Even "Puppet Master" neophytes will recognize the pale, scary face of Blade, the drill-headed imp Tunneler, the worm-puking Leech Woman, the face-swapping Jester, or the big-handed Pinhead.

Netflix’s latest documentary, The Puppet Master: Hunting The Ultimate Conman, explores the wild story of the world’s “ultimate conman”. But what’s the story behind this new true crime ...