Devil in the Family: The Fall of Ruby Franke draws back the curtain on a tale of abuse and betrayal. The documentary brings the viewers on a journey while unraveling a YouTube-famous family vlogger’s destruction, highlighting how social media often blurs the line between what is simply displayed on the internet and what is the truth.
The series contains 3 episodes, each 50 minutes in length. It delves into the rise and fall of Ruby Franke, a former family vlogger who grew to fame through her YouTube channel called “8 Passengers,” in which she would film her family of six children to try and depict the life of an ideal Mormon family. The channel achieved great success, amassing 2.5 million subscribers in 2019. However, under the surface, serious issues were unfolding.
In August 2023, Franke was arrested along with her business partner, Jodi Hildebrandt, on charges of six counts of aggravated child abuse. The abuse in the household was discovered following the escape of Franke’s 12-year-old son, who was found emaciated and bruised while seeking help.
The documentary episodes feature previously unseen footage from the “8 Passengers” channel and interviews with many of the people who witnessed some part of the abuse. Specifically, Franke’s husband, Kevin Franke, and her two oldest children, Shari and Chad Franke, shared their memories, as well as their reflections, of how Ruby Franke’s approach with the channel led their family to ruin.
The narrative explores how Franke went from a cherished online personality to a convicted child abuser by shedding light on her family dynamics, and it discusses the different factors that led to the radical changes in her parenting behavior.
The documentary primarily focuses on the role of her strong Mormon beliefs, which led her to implement strict parenting measures and bolstered her belief that the devil was present in her home and children. Additionally, it references her relationship with Hildebrandt, who manipulated Franke and reinforced her fears and harsh methods.
The series is engaging as it lays out the events of the case deliberately and ominously in a manner that allows the audience to process what is happening while also remaining on the edge of their seats. The amount of detailed information throughout and the quality of the contribution from the interviews help the documentary resonate, showcasing how the people involved were deeply affected.
The approach of the documentary in depicting Franke’s humble beginnings first in order to contrast her abusive behavior later is powerful but potentially dangerous. In this way, the series humanizes Franke and partly frames her as a victim. It should not be forgotten that what happened to her children and family was a direct result of her actions.
Ultimately, Devil in the Family is a haunting reminder of how misplaced trust and relying too heavily on certain belief systems can lead to devastating consequences. As Kevin Franke states in the final episode, “Ultimately, it’s a story of faith. If you put your faith in the wrong hands, you can lose everything.”