‘Maternal Instinct’ on Netflix: Stream it or skip it?

The true crime genre has seen its share of disturbing real-life cases, but Netflix’s latest documentary “Maternal Instinct” stands out as one of the most unsettling film yet.

Directed by Jessica Dimmock, the documentary revisits the chilling 2020 case from East Texas involving Taylor Rene Parker.

Parker, who had fabricated a pregnancy to maintain her relationship, ultimately carried out the brutal murder of 21-year-old Reagan Michelle Simmons-Hancock and abducted her unborn child in a horrifying act that stunned investigators and the community alike.

The film pieces together the case using dashcam footage, police interviews, and emotional testimonies from loved ones, creating a narrative that often feels closer to psychological horror than traditional documentary storytelling.

 Is it a true story?

Yes. Maternal Instinct is based on the real-life case of Taylor Parker. In October 2020, in New Boston, Texas, Parker murdered her pregnant friend Reagan Simmons-Hancock and removed the unborn baby in an attempt to convince her boyfriend she had given birth.

After a widely followed trial in 2022, Parker was sentenced to death. As of June 2026, she remains on death row at the Patrick L. O’Daniel Women’s Prison in Gatesville, Texas, following the U.S. Supreme Court’s decision in May 2026 to reject her final appeal.

Verdict

Maternal Instinct is a difficult watch with its real-world brutality. Unless you are interested in research, this is not for casual viewing.

Is Netflix’s 'The Witness' based on a true story?

If you’re a true crime fan, Netflix’s “The Witness” is a must-watch as the streaming giant releases this three-part drama series based on true story of a father and son navigating grief, identity, and their relationship in the aftermath of a real 1992 London murder that changed both their lives forever. The story centers on André Hanscombe and his young son, Alex, who was only two years old when he became the sole witness to his mother’s brutal murder. It follows their lives over more than a decade as they struggle with overwhelming grief, endure intense media attention in the […]

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