#HOTDOCS: “SHAMED” REVIEW

By Amanda Gilmore

Canadians may remember the catfishing website and YouTube channel from Windsor, Ont.’s Jason Nassr titled Creeper Hunter. Nassr published his program from 2015 to 2020, and it detailed his efforts in catching those he deemed “creepers” (a title he gave to adults he believed were pedophiles due to their communications with minors). Now, fellow Windsorian Matt Gallagher, the well-known documentarian of Prey, examines the show, its creator, and those targeted by him in this daring Documentary.

For those unaware of the full story, in February 2023, a jury found Nassr guilty of extortion and harassment by telecommunications. This was due to the way he found these men he deemed pedophiles. He sent sexually-suggestive messages back and forth with these men and even put on a high-pitched voice when speaking to them on the phone. He was sentenced to 18 months of house arrest and six months with a curfew.

The brilliance of this Documentary is that Gallagher tells a rounded view. He doesn’t only interview Nassr, he speaks to family and friends of a handful of ‘John Does’ who were targeted on Creeper Hunter and in the aftermath, died from sudden causes. In doing so, Gallagher challenges Nassr’s mission with Creeper Hunter.

Even though Nassr felt he was doing the right thing. He believed that these men were intending to harm these “children” they thought they were speaking to. And many of those who watched the show could easily say that even if he got it wrong some of the time, it was worth the risk to get those who were pedophiles.

Yet, Shamed challenges this thought. Gallagher pulls back the curtain on Creeper Hunter by going beyond Nassr. By giving a platform to the loved ones of those targeted and exposing the aftermath of some targets, it allows for minds to change. And that’s the power of a great Documentary.

Shamed screens at Hot Docs ’25:

April 28 at 8:30 PM at Hot Docs Cinema

May 2 at 2:45 PM at TIFF Lightbox 1