User Reviews

This should have been called Filthy John, which was his nickname.

It should have also had the terrible advert break recaps edited out. boo

Its a hilarious story of womanhunting,greed,manipulaton, and as it seems from this documentary,a very toothless american judicial system, and a lack of will and manpower by law enforcers to deal with internet predators like john.

its the dum and stupid v.s. the bad and ruthless, in oxygen style and at oxygen level. you get what you pay for. watch it and behold and beware,you may be the next.

Not that interesting telling of this con-man's life. Way too many recaps. Also too many people just repeating what others had already said. Could have done in less than 60 minutes run time.

Ever wonder why women don't "just leave" abusive relationships? Watch this series and find out. Three women per *day* are murdered in the United States by someone they know. Often their killer is a former intimate partner and the murder takes place within a month to a year after the victim leaves the relationship. This series explains how people like John use coercive control tactics (Google it) to manipulate and abuse victims using methods that are immoral but do not break the law. This film also illustrates how it's difficult for victims of coercive control to obtain meaningful help from the police, why a restraining order can escalate violence, and most frighteningly, why it's difficult for victims to obtain legal help; It's not due to lack of financial resources-something much more terrifying. This happens every day right under our noses. This could be happening to you, your sister, a co-worker, or a next-door neighbor. Enlighten yourself.

When I watched this documentary and compared it with the TV Drama "Dirty John" based upon the real guy in the documentary, I immediately thought about another similar case that is actually happening in the same Newport Beach neighborhood.

There's a very beautiful Philippine woman who just divorced her mega rich husband who was later convicted with a serious financial fraud crime and now serving a very long prison sentence.

When she divorced him before her husband's fall, she got the 1/2 community property from her husband, so she's now a very rich divorcee. Her landscape guy, a Japanese guy who used the same tricks and strategy just like the Dirty John, and fooled her step by step into her bedroom. The guy of the Japanese origin got nothing except a triple mortgaged house with lot of leans on it. When he hooked up the newly divorced Philippine woman, he immediately sold his house and moved into her mansion that used to be her ex-husband's property. This guy has been doing the same things exactly like Dirty John did, the MO is almost like he just conveniently copied Dirty John's formula and tricks. After he moved into her house, he's not a lawnmower guy, but a very caring driver and loving companion to the lonely divorcee, carrying out all the odd chores for her; exactly like Dirty John did, but she paid everything.

When my wife told me what happened to her Philippine colleague's daughter, I was so amazed that same scenarios could be repeated so soon and almost the same as what we saw in "Dirty John" TV drama. What the Japanese American did, does, doing are exactly like what Eric Bana did in every episode.

The weirdest thing to me is another "Dirty John" is doing his cons in Newport Beach, California now. What a coincidence!

I really want to make a copy of this documentary and that "Dirty John" complete 8 Episodes of Season 1 TV series in a USB driver, asking my wife to give it to the mother and her daughter. I am so certain that once they watch, both of them would immediately recognize and realize who they're dealing with now: A "Dirty John, Chapter 2" or, "Dirty John v. 2.0" is just happening around them. But so far, my wife still refuse to do them a favor; or, do me a favor.

Gripping from start to finish. It's a story that's scary and intriguing.

I get that Debbie was manipulated and used etc... But after the third or fourth time that Debbie read police reports, threatening texts from John, mugshots, cars being set on fire and so on, enough is enough Debbie. But she keeps going back to him? What a moron Debbie must be. Debbie hides for 23 days, lives in hotel rooms, moves, drives a different car, all to hide from John. Then John texts Debbie and she goes to visit him in the hospital and feels sorry for him? I think she got what she deserved, if she's that naive. When a man threatens to make one of your children disappear and you're still with him, you've got some major issues of your own Deb.

The movie "Dirty John: The Dirty Truth" is a documentary that delves into the true story of Debra Newell, a successful interior designer who becomes involved with a con artist named John Meehan. The documentary unravels the tactics he used to deceive and manipulate several women. It is indeed surprising to see that many victims, like Debra Newell, are drawn to men who possess a combination of strong personality, machismo, education, and romanticism, and who often pretend to have prestigious professions such as doctors or lawyers. Do they ever ask themselves: Why would this kind of man be still single and available?

The documentary is monotonous, repetitive and does not provide any fresh information about con artists targeting vulnerable women.