History YMMV / DearZachary

* AngstAversion: This is one of the saddest and darkest documentaries outside of the content covering war and serial killers, and its most heartbreaking topic is [[ItWasHisSled so widely discussed]], [[LateArrivalSpoiler many already know what it is before watching the documentary]]. While it is a popular documentary film even among people who don't normally watch documentaries, it is still a very crushing one to watch.
* {{Anvilicious}}: The justice system needs to take greater measures to prevent children from falling into these horrific situations.
* DiagnosedByTheAudience: Shirley Turner has never been diagnosed with anything specific (or, if she has, Kuenne chose not to include it in the documentary), but her behavior speaks for itself: suicide watch every fifteen minutes when imprisoned, attempted suicide on the property of her ex-lover, driving sixteen hours to the home of the man who just broke up with her, and more.
* ItWasHisSled: The activist movement against the Canadian justice system led by Kate and David Bagby was so publicized (and eventually succeeded in law reformation) that many will know going in that [[spoiler:Zachary is murdered by his own mother.]] Additionally, the documentary's "twist" is so discussed that even those unaware of the legal proceedings generally are told ahead of time how the documentary ends.

** After TheReveal that [[spoiler:Shirley Turner killed both herself and Zachary]] the shot lingers on [[spoiler:Zachary's death certificate]] before a red filter suddenly slams down over everything and there's a horrible noise like a long, tortured scream. Makes a heartbreaking twist all the more jarring and nightmarish.
** And in the montage immediately following that moment, we're treated to a series of pictures of [[spoiler: Shirley and Zachary together]], all with that same red filter over everything, all while we hear [[spoiler: downright creepy recordings of Turner telling her son that she loves him.]] Brr...
** While describing Shirley's deranged history, the documentary plays the narration over clips of an old film Andrew and Kurt made together, in which Andrew's character, frightened, turns to someone approaching him. It ends with Andrew shouting and a gun firing. It's a haunting reenactment of what Andrew's final moments were probably like.
** Shirley Turner herself counts as NightmareFuel. The scariest part? [[TheSociopath There really are people that psychotic and selfish]], and they ''can'' often [[ParanoiaFuel manipulate the system]] [[VillainWithGoodPublicity and fool innocent people.]]
* ParanoiaFuel: Your StalkerWithACrush partner can murder you in cold blood, and thanks to your killer's manipulation, even the courts can't help your loved ones after your death.
* TearJerker: The entire premise of the film is that a beloved man is brutally murdered by his obsessive ex, and the child he fathered with said ex is kept away from the man's grieving but loving family by miscarriages of justice. In-between the gutting details of the murder are tearful stories from friends and family, all directed to the man's son. The saddening film becomes absolutely ''gutwrenching'' when [[spoiler:that same son is murdered by the very same person who killed his father.]]
* TheWoobie: Kate and David Bagby. After losing their beloved only son to a coldblooded murder, they learn that their son's killer is pregnant with his child. Despite all their efforts, they cannot achieve full custody of their grandson, and are only able to spend time with him by playing house with their son's killer. The custody battle only occurs because the court system allowed their son's killer to walk away practically Scot-free, robbing Kate and David of any justice or closure. Then, horrifyingly, [[spoiler:their grandson is killed by the same wicked woman who killed their son.]] Friends of the Bagbys marvel at the strength they have shown to keep going despite such tragedy.

* TearJerker: The entire premise of the film is that a beloved man is brutally murdered by his obsessive ex, and the child he fathered with said ex is kept away from the man's grieving but loving family by miscarriages of justice. In-between the gutting details of the murder are tearful stories from friends and family, all directed to the man's son. The saddening film becomes absolutely ''gutwrenching'' when that same son [[spoiler:is murdered by the very same person who killed his father.]]

* {{Anvilicious}}: The justice system needs to take greater measures to prevent children from falling into these horrific situations.

* TearJerker: Like you wouldn't fucking believe.
* TheWoobie: Kate and David Bagby. The sheer amount of horror those two have had to endure is heartbreaking. To say nothing of [[spoiler: poor little Zachary]].

* WhatCouldHaveBeen: Kuenne has stated that the film would have never been released and would have belonged only to the Bagbys had [[spoiler:Zachary lived]].

* SomeAnvilsNeedToBeDropped: The justice system needs to take greater measures to prevent children from falling into these horrific situations.

** And in the montage immediately following that moment, we're treated to a series of pictures of Shirley and Zachary together, all with that same red filter over everything, all while we hear downright creepy recordings of Turner telling her son that she loves him. Brr...

* TheWoobie: Kate and David Bagby. The sheer amount of horror those two have had to endure is heartbreaking. To say nothing of [[spoiler poor little Zachary]].

* NightmareFuel: After TheReveal that [[spoiler: Shirley Turner killed both herself and Zachary]] the shot lingers on [[spoiler: Zachary's death certificate]] before a red filter suddenly slams down over everything and there's a horrible noise like a long, tortured scream. Makes a heartbreaking twist all the more jarring and nightmarish.

** Shirley Turner herself counts as NightmareFuel. The scariest part? [[TheSociopath There really are people that psychotic and selfish,]] and they ''can'' often [[ParanoiaFuel manipulate the system]] [[VillainWithGoodPublicity and fool innocent people.]]

* TheWoobie: Kate and David Bagby. The sheer amount of horror those two have had to endure is heartbreaking.
** And, [[spoiler: poor little Zachary.]]

** Shirley Turner herself is counts as NightmareFuel. The scariest part? [[TheSociopath There really are people that psychotic and selfish,]] and they ''can'' often [[ParanoiaFuel manipulate the system]] [[VillainWithGoodPublicity and fool innocent people.]]

* TearJerker: Like you wouldn't ''[[PrecisionFStrike fucking]]'' believe.

* TearJerker

* WhatAnIdiot: The members of the Canadian justice system that fumbled Turner's case, especially the judge that disproportionately favored Turner. Turner was let go because said judge decided that she wasn't a threat now that her one target was dead and she posed no danger to society at large; Kuenne angrily repeats these words over and over again in-between proof that Turner was anything ''but'' no danger to society; she had an inordinate number of restraining orders against her, she had a history of abuse, and a psychiatrist once put her on a suicide watch every ''fifteen minutes.'' [[SarcasmMode Nope, nothing suspicious there.]]

** Shirley Turner herself is counts as NightmareFuel. The scariest part? [[TheSociopath There really are people that psychotic and selfish,]] and they ''can'' often [[ParanoiaFuel manipulate the system and fool innocent people.]]

----

* HateDumb: Due to the admittedly biased way the film is presented, more than a few detractors, particularly those of the StrawFeminist variety, have tried to paint Turner as a put-upon woman who was driven to desperation after being tossed aside by a misogynistic jerk, despite there being no evidence to support the claim.

* HateDumb: Due to the admittedly biased way the film is presented, more than a few detractors, particularly those of the Straw Feminist variety, have tried to paint Turner as a put-upon woman who was driven to desperation after being tossed aside by a misogynistic jerk, despite there being no evidence to support the claim.

** And, [[spoiler: poor little Zachary.]]

* CompleteMonster: Shirley Jane Turner

** And, of course, [[spoiler: poor little Zachary.]]

* NightmareFuel: After TheReveal that [[spoiler: Shirley Turner killed both herself and Zachary]] the shot lingers on [[spoiler: Zachary's death certificate]] before a red filter suddenly slams over everything and there's a horrible noise like a tortured scream. Makes a heartbreaking twist all the more jarring and nightmarish.

** And of, course, [[spoiler: poor little Zachary.]]

* TearJerker: And how.