Film Review: ‘Sextortion: The Hidden Pandemic’: A Skin-Crawling Look at Cyber Child Stalking

Michael Clark
10/7/2022
Updated:
1/5/2024

The new documentary “Sextortion: the Hidden Pandemic” (“STHP”) opens with this ancient text, attributed to St. Augustine: “Hope has two beautiful daughters; their names are anger and courage. Anger at the way things are, and the courage to see that they do not remain as they are.”

Using this as her springboard, director Maria Demeshkina Peek (“I Dream of Dance,” “Third Grade”) divides “STHP” into two highly uneven halves. Luckily, Part I (“Anger”) is just over an hour and by itself would rate 5/5. Sadly, Part II, the “Courage” portion, alone would rate 2/5 and is just 22 minutes long, including over five minutes of end credits.

Stone Age Technology

Since the inception of the internet, it has become both a vessel for adult-oriented imagery of every conceivable sub-sect and an electronic playground for predators. Regarding the latter, and because of the lower-tech nature of the internet in the beginning, minors were relatively safe. If someone was dumb enough to search for underage targets, the chances were they’d be caught.
Erin Burke, unit chief of the Child Exploitation Investigations Unit at Cyber Crime Center (C3), part of HSI, said that since she began working to combat child exploitation in 2007, sextortion cases have “drastically shot up,” in great part because of how easily accessible the internet is now to all ages<span style="color: #ff0000;">. </span>(Auroris Media)
Erin Burke, unit chief of the Child Exploitation Investigations Unit at Cyber Crime Center (C3), part of HSI, said that since she began working to combat child exploitation in 2007, sextortion cases have “drastically shot up,” in great part because of how easily accessible the internet is now to all ages. (Auroris Media)

As technology progressed at such a quick clip, it eclipsed users’ ability to fully comprehend its capability, deep reach, and, most importantly, the ability to remain fully anonymous. All bets were off, and everything became open game.

In the last five years, the explosion of social media outlets such as “Instagram” and “TikTok” have upped the ante even further. Add to that the forced global shutdown in March 2020, with children as young as 5 being given smart phones, and the recipe for impending disaster reached critical mass.

These factors are the crux of Peek’s film and, along with a superbly crafted narrative, turns the first two acts of “STHP” into an intense, true-life legal procedural. It opens in Bedford County, Virginia, where prosecuting attorney West Nance first became aware of a 14-year-old victim identified only as “H.M.”

An artist's drawing of H.M. testifying in court as featured in "Sextortion: The Hidden Pandemic." (Auroris Media)
An artist's drawing of H.M. testifying in court as featured in "Sextortion: The Hidden Pandemic." (Auroris Media)
H.M. was contacted via Facebook by someone posing as another teenager with a topless beach photo who eased his way into her life with light flattery and an unusually on-the-mark knowledge of her favorite things: music, movies, food, and fashion.

It All Starts With a Selfie

Realizing, as most scientists will attest, that teenager’s minds are a still-developing mush, H.M.’s new friend presents himself as a sublime glove-fit and her minor defense shields drop to the floor. She takes a selfie in her underwear, sends it to him, and this is when her nightmare begins.
An example of texts used by predators to entice children into compromising situations as featured in "Sextortion: The Hidden Pandemic." (Auris Media)
An example of texts used by predators to entice children into compromising situations as featured in "Sextortion: The Hidden Pandemic." (Auris Media)

This same set of events occurs simultaneously to another young teen girl, the daughter of a U.S. Defense Department contractor living in Japan. As it takes place on foreign soil to the family of a government employee, the crimes go from being Virginia-based to national and international jurisdiction. As a result, law enforcement officers from Homeland Security, the National Center for Missing & Exploited Children (NCFMEC), Million Kids, and the U.S. Department of Justice are brought in.

Just how the agencies team-up together to ferret out their prime suspect is mind-blowing. They realize early on the culprit is beyond adept at cloaking his multiple electronic devices and they must put themselves in his twisted mindset. A few of these individuals break down during their interviews as they relive their horrific, yet ultimately successful mission.

It is probably best not to reveal the identity of the predator other than to mention that it’s not a reclusive hermit living in his mother’s basement.

Other than most movies directed by Errol Morris, the employment of dramatic recreation in documentaries often becomes a major negative distraction. Not only does Peek keep the number of these scenes to a bare minimum, but she also frames them in a flowing, artsy, minimalist manner.

In addition to being radically different in tone and timbre, the film’s final act feels as if were tacked on for the sole purpose of padding the length. In it, a single victim/survivor tells her own story, which is exactly what we’ve already been told. There are points during the interview where she seems to be more impressed with herself being in a movie than to discuss the events that got her there.

HSI Norfolk Special Agent Paul Wolpert, featured in "Sextortion: The Hidden Pandemic," received the Mission Children’s Child Protection Award, which honors a law enforcement officer who made a significant investigative contribution to protect children from abuse or victimization. (Auroris Media)
HSI Norfolk Special Agent Paul Wolpert, featured in "Sextortion: The Hidden Pandemic," received the Mission Children’s Child Protection Award, which honors a law enforcement officer who made a significant investigative contribution to protect children from abuse or victimization. (Auroris Media)

Earlier this year, Netflix released “The Most Hated Man on the Internet,” a three-part docuseries that is closely akin to “STHP” in content. It profiles Hunter Moore, the founder of the “revenge porn” website IsAnyoneUp.com, where he posted stolen, hacked and, yes, submitted nude photos of women who were all of legal age. There was no extortion involved, monetary or otherwise, but it did ruin many lives before one determined mother of a victim got the site taken down.

Both of these productions impart the same, relatively simple message: Don’t take a photo of yourself that you wouldn’t show to your grandmother, and you’ll be safe.

Being a parent these days is a tall order by anyone’s yardstick. They are charged with performing the duties of both warden and cheerleader, often at the same time, and life in the wake of COVID-19 has made things all the more difficult.

The spring of 2020 saw children being relegated to their homes, with many being forbidden to go outdoors. The use of smart phones during this time went through the roof, as did the number of reported sexploitation cases.

Startling Numbers

Among the many charts and graphs shown in the film, the one that is easily the most disturbing is from the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children (NCFMEC) from this year. In 2018, a little over 12,000 leads were received by the NCFMEC cyber tip line; in 2021 that number skyrocketed to over 44,000, an increase of over 350 percent.

The situation has indeed reached “pandemic” levels, and shows no signs of letting up.

Parents with minor children need to see this movie immediately, once by themselves and again with their children. It will be a rough experience, but sometimes tough love is the only viable option.

For information on how to view the movie, visit SextortionFilm.com
Promotional ad for documentary of young girls compromised by sexual predators in "Sextortion: The Hidden Pandemic." (Auroris Media)
Promotional ad for documentary of young girls compromised by sexual predators in "Sextortion: The Hidden Pandemic." (Auroris Media)
‘Sextortion: The Hidden Pandemic’ Documentary Director: Maria Demeshkina Peek Running Time: 1 hour, 25 minutes MPAA Rating: Not Rated Release Date: Oct. 4, 2022 Rating: 3.5 out of 5
Originally from Washington, D.C., Michael Clark has provided film content to over 30 print and online media outlets. He co-founded the Atlanta Film Critics Circle in 2017 and is a weekly contributor to the Shannon Burke Show on FloridaManRadio.com. Since 1995, Mr. Clark has written over 4,000 movie reviews and film-related articles. He favors dark comedy, thrillers, and documentaries.
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