Unknown Number: The High School Catfish | Official Trailer
A chilling new documentary about deception and danger in high school.
Unknown Number: The High School Catfish is a 2025 Netflix true crime documentary by Skye Borgman about two teenagers in Beal City, Michigan, who were harassed for months by text messages from an unknown number. It was released on Netflix in late August 2025 and is included on every UK Netflix plan. Below you will find the trailer, the true story behind it and how to watch it.
Unknown Number at a glance
| Type | Documentary film, true crime |
|---|---|
| Directed by | Skye Borgman |
| Released | Late August 2025, on Netflix |
| Running time | About 1 hour 34 minutes |
| Where it happened | Beal City, Michigan, USA |
| Where to watch in the UK | Netflix, all plans |
Is Unknown Number a true story?
Yes, every part of it. The film follows Lauryn Licari and her then-boyfriend Owen McKenny, who started receiving abusive texts from an unknown number in October 2020. The messages stopped, then came back in September 2021 and kept coming for more than 15 months.
- The messages: threatening and insulting, aimed mostly at Lauryn’s appearance, while also showing a sexual interest in Owen.
- The investigation: the families and the school went to the police. The Isabella County Sheriff led the case, with help from local officers and the FBI.
- The people on camera: Lauryn, Owen, their parents and friends, school principal Dan Boyer, Sheriff Mike Main and FBI liaison Bradley Peter.
- The reaction: the film reached Netflix’s global Top 10 for films in its first week.
Who was behind the messages? (spoiler)
Investigators traced the IP address behind the number to Kendra Licari, Lauryn’s own mother. The documentary also covers her trial. If you want to watch without knowing, skip this part.
Who appears in the documentary?
| Person | Who they are |
|---|---|
| Lauryn Licari | The teenager targeted by the messages |
| Owen McKenny | Lauryn’s boyfriend at the time, also targeted |
| Kendra Licari | Lauryn’s mother |
| Mike Main | Isabella County Sheriff |
| Dan Boyer | The high school principal |
How to watch Unknown Number in the UK
- Open Netflix and search for Unknown Number: The High School Catfish.
- It is a single film of about an hour and a half, not a series.
- It is included on every Netflix plan, Standard with Ads too.
Questions people ask about Unknown Number
Where did the Unknown Number case happen?
In Beal City, Michigan, in the United States. The case was led by the Isabella County Sheriff.
How long did the harassment last?
The first messages arrived in October 2020. After a pause they started again in September 2021 and went on for more than 15 months.
Who directed Unknown Number?
Skye Borgman, who is best known for the documentary Abducted in Plain Sight.
What did critics think?
Mostly positive: 85% of 13 critics on Rotten Tomatoes liked it. The Guardian called it a chilling cautionary tale of the digital age, while some reviewers questioned how far it goes in showing young victims.
More true crime on Hollywood Box
- A romance scam told by the woman who lived it: ROMCON: Who the F**k Is Jason Porter? trailer
- Another Netflix true crime story: American Murder: Gabby Petito trailer
- Catfishing, from a star’s point of view: Sharon Stone on getting catfished
- True crime turned into drama: Primetime and the dark side of true crime TV
Sources
- Wikipedia: Unknown Number: The High School Catfish (story, investigation, reception)
- The Movie Database (running time, people, UK availability)
- The trailer on Netflix’s YouTube channel
Updated 5 October 2026 by the Hollywood Box team.
