While everyone wants to be happy forever, some cynics know that in the real world, love can be toxic, messy, and manipulative. Romantic comedy is not the way to go this Valentine's Day. ...... For those who are, here is a true-life documentary about what happens when passion and affection morph into deception, manipulation, and even obsession.

From elaborate dating scams to soulmate-focused cults, these true stories show that love is messy, dangerous, and sometimes even tragic, but always seductive.

In an age where online dating has become the norm, platforms like Tinder, Bumble, and Match promise love at the touch of a finger. And while this technology has helped couples around the world build lasting connections, the Netflix documentary "The Tinder Swindler" shows how this technology can be abused by scammers to narrow down their next target.

This compelling film follows the incredible true story of one scammer who posed as a diamond king and swindled dozens of women on Tinder. Posing as a diamond king, he offered his victims expensive gifts and persuaded them to invest millions of dollars in his fake business.

The documentary not only showcases the dangers of online dating, but also delves into how psychological ploys like love-bombing can trap ordinary people into insidious scams like the one featured in the film.

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This Amazon Prime Video documentary focuses on an online group called Twin Flame Universe, led by husband and wife team Jeff and Shaleia Divine. The Divines purport to have a special ability to help people find their perfect "twin flame" partner and recruit people to spread their message of love.

The series features several current and former members of the group, who recount how they were controlled and forced to leave their families and bank accounts behind by belonging to the Twin Flame Universe. The series also explores how members of this group were pressured and encouraged to maintain their Twin Flame relationships at any cost, even if it meant enduring abuse or being stalked.

This series is tough to watch, but a chilling look at how the founders of this group were able to turn a spiritual quest for a life partner into a huge money-making scam that harmed hundreds of people (and many believe was a cult) makes for a truly compelling work.

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This three-part Netflix documentary follows world-renowned surgeon who became famous for developing experimental medical techniques and is said to be connected to rich and powerful people like former President Barack Obama and the Pope The film follows Benita Alexander, an investigative journalist caught up with Paolo Macchiarini. A fairy-tale relationship develops as Macchiarini lavishes Alexander with expensive gifts and takes her on lavish vacations around the world.

However, Alexander's dreams soon turn into nightmares as dark secrets about Macchiarini's personal and professional life are slowly revealed. Not only does Alexander learn that Maccarini is already married and has a family, but also that his career was based largely on fabricated research, and that his misconduct caused many patients to die or suffer permanent injuries.

The subject matter is dark and disturbing, but the true crime elements combined with the swirling romance make this a fiasco that is impossible to turn away from.

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This four-episode documentary series tells the true story of serial romance con artist Richard Scott Smith. Private investigator Carla Campbell works with several of Smith's victims and follows Smith as he travels from state to state to avoid justice. The series climaxes with the victims demanding closure and accountability as they confront Smith with the truth about how his lies and deceit have destroyed their lives.

The series sheds light on the cycle of manipulation and control that romance con artists utilize, but ends with a hopeful ending that shows how victims can band together to fight back against these con artists and find hope and resolve in each other.

View on Paramount Plus with Showtime

The documentary Crazy Love follows the tumultuous and complicated relationship between New York attorney Burt Pugack and his much younger girlfriend, Linda Liss. the relationship began in the 1950s and quickly evolved into a Pugag gives Liss expensive gifts and invites her on lavish dates. However, when Lis learns that Pugag is dating a girlfriend who is not yet married, she quickly breaks up with him, infuriating Pugag.

This culminated in him hiring thugs to throw acid in Lisu's face and disappear her for good. Pugak was immediately arrested and sentenced to 14 years in prison for his crime. After his release from prison, however, something strange happens: the two rekindle their romance and actually marry just a few weeks later.

The film unflinchingly depicts the role power imbalances, deception, and controlling behavior played in this very toxic relationship. Crazy Love was released in 2007 and won numerous awards, including the Grand Jury Prize for Documentary at the Sundance Film Festival."

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