Netflix's true-crime documentary film The Crash has reached the number one spot on the streaming platform as of May 2026, igniting polarizing public debates over a fatal July 2022 vehicular collision in Strongsville, Ohio.
Directed by Gareth Johnson and Angharad Scott, the 94-minute film examines whether the incident—where 17-year-old Mackenzie Shirilla drove a Toyota Camry into a brick building at nearly 100 mph—was a tragic accident or a calculated double-murder.
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Passengers Dominic Russo, 20, who was Shirilla's boyfriend, and their friend Davion Flanagan, 19, died in the crash while Shirilla survived, according to reports from Slate and PureWow.
Social Media Evidence and Trial
The prosecution used Shirilla's social media posts during her 2023 trial to demonstrate a lack of remorse, ultimately securing convictions for murder, felonious assault, aggravated vehicular homicide, drug possession, and possession of criminal tools.
Shirilla received a life sentence with parole eligibility after 15 years, though she continues to maintain that she blacked out and lacked intent to kill her passengers.
Audience reactions remain deeply divided, with the film securing a 91 percent critical rating on Rotten Tomatoes but a significantly lower 62 percent audience score.
An audience review on Rotten Tomatoes highlighted the intense public reaction to the teenager's online presence following the fatal event.
"No amount of protesting from her deluded parents or friends can erase how vile she comes across in her social media posts," wrote one viewer of The Crash.
The documentary features first-time camera interviews with the imprisoned Shirilla, her parents, and her influencer friend Rosie Graham.
During production, Mackenzie Shirilla's father defended his stance regarding his daughter's marijuana usage prior to the incident.
"I don't have a problem with her smoking dope," said the father of Mackenzie Shirilla.
He later argued to TMZ that Netflix took the comment out of context, stating he could not lock her in her room, while Shirilla's mother stated the teenager did not need much discipline.
Following the film's release, Shirilla's father was placed on administrative leave from his teaching job after the documentary publicized that the parents allowed their daughter to live with her boyfriend while in high school.
The victims' families have also spoken out, with Davion Flanagan's father criticizing the teenager's digital behavior directly after the tragedy.
"Nobody in their right mind would post about being thrilled about an opportunity after they'd just killed two people," said Scott Flanagan, father of Davion Flanagan.
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The statement referenced communications between Shirilla and a brand on Instagram shortly after the crash, a sentiment later shared on X by singer Cardi B.
"Love him. He does not play!"
commented Cardi B.
Defending the social media activity, Rosie Graham stated that an October 2022 Halloween costume video was simply a musical homage and argued older viewers do not understand internet culture.
The documentary has motivated numerous follow-up videos on YouTube arguing that the directors omitted key pieces of evidence against Shirilla.
Public feedback showcased by PureWow reflects the ongoing divide, with viewers submitting vastly conflicting assessments of the film's quality and narrative structure.
"Really good. I enjoyed this very much.
Well done," wrote one reviewer.
Other viewers expressed dissatisfaction with how the factual evidence of the case was presented within the runtime.
"This is a very skewed and frankly horrible documentary," noted another audience member.
Some commentators chose to focus on the overall emotional weight of the production for the families involved.
"Tragic for all involved. Well done, and definitely showed 'both sides,'" stated a separate review.
Additional feedback highlighted that missing investigative details made it challenging for external audiences to evaluate the legal outcome.
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"Very engaging, however it left a lot of important information out which makes it hard to learn the facts and form a valid opinion about what happened," wrote a final reviewer.
