to watch, never boring.
Looking forward to the Tinder Swindler on Netflix!
Just from watching it. Oh boy I am so mad 😡. I have so many questions too
Once again you captured this documentary so accurately with the high points and flaws, Worth seeing and of denote interest.
definite interest
Very good review! You brought up all the right points.
Like if you think Sarah’s Dad need his own show… He is my new superhero Hahahaha Hahahaha
Loved this video 👏👏
Thanks Chris …checking this out tonight.
So much was unexplained. Driving round on holiday playing Duran Duran Ordinary World over and over again . Ik he was manipulating them but on what level? Was he using mass hypnosis? Where he did he learn all this ? What was he like at school? So many questions.
I immediately thought of mk ultra with the tape loop thing
Good review Chris. That was very good.
I can’t believe no one’s trying to find that mother and put some sense in to her !
She’s obviously another victim, and police just took her word for it that she wants to be with him !
She’s clearly a con woman herself now
She knows exactly who he is
Completely agree with your opinion. The doc was good but sooooo much info was missing
Its crazy how naive these ppl were.. i was watching this and I literally said “well thats dumb” at least 100 times
This is what i thought in the beggining too. But you have to understand that he is a psychopath. He is very good at manipulating and lying. He can make you second guess yourself. Who knows what kind of things he's been telling them to really make them believe every word he is saying. He drives people insane.
They were brainwashed by him.
@@lolmwah9948 right... im sure it was way more strategic to get in their head... But the way they’re explaining makes it seem like it was so simple
@@DeeSlimVision yess exactly
To everyone who thinks that, hasn't had experience with a person with psychopathic traits. This is one of the most common mistakes people make when judging the situation.
Psychological entrapment isn't seen as kidnapping... It's haunting to see how outdated police and legal systems are. And it is, certainly when having had a father that was a psychopath... There is no justice is the legal system if you're trapped by these victims... As when I was growing up, no one believed me or my mother, because he was so charming. Even to the legal system, that in fact attacked me in stead: saying I had to be a better son and best to keep my grades up... My grades in fact WERE good, the judge however got trapped by his persuasiveness..
Look out, there's people around that are there to trap you.
You did amazing job indeed , the documentary is not fully done. I love the theory about the frog in the pot. I think they were hopeful rather than living in reality. I watched till episode 2 😂 took a mini snap and checked for review.
we need a documentary about this guy, background, influences etc. coz this story almost sound made up, how can one man possess so much power. I promise you he is so good at his cons more than some MI15 AND FBI agents lol, nevertheless a cruel individual!
Its sad that you would assume this story is made up
he is a psychopath
@@armaanjuneja3011 I don’t think u comprehend the whole text, I never said that but the opposite.
I think you need to watch the documentary on Netflix!
I found it interesting. I'm still surprised that seemingly intelligent people can be so easily fooled. Excellent review..👍How it happened would have been something to concentrate on. As far as admitting you are a spy? I think only "Bond......James Bond" could get away with that and be believed!!
maybe Irish people just sense gobshites and chancers... I enjoyed it thought he Freegard was lucky to be alive considering he "brought" the IRA in to this I mean of all the people that you don't want to mess with especially in this neck of the woods is the RA thought they would have "looked in to this...." maybe he'll go missin then...
@@joelyons886 Yeah. Lol! We do have an instinct for it! He was a master manipulator. Should have gone into politics!!
@@brianmsahin to honest to be a politician 🤣🤣🤣
He seeks out damaged or woman with or possibly with psychological issue's. Predators have sonar for seeking out preying on this type people. That Sarah College girl looks like she was so prone to depression, anxiety and can be heavily manipulated which he did.
Awesome
Dexter style justice is the only solution for this monster…
Will check this out,reviews are so subjective, with our individual interests
I was shocked he was released from prison after impersonating an MI5 agent
This guy took 3 humans from city to city for 10 years haha it’s utterly bonkers
Being a crime docu fanatic, I also enjoy watching these Netflix crime series, but I also felt it lacks some important parts most of the time. In this story, what they missed big time was the opportunity to explain the psychological side of it. A lot of parts in the beginning where there were obvious signs of hypnosis and brainwashing but it wasn’t explained at all.
Oh well.. moral of the story, never believe someone who claims they are a spy… for the sole reason that a real spy will never do such a thing.
Yeah I wish they'd explained that more. If you go to the comment sections of the trailer for the doc you can see a bunch of people saying that all the victims were morons, naive and deserved it. It's sad
Look, this documentary lacks it, and why? Because it is the reality... No one believes you - the amount of facts given in the documentary are real... I grew up as a son in house with a father as a psychopath. You can't escape, no one believes you.
Psychological entrapment isn't seen as kidnapping, nor abuse even... It's haunting to see how outdated legal systems are, certainly here, when having had a father that was a psychopath...
There is no room in the legal books or room for interpretation or justice in the legal system if you're trapped by these victims... As when I was growing up, no one believed me or my mother, because he was so charming. Even to the legal system, that in fact attacked me in stead: saying I had to be a better son and best to keep my grades up... My grades in fact WERE good, the judge however got trapped by his persuasiveness..
Look out, there's people around that are there to trap you.
This is the best documentary, for me, as a a victim, becomes it tells a true story. How difficult it is to live & cope... And how uneasy and unanswered things are. Keep that in mind when watching it.
Psychopaths and sociopaths specifically are wired to manipulate/brainwash. It's in their DNA, has been since Shakespeare times, pyramid times, cave men, etc.
Narcissists and borderline do it too, but most times not to such extreme behaviors.
(Narcissist: "I can't say/do that! What would the neighbors think?")
Psychopaths and sociopaths have no thoughts of this. They don't care how the public see them, just so long as their companions believe what they say (believe their lies).
Psychopaths and sociopaths think it is funny when you believe their lies. They always giggle about it later.
I've dated a psychopath and the best books on the subject is "without conscience" by Robert Hare and "The sociopath next door by Martha stout.
If you want to go deeper on the subject, look up "cluster b" and "dark triad" (no empathy) and "light triad" (too much empathy)
I just hope that the film will limit his world and somehow put him in jail.
The dad was awesome
Why cannot he be convicted for his frauds if not for kidnapping was my question when I was watching this documentary.
they said he didnt kidnapp them, they all had the choice to leave but they want to stay with him. and the money he didnt force them or still them, its been given to him. all what he did was lying he spent couple years in the prison. did u get it now? i know this is bullshit and he should be in prison for life for destroying somone's entire life, but there is no such law to protect this kind of victims sadly.
@@elkhetyar1309 Yeah, I saw the documentary and it was bad enough to cause the victims to go with his lies and mind control but if the victims had no money or means to escape (truly believing that they will be killed by IRA etc) then he should have received a life sentence. He is still on the loose committing fraud in France is just wrong. The case needs to be reopened or at least recover the financial damages caused by him.
He did get 9 years for the fraud, got away with the kidnapping charges though
Netflix's documentary had been a hit and miss a lot of times. this one is surely a miss. It could have been an interesting one, but it didn't deliver.
This dude knew what to look for on a woman which were women without siblings, finding out their parents had some money, and guillble. These women were willing participants in getting the money. Sara kept saying she could not believe her parents wanted her back. Guilty tears
I just watch the show. And it s really sad that how people can be manipulated that much. That s really sad how can people can be brain washed . That s sad.
Not that hard to believe watch any video from a maga rally those people are just like the people manipulated by freegard
He chose all his victims meticulously... these people were all vulnerable
I binged it all last night. Great review.
A half-arsed, rushed, incomplete Netflix documentary. How surprising!
Dear Movies And Munchies: You are correct when you say that this "peculiar" doc lacked background information. The obvious reason for me is that this Con Man wasn't as efficient as this film maker wants us to believe. I have an MA in Social Psychology and I studied the scientific literature about "attitude change" ( aka "persuasive communication" ) very deeply as a grad student. Based on what I've learned, I can assure you that this guy approached MANY people before he found the ones who were most susceptible to his charms. I'll bet my Soc Sec pension check that this guy had less than a 10% success rate in terms of all the people he approached. Of course, the film maker doesn't want to reveal that because it would make this Con Man look less persuasive, as well as making his "victims" look like the most Naive and Gullible people in Society (which, in Reality, they were !!!). The unspoken premise of the film is that the people that this man "hooked" were the ONLY Ones he tried to "hook". However, such a premise is Unsustainable and Absurd. I can assure you that this man's victims were well outside the Bell shaped curve of Gullibility, and even a skilled Con Man needs to look long and hard for such unfortunate Super Suckers.
To be honest I’m not sure the series tried to intimate his success rate was high or low
They only say there were others and probably many more
His win rate is indeterminable but very likely just as you say
These people were brain dead im afraid
Anyone thinking that’s harsh ask yourself what you’d to someone saying
‘I’m in MI5’
But the thing is he was using these people for years and years at a time... he didn't need more than a few!
I'm not a psychology student but I have personal experience with Aspd.
Many, many, many experiences.
I have seen behind the mask/the mask drop many many times.
And yes, perhaps they were the most gullible, the easiest.
However, what psychology classes won't teach you is that psychopaths only need 1 in. Just one foot in the door. Just one opportunity.
Once they have that, they push you to give more and more and more.
And let's say you aren't gullible, let's say you are very smart and avoid the fox.
Still, you look behind you and see he is persuading your sister or your cousin.
IT'S not a human you are dealing with, but a monster, an animal, who will do anything to win.
I completely agree. They could have done better showing how they fell for it. And continued
I have questions too like how the other lady stayed 10 years believing him, I understand she could have been brainwashed but she should have noticed something was off. Shouldn't an MI5 or FBI agent be funded? Why insist on getting your inheritance unless you're in love with him or something.... Anyway another thing is how did he have so many details about his victims including their bank balances and what not? I enjoyed it though
A loving mum normal life , think this lady seriously controlled prob violence and threats involved , no other reason why she wodnt c her children so sad really feel for her kids
It was disgusting, unbelievable, horrible , and I am speeches .
What would you rate this?
Probably middle of the road, but not higher than 3/5. I still liked the mystery that came of it, but some of the lack of explanation/information was frustrating.
@@MoviesAndMunchies I think that is part of how he gets away with it for such long periods of time. Causing confusion is one of his biggest tools to manipulate. Some of these tactics are both physical and emotional abuse/torture. It’s possible his victims maybe blocking things out that they don’t even know they are blocking out.
@@blankname6629 definitely mk ultra especially with the tape loop driving in the car
I've just come across this documentary. So Infuriating! I stopped watching when I realized this documentary wasn't going to have a "satisfying" resolution--or in fact, a resolution of any kind.
I'm usually a very compassionate person, and I understand how easy it is to fall for scams and cons--I, myself, have been scammed before-- but this documentary got me so incensed at the gullibility of so many people who seemed smart. The Smith father seemed smart, too, but then gave in when the guy was making his daughter make all those phone calls because of his wife. Why didn't he just unplug the phone? Give him the finger?
And the Clifton daughter stopped talking to her father and brother for two years and gave the man 10 K pounds. I was like, WHAT! How did the pos learn she has that kind of money in the bank? Surely, she wouldn't have told that pos about it? Or would she? I mean, what kind of hold did he have on her to make her give him this info? And wasn't she there when he padlocked her mom's bedroom? I mean, WHAT! Unless the girl was into this guy, too. Maybe that's something that was left out.
And the woman with the dog business. The pos accused her of talking to the police, saying that the records showed it. What records? Did she give him access to her phone record or other records? I mean, really.
And, what part of "for life" sentence means a few years? Is it a British thing? Or was it that this pos also conned them into releasing him early? WHAT!
Disgusting! There's no justice.
Sarah wanted to protect her family so much that she didn’t care driving them to an early grave my ringing them at all times of the day and night. I believe she fell in love with the malignant narcissist.
😮😮
It was well done but I didn't see any victims. Just gullible people looking for someone to follow. Felt sorry for the families left behind, especially those poor kids who were abandoned by their mother. At least they have a good father.
Never watched Ozark ,never will
Anyone purporting to be on the run in the UK from the RA BETTER be just that you don’t mess with or bring them in to crap like this. For the Doc not to mention this or even comment on it was a wee bit surprising to say the least. Also the way the American lady’s story was explained left more questions than actual answers, I did watch it though.. with some popcorn which is an apt word to describe the bulk of Netflix “journalistic documentaries” 😂
The doc doesn’t mention it for possibly that very reason Id say. It would make an even bigger issue of it.
Much like Narcos ended before they started talking about current people
The RIRA as they call themselves now are very much concentrated in Northern Ireland.
It’s heavily unlikely they’ll go out of their way to get this bloke but if he does happen to cross paths somewhere he’s a defo gone.
@@TheManorBeast excellent point and probably accurate
I felt for the children, Sophie and Jake especially Jake their father David really did what all decent parents would do have to applaud him for that.
Shows how weak human minds can be
These are the cases where a woman will eventually accuse the man of abuse and control instead of taking responsibility for their actions. Sandy is a grown ass woman who is now a con artist with her con artist boyfriend. It's diabolical and heartbreaking..
I can't finish it- you can't just say this guy is doing all of this and not explain how he was able to manipulate them- I hate this series- it's absolute trash
Thanks, was expecting beeing frustrated with a bullshit review of how exeptional this story was and how you woulde fall out of your chair watching it, like so many other overhyped true crime documentaries, like the tigerking etc. but this explains very well why this documentary is boring as fuck, without saying it.
There is nothing to take home from this documentary. All you see is the victims explaining what happend, and what happend makes no sence because we get to know nothing about the conman. I've only seen the first two episode and im kicking my self for wasting my time.
Your channel is really growing. Congrats! Do not waste another day - P r o m o S M !!!