Disturbing drama behind the scenes of Netflix's new hit movie... and leading lady's chilling link to Morgan Metzer's real-life tragedy

Published: 01:50, 6 April 2026 | Updated: 01:53, 6 April 2026 Morgan Metzer describes watching the film of her life story as an out-of-body experience: the trauma and domestic abuse she saw on the screen was terrifyingly accurate but she struggled to recognize it as her own. 'It was very surreal,' she told The Daily Mail. 'I had to watch it a few times [until I was] like, okay, I can focus now.' When she did, Metzer was astonished at how strong she had been in the face of unbearable pain - and she was determined to share that strength with others. She said: 'I have no choice but to turn that pain into power, and my power is to raise awareness for narcissism and gaslighting for women all around.' Gaslit By My Husband: The Morgan Metzer Story - originally released on Lifetime in 2024 - started streaming on Netflix last month and has now spent three weeks as one of the top ten most watched films in the United States. It's a story that is as shocking as it is bizarre. On New Year's Eve in 2020, Metzer - then a mother to eight-year-old twins - went to bed feeling optimistic about the year ahead. She had finally filed for a divorce from her abusive husband and her Georgia-based interior design business was thriving. But shortly after drifting to sleep she was woken by a terrifying figure in her bedroom. He was wearing a black hoodie, a mask and speaking through a horrifying voice distorter that made him sound like Batman. He tied Metzer up, beat her, strangled her and sexually assaulted her, before leaving her naked on the porch with a pillowcase over her head. Forty minutes later, her estranged husband Rodney showed up and presented himself as her knight in shining armor. But police were immediately suspicious and within hours, his horrific betrayal was exposed. He was arrested and charged with the kidnap and assault he had claimed to discover. He is now serving a 25-year prison sentence. Morgan Metzer describes watching the film of her life story as an out-of-body experience: the trauma and domestic abuse she saw on the screen was terrifyingly accurate A terrifying figure in a black hoodie, a mask and speaking through a horrifying voice distorter tied Metzer up, beat her, strangled her and sexually assaulted her. Forty minutes later, her estranged husband Rodney showed up and presented himself as her knight in shining armor  The movie recounts this astonishing tale, as well as the eight years leading up to the attack - years during which Rodney became increasingly violent and emotionally abusive while Metzer became ever more untethered and desperate. Rodney's behavior, as depicted in the movie, is a hideous masterclass in 'gaslighting,' a form of manipulation in which the abuser gains control over their victim by making them doubt their own grasp of reality. It is a practice that all too often goes hand in glove with abuse in an intimate relationship. And it's something that both the film's leading lady and its director understood all too well. Because, the Daily Mail has learned, there is a tragic reason this movie so accurately captures the claustrophobia and terror of domestic violence. Both that actress Jana Kramer and director Lee Gabiana have suffered it. Now they are every bit as determined as Metzer to use the film to ensure their trauma helps others recognize and escape similar situations. 'I myself have gone through a lot of childhood abuse - physically and mentally - and I had no outlet to tell those types of stories,' said Gabiana. 'When Lifetime approached me to make these movies and I got this script, I was like, "This is exactly what I need to be making," because through her story, I was able to tell my own. 'There have been many times where I thought I was going to lose my life and the fact that Morgan and Jana were able to take these situations and live on and tell their stories and become the best versions of what they dreamt to be, that was my story too.' For her part Kramer was almost killed by her first husband, Michael Gambino. In 2005, he nearly choked her to death and left her bleeding outside their LA home. He was convicted of attempted murder and sentenced to six years in prison. He died by suicide in 2012 two years after his release. 'I myself have gone through a lot of childhood abuse - physically and mentally -and I had no outlet to tell those types of stories,' said director Lee Gabiana. 'Through her story, I was able to tell my own' Actress Jana Kramer was almost killed by her first husband, Michael Gambino. In 2005, he nearly choked her to death and left her bleeding outside their LA home Rodney Metzer (left) is now serving a 25-year prison sentence. Michael Gambino was convicted of attempted murder and sentenced to six years in prison Kramer, best known for her role in One Tree Hill, acknowledged in a post on Instagram that 'this one was a tough story to step into…emotionally heavy and deeply real.' But she added: 'Through Morgan's story, I found strength in my own journey with domestic violence. I'm incredibly thankful she was brave enough to share her truth, because in telling her story, I found healing in mine.' Metzer met Rodney when she was just 14 years old and he was 17. High school sweethearts, it was a fairytale romance, and they married in 2009 when Metzer was 21. 'I had an amazing time growing up with Rod,' Metzer said. 'We were the epitome of a great relationship.' Then two traumatic events struck. Soon after their marriage, Rodney's brother Kevin died of leukemia. Then in 2011, Metzer and Rodney lost their baby. Their son - named after his uncle Kevin - had been born with a heart defect and survived just a few precious weeks. Metzer got pregnant again the same year and their twins - a boy and a girl - born in 2012 brought them much joy. But, Metzer believes, Rodney struggled to cope with all the emotional upheaval. He became increasingly abusive and controlling, his behavior escalating as he lost a string of jobs and all of their savings in bad investments while Metzer launched a successful interior design company. Gaslit By My Husband traces the deterioration of the relationship. But while the sexual and physical violence is harrowing, it is the subtleties of the emotional manipulation and the so-called 'gaslighting' that the film captures with such terrifying accuracy. There are the constant microaggressions, as Rodney blames Metzer for him losing his job and other problems in their life. In one scene, he manages to convince her that she pushed him down the stairs - abuse he in fact had inflicted on her - and he paints himself as the victim, at one point even persuading her own parents that Metzer is the aggressor. The film traces the escalation of his abuse, culminating in the horrific New Year's Eve assault. Metzer met Rodney when she was just 14 years old and he was 17 In the years leading up to the attack, Rodney became increasingly violent and emotionally abusive while Metzer became ever more untethered and desperate. The film traces the escalation of his abuse, culminating in the horrific New Year's Eve assault Police were immediately suspicious and within hours, Rodney's horrific betrayal was exposed. He was arrested and charged with the kidnap and assault he had claimed to discover But it reaches its emotional climax when Metzer addresses Rodney at the sentencing hearing, after he pleaded guilty to all the charges against him. He was eventually handed a 70-year sentence - with the first 25 years to be served in prison and the remaining 45 on probation. In the film, Metzer tells him that, 'Not only will this statement be to my attacker it will be my last words to the man I once thought was the love of my life.' 'Thank you for the gift of my children. Even though you are a monster, my heart aches that our children will not have a father. This attack wasn't just a trauma; it was a blessing in disguise. Rodney, it is time to let you go and lay you down to rest.' Metzer, now 38, and still living in Georgia, shared the full text of her statement with The Daily Mail. In it she told him that their last years of marriage were, 'like living with a monster that constantly tried to break me down and fence me in,' and said that finally, 'the weight of the world is off our shoulders.' Reading it directly to her ex husband and abuser was, Metzer said, 'a very powerful moment.' She said: 'Standing up at the witness stand, and anytime he would look away from me, I would stop until he would look me in the eye again.' Today, she said, she feels like she 'lost Rod to a mental disease' - he had previously been diagnosed as suffering from PTSD - and tries to keep the happy memories alive for their twins, who are now 14. There is a remarkable resilience and grace in her ability to do just that. She said: 'My kids know what happened, but I love bringing up good memories and things like, 'Oh, if your dad could see you right now, he'd be so happy,' or 'You look just like your dad.' The bad doesn't take away the good and I always want to remember the good.' Metzer does not know if Rodney is getting any mental health treatment in prison and he is not allowed to contact Metzer or their children. If he did, his sentence would be extended. She is no longer in contact with his family. Now a single mother, Metzer struggles with the financial and emotional burden that Rodney left behind, but she is determined that her suffering has some meaning. She has started writing a book about her journey and is looking for a publisher. Metzer is thankful that her experiences are reaching a wider audience now on Netflix and hopes it will further raise awareness of the seriousness of emotional manipulation. Kramer, best known for her role in One Tree Hill, acknowledged in a post on Instagram that 'this one was a tough story to step into…emotionally heavy and deeply real' Metzer, now 38, is thankful that her experiences are reaching a wider audience now on Netflix and hopes it will further raise awareness of the seriousness of emotional manipulation 'There are a lot of women stuck in these relationships, so when they see something that says "gaslit," they're going to raise an eyebrow [and think] "I need to watch this,"' she said. 'Maybe they're stuck in something that they can't get out of and maybe this is something that can help them.' Gabiana agrees that the attention-grabbing title is likely bringing new viewers to her film. 'There's finally a vocabulary to put on things that are so seemingly so minuscule in life,' she said. 'It's like death by 1,000 cuts: you've got these tiny little paper cuts that finally break you down. And you can't put words to that when you're experiencing it.' She is intensely grateful to Metzer - whom she calls 'an incredibly inspiring woman' - for making sure those experiences are heard. She said: 'It's very scary to be judged by so many people, but for her to come out, she's helped millions and millions of people realize their own strength.' No comments have so far been submitted. Why not be the first to send us your thoughts, or debate this issue live on our message boards. By posting your comment you agree to our house rules. 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