Directed by documentary filmmaker Gena Lida Riess, Creating a Monster explores how the characters of real people on reality television are simplified to serve the shows’ needs and narrative. Further, it examines whether our consumption of reality television negatively affects the lives of the reality television participants.

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On the surface Creating a Monster is about reality television. However, sub textually the film confronts a bigger ethical question about the psychological impact on the contestants; is the fault placed on reality television producers

or the audience who consumes its product?