Hulu Documentary Explores Alaska True Crime, Indigenous Myth Claims

The Hulu documentary "Blood & Myth," directed by Kahlil Hudson and executive produced by James Dommek Jr., explores the 2012 violent crimes committed by Teddy Kyle Smith, an Iñupiaq actor from Alaska. Smith, who is serving a 90-year prison sentence, claimed that his actions—including shooting two men and being present at his mother's death—were influenced by supernatural beings called Iñukuns, mythical 'little people' from Iñupiaq legend. Dommek, also an Iñupiaq and storyteller, investigates these claims, blending Indigenous mythology with true crime to provide an insider perspective rarely seen in mainstream media. The film features Smith's first prison interview and includes insights from local law enforcement and Indigenous community members familiar with Iñukun lore. While the court dismissed Smith's supernatural claims during his trial, the documentary delves into the cultural significance of these myths and questions the intersection of Indigenous belief systems with the justice system. "Blood & Myth" premiered on Hulu in September 2025, drawing attention to Indigenous storytelling and the complexities of interpreting myth in a contemporary legal context.