The film follows the pursuit of Paul Francis Gadd from his 1997 conviction through years on the run and his eventual imprisonment. It also gives space to survivors whose accounts helped expose the abuse behind the former glam rock figure’s career.
Netflix has released the trailer for Hunting Gary Glitter, a documentary that examines the pursuit of the former pop star by journalists and survivors who worked to expose the child sexual abuse hidden behind his chart success. The film arrives Oct. 14.
Directed by Sebastian Smith and produced by Cammy Millard, the documentary traces Glitter, born Paul Francis Gadd, from his 1997 conviction through years spent evading scrutiny. Journalists are shown chasing the fugitive across Cuba, Cambodia, and Vietnam, while survivors speak about their experiences. Glitter is currently serving a 16-year sentence following a 2015 conviction for attempted rape, unlawful intercourse, and indecent assault.
His case took another turn in February 2023, when he was granted probation after serving half the sentence but was quickly returned to prison after being filmed using a smartphone and asking about the dark web. Executive producer Sanjay Singhal and Voltage TV previously made Savile: Portrait of a Predator, about abuse exposed only after Jimmy Savile’s death. Glitter’s case has unfolded differently, with his public image collapsing while he was still alive.
The documentary has been more than three years in the making. It does not treat the music as a separate legacy; it positions the celebrity and the crimes as part of the same public record.
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ROMBO Editorial Staff
The collective voice behind ROMBO Magazine’s news, reviews, features, and cultural coverage.
