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IOL News
29-04-2025
- Entertainment
- IOL News
Whisked away by deception: Graham Hornigold's heartbreaking catfish tale featured in 'Con Mum'
Pastry chef Graham Hornigold unpacks how he was swindled by his 'Con Mum'. Image: Netflix If 'Con Mum' proves anything, it is that there are a lot of catfish out there and that they will continue to do what they do best. 'The Tinder Swindler', 'Sweet Bobby: My Catfish Nightmare', 'Inventing Anna' and 'Fanatical' are some of the streaming offerings that have exposed not just the deception and greed of con artists but also their lack of remorse. While this genre has proven to be a goldmine for networks, I've grown wary of watching the same gullible actions on repeat, albeit in different scenarios. With so many red flags, how are such responsible, learned people allowing themselves to be swindled? Sadly, their emotional baggage has made them susceptible to opportunistic individuals. Of late, there's been a lot of buzz around the Netflix documentary feature, which centres on Graham Hornigold, a talented and respected pastry chef who finds his life upended by a woman claiming to be his mother. Leading a fulfilled life, Graham and his pastry chef wife Heather Kaniuk were looking forward to becoming first-time parents. However, just before the arrival of their bundle of joy, correspondence from an 80-something Dionne Marie Hanna changed the course of their life. Having passed the test in terms of answering cursory questions, Graham and his wife agreed to meet his biological mother. Her nurturing demeanour saw them drop their guard, and he got to know his mother better. He wanted to make up for lost time, more so with his mother's ailing health. Her gregarious personality was underpinned by her lavish lifestyle. It was unsettling for the couple, who come from a middle-income background. Believing Dionne to be wealthy after her claims of belonging to the Brunei royal family, Graham and Heather found themselves being showered with expensive gifts like Range Rovers. Dionne then asks Graham to accompany her to Switzerland, where she needs to transfer all her assets into his name. However, the short trip gets extended and, while there, Dionne, unbeknownst to Graham, befriends and exploits a few other individuals. Video Player is loading. Play Video Play Unmute Current Time 0:00 / Duration -:- Loaded : 0% Stream Type LIVE Seek to live, currently behind live LIVE Remaining Time - 0:00 This is a modal window. Beginning of dialog window. Escape will cancel and close the window. Text Color White Black Red Green Blue Yellow Magenta Cyan Transparency Opaque Semi-Transparent Background Color Black White Red Green Blue Yellow Magenta Cyan Transparency Opaque Semi-Transparent Transparent Window Color Black White Red Green Blue Yellow Magenta Cyan Transparency Transparent Semi-Transparent Opaque Font Size 50% 75% 100% 125% 150% 175% 200% 300% 400% Text Edge Style None Raised Depressed Uniform Dropshadow Font Family Proportional Sans-Serif Monospace Sans-Serif Proportional Serif Monospace Serif Casual Script Small Caps Reset restore all settings to the default values Done Close Modal Dialog End of dialog window. Advertisement Next Stay Close ✕
Express Tribune
20-03-2025
- Entertainment
- Express Tribune
Netflix's ‘The Twister: Caught in the Storm' explores trauma and survival after the deadly 2011 Joplin Tornado
Netflix's latest documentary, The Twister: Caught in the Storm, brings harrowing firsthand accounts of survival from the 2011 Joplin tornado, one of the deadliest and most destructive storms in U.S. history. Directed by Alexandra Lacey (The Tinder Swindler), the documentary follows young survivors whose lives were forever changed by the EF5 tornado that killed 158 people and injured over 1,000. Lacey takes a unique approach, focusing on the coming-of-age experiences of those caught in the storm. 'Anybody can relate to the importance of graduation,' she explains, highlighting how the tornado struck Joplin High School's senior class on their big day. From students to storm chasers and paramedics, the film tells deeply personal stories of trauma, resilience, and survival. Among the documentary's gripping narratives is that of Steven Weersing, a high school dropout who was sucked out of his car and later developed a rare flesh-eating infection. Another survivor, Cecil, shares his experience of being a gay teen in the deeply religious Bible Belt, believing the tornado was divine punishment. Lacey describes his interview as 'one of the most emotional' she's ever conducted. With over 6,000 archive clips, security footage, and high-speed cinematography, The Twister immerses viewers in the chaos of the storm. Lacey and her team also underwent PTSD training to ensure a sensitive approach when interviewing survivors. Beyond the destruction, the documentary sheds light on the lasting psychological impact of natural disasters. 'Every time the wind gets stronger or sirens go off, it's really hard,' Lacey says, emphasising how Joplin's residents continue to live with the trauma. Streaming now on Netflix, The Twister: Caught in the Storm promises to captivate audiences while shedding light on the human cost of extreme weather events.
