If the 2014 Jake Gyllenhaal film Nightcrawler was your jam, you are going to love Shot in the Dark. Available on Netflix now, the 8-episode docuseries follows freelance journalists, also called stringers, who chase news stories all over Los Angeles throughout the night. And if you thought Gyllenhaal’s performance was intense in the film, just wait until you see this show.

Shot in the Dark can be extreme viewing, so as they say, viewer discretion is advised. After all, you’re following the men who are chasing down car accidents, fires, DUI arrests, and all of the other crazy drama they can find. Of course not every moment is exciting, but the effects of how boring the job can be are felt through the screen. The same is true on the other end of that spectrum when you’re watching vehicles on fire, and when the guys are speeding on the freeway to capture the images the rest of us will view on the news the next day. Prepare yourself: your heart will be pounding.

This profession was ripe for a docuseries: they’re the men we never think about when we’re looking at gruesome images of a crashed car or a blazing fire or a human on a stretcher getting loaded into an ambulance. But someone had to be there to capture that visual, and these are the guys that do it. The ethical lines remain blurred as they wait for explosions and shots of victims, but hearing about the technology and methods they use to achieve this is endlessly fascinating.

The cameras keep you in the passenger seat as the stringers encounter a variety of occupational hazards including running out of gas, getting too close to an accident that could blow up, and sometimes having to act as first responders themselves. A truly gripping moment at the end of the first episode chronicles a journalist literally saving a man’s life before his car is incinerated. It’s emotional for those involved and those watching from home alike, and the effects aren’t ignored. Plus, we learn that “Are you OK?” is the first question asked, and “Did you get it on tape?” is always an immediate second.

The rival stringers are shown comparing notes on what route they took to the location to get there first, what footage they were able to obtain, and even negotiating a split in compensation when they combine visuals to sell to news stations. Plus, they have to make a conscious effort to stay on the good side of the police and fire fighters while working right alongside them. You’ll also get a glimpse at what this does psychologically to the journalists: how they’re nearly numb to what could be occurring at a crime scene as they move quickly to score the best view, treating it as much more of a science than an emotional experience. In addition to that, viewers will also get to meet the families these men are leaving at home while they’re out working at the most dangerous sites in town.

While at different points you’ll feel like you’re watching scenes from Cops and Drive, the slick production value only enhances the intensity of the story at hand. If you’re looking for an adrenaline rush from the safety of your couch, you’ve found it in this gripping exploration of the journalists that provide us with the images that make us grimace.

Where to watch Shot In The Dark