Come Closer
Come Closer is a dark true crime podcast hosted by Rae, known as the Keeper of Dark Stories. Each episode explores disturbing crimes and psychologically twisted cases, often drawing from history as well. The host presents personal verdicts, sentencing the guilty to metaphorical rings of hell. The show aims to guide listeners through uncomfortable but safe storytelling, with a focus on truth and light.
Episodes
A Cold Season: A Christmas Horror Story (with Christian Jude Grillo & Andrew Hunsicker)
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Come closer. It's darker than you think.
Most Christmas movies want you warm. This one wants you honest.
Director Christian Jude Grillo and producer and star Andrew Hunsicker of Intruder Films join me to talk about A Cold Season. It’s a snowbound Christmas horror film about Jacob, a man so lonely and so sure he can freeze
Come Closer
The closer you look, the darker it gets.
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The Green River Killer Hated Women. He Told Maria DiLorenzo Why.
The Green River Killer was also an unassuming-looking man named Gary Ridgway. He made a bet that if he killed women society had already written off, nobody would come looking. For nearly 20 years, he won and got away with it.
After he was caught, Gary Ridgway refused to talk to reporters. Then crime journalist Maria DiLorenzo mailed him a letter, and three weeks later her phone rang. For two yea
Betty Broderick: The Betrayal Trauma Behind Her Infamous Crime
Get my list of 50 essential true crime docs HERE
Betty Broderick is often remembered as the ultimate woman scorned, but that story leaves out the psychological damage, manipulation, and betrayal that pushed her to the edge. If you think you know this infamous case, this episode will change the way you see it.
Rae Review unpacks the rise and collapse of Betty and Dan Broderick’s marriage: fro
The Vampire's Cult - with investigative journalist Chet Hardin
Inside the ‘Vampire Cult’ Murder Case: Chet Hardin on Sydney Loofe, Aubrey Trail & Bailey Boswell.
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MEDUSA: I Knew Her Before She Was a Monster
What are your thoughts?
Get my list of essential true crime docs HERE
I'm Rae Review, Aries Goddess and Keeper of Dark Stories. Today, I'm telling my version of the story of Medusa. The myth, the misogyny, and how the "monster” narrative was edited over time.
I'm 40,000 years old. I was there, and it's crazy how things get misinterpreted through time.
Athena, Poseidon, the male poets, the
Amy Fisher: The Long Island Lolita was a Groomed Child
Get my list of essential true crime docs HERE
In 1992, a 17-year-old girl named Amy Fisher shot Mary Jo Buttafuoco in the face on her own front step. Within weeks, America had a nickname for her: the Long Island Lolita. Within a year, all three major networks aired competing made-for-TV movies about her, and roughly half the country watched at least one.
Almost nobody asked about the 35-year-old
The 9 Rings of Eugenics
You've seen the iceberg videos. Surface level at the top, the unspeakable at the bottom. I like the format. I just think it's shallow.
So this is mine. Nine rings, not one iceberg, because when I sort a subject by how bad it gets, I use the system I know best. I've been to all nine and I know the bartenders.
The rules are simple. Ring one is the tip: the part you've heard of, the part that sound
Nikki Addimando: The Gun Was His. She Got 19 Years to Life. (with Edward Cohn)
Rae is joined by defense attorney Edward Cohn as they discuss the story of Nikki Addimando.
A woman told police, very calmly, that she'd just shot the father of her children. She was telling the truth and had been for years. Nobody listened. This was a complicated case about self-defense, violence, and toxic relationship dynamics.
Listen as Edward Cohn provides his insights about his experienc
Dr. Death: When Confidence Becomes a Weapon
Get my list of essential true crime documentaries HERE
Christopher Duntsch, "Dr. Death", maimed 33 patients and killed two, and every one of them walked into his Dallas operating room voluntarily and said thank you.
This isn't a story about a bad surgeon. It's about how much benefit of the doubt a confident man gets for free, and who pays for it.
A true crime and dark history episode on medica
Lorena Bobbitt Is Proof That Marriage Is a Scam
My hand-picked list of the true crime docs that actually got it right. Get it HERE
Everyone knows what Lorena Bobbitt did with a kitchen knife in 1993. Instead of asking WHY it happened, most people laughed instead.
The world turned a domestic-violence and marital-r*pe case into the decade's biggest punchline.
In the very first episode of Come Closer, Rae: Aries Goddess and Keeper of Dark
PREVIEW: The New Rae Review
I'm back, and I know what you're thinking... yes, I've had a haircut.
Come closer. It's darker than you think.
July 22nd 2026.
.
📚 The Witness Library: My hand-picked list of the true crime & dark history docs that actually got it right. Get it HERE
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Velma Barfield: History's First Female Lethal Injection
Get my list of essential true crime documentaries HERE
Velma Barfield: The “Grandmother” Serial Killer, Arsenic Poisonings, and America’s First Female Lethal Injection
Rae profiles Velma Barfield, a little-known serial killer who killed at least four people and became the first woman executed in the U.S. in 22 years and the first ever by lethal injection.
The episode examines competing expla
The Yogurt Shop Murders: Inside HBO's Final Episode (With Detective Dan Jackson)
Rae Review featuring Detective Dan Jackson — the Austin Police cold case detective who solved the 1991 Yogurt Shop Murders.
For 34 years, the murders of Amy Ayers, Sarah Harbison, Jennifer Harbison, and Eliza Thomas went unsolved. The case landed on Dan Jackson's desk on his very first day in the cold case unit. He never imagined he'd be the one to answer the question on the billboards: who kille
The Yogurt Shop Murders: Inside HBO's Final Episode (With Director Margaret Brown)
Documentary filmmaker Margaret Brown joins Rae on Dark Stories to talk about the Yogurt Shop Murders - the 1991 case that haunted Austin, Texas for over three decades.
The fifth and final episode, "The End of Wondering," premieres Friday, May 22, 2026 on HBO and HBO Max.
On December 6, 1991, four teenage girls, Amy Ayers, Sarah Harbison, Jennifer Harbison, and Eliza Thomas, were murdered at an
Neighbor's Dogs Killed Her: The Tragic Case of Diane Whipple | Mini Episode
This video discusses the tragic case of Diane Whipple, who was fatally attacked by her neighbor's dogs. The footage highlights the court case, People vs. Knoller, which resulted in the first conviction of murder for a dog owner due to their pets' actions in U.S. history. This true crime story explores the complexities of animal attack incidents and criminal justice, raising important questions abo
The Gisèle Pelicot Story: Shame Has to Change Sides
When Gisèle Pelicot found out what had been done to her, she made a decision that nobody expected.
Part Two covers the trial, the 50 men, the verdict, and what Gisèle Pelicot did that no law could have required her to do and why it matters for every woman who comes after her.
She waived her anonymity. She demanded a public trial. She sat in that courtroom every single day and she made them look a
The Gisèle Pelicot Story: 72 Men Said Yes
For almost ten years, Dominique Pelicot was considered a model husband.
He was also drugging his wife unconscious and inviting strangers into their home to assault her while she slept. He filmed all of it. He organized all of it. And he did it so carefully that Gisèle had no idea.
Part One covers the marriage, the decade of abuse, how it was finally uncovered, and the moment investigators reali
She Was Tortured for Your Right to Vote
On November 15, 1917, 33 women were beaten, brutalized, and tortured at the Occoquan Workhouse for one simple demand: the right to vote. This is the true story of Alice Paul, the Night of Terror, and how the most horrific night in suffrage history became the catalyst for the 19th Amendment.
This is a story they don't teach you in school.
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The Forgotten Kennedy: Why did Rosemary have a Lobotomy?
Today, Rae tells the story of the tragic life of Rosemary Kennedy, the sister of JFK, who underwent a botched lobotomy at the age of 23.
The discussion highlights the 'Kennedy Curse,' the family's history of misfortune, and the societal pressures that led to Rosemary's tragic fate.
It explores her early life, the circumstances surrounding her lobotomy, and the devastating aftermath that left h
The Disturbing Legacy of Ed Gein | Mini Episode
Today, we delve into the disturbing life of Ed Gein, a notorious figure whose crimes inspired iconic horror villains.
It explores his traumatic upbringing, the profound influence of his mother, and the psychological unraveling that led to his heinous acts. The discussion highlights the complexities of his mental state, the nature of his crimes, and the implications of his life story on our under
The Pig Farm Murders: What the Robert Pictkton Case Reveals About Men in Power
Robert Pickton is often described as Canada’s most prolific serial killer. But this story isn’t just about one man.
For years, warnings about the pig farm in Port Coquitlam were ignored. A woman survived and reported him. Employees tipped off police. Families begged for help as women disappeared from Vancouver’s Downtown Eastside.
Nothing changed.
In this episode, we examine the full Robert Pic
Maddie Clifton: The Girl in the Waterbed
In this episode, Rae tells the dark story Maddie Clifton and Joshua Phillips to explore how violent behavior in children is often overlooked, minimized, or dismissed until tragedy occurs. Maddie Clifton was eight years old when she was killed by a fourteen-year-old boy from her neighborhood a case that forces us to confront how proximity, access, and assumptions about innocence can hide real dange
The Jennifer Kesse Case | She Left for Work and Never Came Back
Rae Review tells the dark story of the disappearance of Jennifer Kesse and the surveillance footage that almost identified a suspect.
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💬 Comment below: What are your thoughts on this case?
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Mary Bell: She Was 10 When She Killed Her First Victim
At just 10 years old, Mary Bell became one of the youngest killers in modern criminal history.
In this episode, we explore the disturbing psychological and social factors behind the Mary Bell case including severe childhood abuse, neglect, and repeated failures by the systems meant to protect her.
We also examine how trauma, environment, and early violence intersect, and why Mary Bell’s story
Why the Disappearance of Sneha Anne Philip Never Had a Clean Answer
Rae tells the dark story of Dr. Sneha Ann Philip, who vanished on the eve of the September 11 attacks.
It explores her life, the investigation that followed, the biases that influenced the narrative surrounding her disappearance, and the fight for her recognition as a victim of the tragedy.
Brace yourself and settle in with Rae Review for another Dark Story.
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David Reimer: The Boy Raised as a Girl in a Doctor's Experiment
Have you heard the heartbreaking story of David Reimer?
Rae tells the story of David Reimer highlights the complexities of gender identity and the potentially devastating consequences of human experimentation.
*This mini episode was originally posted on Tiktok and was reformatted to become available for listening.
🔔 Subscribe for more deep‑dives into true crime, psychology, and dark history.
Brian Shaffer: The Camera Saw Him Walk In. It Never Saw Him Leave.
Rae tells the dark story of Brian Schaeffer, a 27-year-old medical student who vanished without a trace after a night out with friends in Columbus, Ohio.
This episode explores Brian's life, the events leading up to his disappearance, and the various theories surrounding what may have happened to him. The haunting nature of his case is emphasized, highlighting the lack of evidence and closure for
MINI EPISODE | Steven Pladl: A Family Annihilation Case
Rae tells the tragic and EXTREMELY disturbing story of Steven Pladl and his daughter Katie Pladl.
*This mini episode was originally posted on Tiktok and was reformatted to become available for listening.
We'll explore the consequences of their toxic relationship and the devastating impact of their actions on their family. It highlights the psychological aspects of Steven's behavior and the tragi
Mitrice Richardson: Her Mother Begged Them Not to Release Her
Rae tells the dark story of the mysterious disappearance of Mitrice Richardson, a 24-year-old woman who vanished after being released from police custody.
The discussion highlights the contradictions in the case, the police's handling of her mental health crisis, and the subsequent discovery of her remains. It raises critical questions about accountability, systemic failures, and the stigma surro
How the "Yogurt Shop Murders "Were Solved after 30 Years
Rae tells the dark story of the Austin Yogurt Shop Murders — a case that shocked the nation, spiraled into one of the most mishandled investigations in Texas history, and only recently found clarity through modern DNA science.
For decades, the real killers walked free while the case grew colder, messier, and more controversial.
Settle in — this is Rae Review: Dark Stories. And tonight’s story is
Mary Beth Tinning: Munchausen by Proxy’s Darkest Case
Rae tells the dark story of Marybeth Tinning. Her case is often considered one of the worst cases of Münchausen by proxy ever documented, while some think she qualifies as serial killer.
If you’re ready, settle in for another Dark Story.
In this episode, we break down:
The full timeline of events
The psychological roots of Münchausen by proxy
Missed red flags and systemic fail
Rae Review: Dark Stories - Official Trailer
Rae Review: Dark Stories Podcast dives deep into true crime, dark history, and the unsettling depths of human behavior.
You'll learn why and how people can be deeply depraved while also being deeply human.
Narrated by Rae Review, your guide to bringing the disturbing tales to light.
For more, visit my website: raereview.com
Follow on TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@rae_review
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Albert Fish - The Real Life Boogeyman
Dive into the darkest corner of American true-crime as we unravel the horrifying saga of Albert Fish—known as “The Gray Man,” “The Werewolf of Wysteria,” and “The Brooklyn Vampire.” From his traumatic childhood to the gruesome murders that shocked the 1920s and ’30s, this documentary pulls no punches in exposing how Fish became an enduring symbol of real-life terror.
Discover the twisted psycholo
Lisa Montgomery: Baby Kidnapping, Murder, and the Darkest Road to Execution
The brutal murder of Bobbie Jo Stinnett shocked America in 2004—but the story behind it is even more chilling. In “The HORRIFYING Case of Lisa Montgomery,” we peel back every layer of this landmark crime: the troubled childhood that shaped Montgomery, her meticulous online planning, the dramatic FBI takedown, and the courtroom battle that ignited nationwide debate on mental health and the death pe
The Liske Family Murders
The story of the Liske Family murders. The son originally thought his family was playing a harmless Halloween prank, but the reality was the gruesome discovery of his murdered family members.
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The Pixie Sticks Killer | The Man Who Killed Halloween
Dubbed "The Candyman", Ronald O'Bryan exploited the urban legend of strangers poisoning trick-or-treat candy and killed his 8-year-old son, Timothy O'Bryan.
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The Halloween Killer
The haunting story of Lisa Ann French and Gerald Turner - dubbed "The Halloween Killer" changed how we trick or treat forever.
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