Vatican Girl – Netflix Series Review

VATICAN GIRL: THE DISAPPEARANCE OF EMANUELA ORLANDI is a new true crime documentary series on Netflix. With 4 hour-long episodes, it is often downright scary. Read our full Vatican Girl documentary review here!

VATICAN GIRL: THE DISAPPEARANCE OF EMANUELA ORLANDI is a new Netflix true crime documentary series from the writer and director of the amazing Don’t F**k with Cats.

Let me start by saying that the case is still officially unsolved. However, after watching the four episodes in this Netflix docu-series, I think you’ll have a pretty good idea.

At least, you’ll probably come to the same conclusion as most others. As in family members, investigative reporters, and lawyers involved with the case. The conclusion of everyone is: The Vatican definitely knows more than they’re willing to share. In fact, they may even hold all the answers.

Continue reading our Vatican Girl docu-series review below. On Netflix from October 20, 2022.

Never forget Emanuela Orlandi

The family of Emanuela Orlandi has (of course!) never stopped searching for her. Or just for answers to what happened to her. She disappeared in 1983, which is almost 40 years ago now, so they are expecting answers to her fate rather than finding her alive.

Of course, having a Pope state directly to them that “Emanuela Orlandi is in Heaven” is quite a heavy blow in that direction.

And that is just one of the direct comments from a Pope. The first one is that a Pope publicly addressed the kidnappers – without her family members knowing that this would happen.

Honestly, you should just watch this for yourself to understand all the crazy and weird twists and turns. Some are investigated and debunked, while others are very much still active (and very credible) leads.

The only missing citizen from the Vatican

There is so much about the disappearance of Emanuela Orlandi that should shake you to your core. In every episode, something new is revealed. To me, the most grotesque discoveries are in episode 4, where the “VatiLeaks” (documents leaked from the Vatican) lead to scary news.

Then there’s the basic fact that the Catholic Church (and the Vatican specifically) is clearly hiding something. Every lead and theory points back to them because she lived there.

Also, the fact that Emanuela Orlandi is still the only missing citizen from the Vatican state should mean that they want to make an effort to find her. Instead, they have simply stated from the beginning that she disappeared while out of the gates of the Vatican. As such, she was in Italy and it isn’t a case for them.

Can you imagine if a US citizen (a child) disappeared just across the border into Canada or Mexico, and nobody in the US cared, because it didn’t happen on US soil?

Watch the Vatican Girl docu-series on Netflix now!

The Vatican Girl series does use a lot of flashbacks to tell this story. Of course, since the disappearance of  Emanuela Orlandi happened in 1983, a lot has happened since. And in order to connect new leads and evidence to the events back in 1983, we keep going back.

It works with a little visual trick of actually “rewinding” and going over the few details in glimpses that make this new lead relevant.

Fair warning: Whether you’re religious or not, the facts uncovered in Vatican Girl are extremely interesting, grossly intriguing, and downright scary. Yet again, it proves – and I’m paraphrasing one of the Italian investigative reporters – the Power of the Church will always win against the value of one life.

To me, the hour-long episodes never feel too long. And with all the leads and theories covered, four episodes are well utilized. I just can’t help but hope that an episode 5 will suddenly appear with answers. Much as it happened with the Golden State Killer docu-series and the arrest of Joseph James DeAngelo.

Vatican Girl: The Disappearance of Emanuela Orlandi is on Netflix from October 20, 2022.