Netflix’s latest true crime release, Maternal Instinct, is drawing attention not just for its disturbing subject matter, but for a deliberate creative decision that sets it apart from many similar documentaries. Director Jessica Dimmock chose not to interview Taylor Parker, the woman at the center of the 2020 murder case, and instead built the story around those most impacted by the crime. The approach has quickly become one of the most talked-about aspects of the documentary’s release.
Speaking to USA TODAY, Dimmock made it clear that her intent was never to amplify the voice of the perpetrator.
“What I really wanted to do was include the perspectives of the people that it affected the most,”
she explained, highlighting her focus on emotional truth rather than exhaustive factual retelling. That decision shapes the entire narrative structure of Maternal Instinct, which prioritizes grief, trauma, and lived experiences over sensationalism.
A Story Told Through Survivors, Not the Killer
The case itself is one of the most surprising in recent memory, involving the murder of Reagan Simmons-Hancock in October 2020. Taylor Parker, who had faked a pregnancy for months, carried out the crime in an attempt to claim the unborn child as her own. While many true crime projects would center heavily on Parker’s psychology, Maternal Instinct takes a different path by largely excluding her direct voice.
Dimmock explained that Parker’s perspective is still present in indirect ways.
“We see what she’s doing in some ways. We have her searches,”
she said, suggesting that the documentary reconstructs her mindset without giving her a platform. This approach allows the film to maintain narrative context while avoiding what some critics see as the glorification of perpetrators in true crime media.
The result is a story that feels less like an investigation into a killer and more like an exploration of the devastation left behind. By focusing on those closest to the tragedy, the documentary reframes the conversation around accountability, grief, and the long-term impact of violence.
Why the Film Avoids “Just the Facts”
Another key part of Dimmock’s philosophy is her rejection of fact-heavy storytelling as the sole driver of narrative.
“It’s not always about including all of the facts as much as it is about the feelings that go along with them,”
she said in the same interview. That perspective is evident in how the documentary unfolds, using emotional beats and personal testimonies to guide the viewer.
Rather than presenting a chronological breakdown of events, Maternal Instinct leans into how the crime was experienced by those who lived through it. The opening moments of the documentary reflect this approach, immersing viewers in confusion and unease before revealing the full extent of what happened. Dimmock described this choice as being “emotionally accurate,” emphasizing the importance of replicating how the situation felt in real time.
This method also shifts the audience’s attention away from morbid curiosity and toward empathy. It challenges viewers to engage with the human cost of the crime rather than simply consuming details about it.
Centering Trauma, Memory, and Aftermath
The documentary features interviews with Parker’s former partner Wade Griffin, as well as members of Reagan Simmons-Hancock’s family. These voices form the emotional backbone of the film, offering insight into how the tragedy continues to affect their lives. Dimmock acknowledged the difficulty of these conversations, noting that trauma often shapes how memories are recalled and expressed.
“I was so honored and grateful that he would talk to us about what he went through,”
she said about Griffin, adding that revisiting those memories was deeply challenging. The film also highlights the strength of Reagan’s family, who participated to ensure her story is remembered beyond the circumstances of her death.
Dimmock ultimately hopes audiences take away more than just the details of a crime. She described the documentary as being about intuition, systemic failures, and remembrance, stressing that Reagan should be remembered for who she was rather than how she died.
