Murdaugh Murders: The Movie

I first watched the Netflix series and followed this case and I think lifetime did a great job on this series. More specifically, Bill Pullman stole the show! If you've seen as much footage as I have on Alec Murdaugh you'll notice that Bill Pullman has all his mannerisms down to a Tee! Right down to the way Alec would rock back-and-forth when he was being questioned, to his accent, etc. Knowing all the details of this case, it is nice to see it portrayed so well. The actor that played his son Paul did a really great job too, as well as his wife Maggie. I like the way the series pulls all the information you learn about Alec through the court cases and puts it all together. There's so many crazy details in this story that it almost seems too crazy to be true, but it is. If you haven't watched anything on this family tragedy yet I suggest first watching the Netflix series.

My goodness - the accents are the first sign that this movie was going to be absolute garbage. They aren't talking like South Carolinians from the 21st century, they're talking like Virginians from the 1700s in the opening party. And the accents don't really improve.

Next, the acting is atrocious... what is Bill Pullman doing? He is playing a caricature of Alex Murdaugh... but it just comes across as a stage play. You know... where all of the actors are clearly "acting." There is no immersion... it's just... high school quality.

Next, there are many inaccuracies - from little things like where they set the law firm to big things like the complete absence of Morgan Doughty in the boat accident scene. Apart from Mallory Beach and Paul Murdaugh there was Connor Cook and his girlfriend Miley Altman, Anthony Cook (who was dating Mallory), and then Morgan Doughty (Paul's on & off again girlfriend).

This isn't a documentary, but his abuse of Morgan during that boat ride was a large factor in Paul crashing. Which leads me to my next point...

The writers of this clearly want to portray Alex Murdaugh and his father as the villains of this whole thing... but as somebody that's watched and read everything there is about this family and the events around them - and as someone who has personal connections with people who have close relationship with members of the Murdaugh family and their associates... portraying Maggie Murdaugh like a loving, caring person that is oblivious to the things her sons and husband were involved in (and not responsible for any of the events) is wildly inaccurate.

She bullied and tried to manipulate parents at the accident site to protect Paul, she likely covered up Paul assaulting the maid who later died because of her injuries... she wasn't an innocent angel as portrayed.

So, overall from the factual things we know (and in all honesty there is a lot of unknowns that will never be answered) this show is inaccurate, poorly acted, overly long, and MORE THAN ANYTHING distasteful to the many victims of the Murdaugh's.

Boy, this Lifetime movie is boring. I saw quite a few documentaries on the case, but eventually tired of watching them, since they all were alike. Since this was a fiction movie, however, I was once again curious. What a waste of time, plus two rental fees at Amazon! I almost didn't even watch Episode 2 after seeing Episode 1.

If you know nothing or little about the case, it might interest you. If you know a lot, all this movie does is reenact details using characters that have no complexity. Alex is a drug addict in deep financial trouble. Maggie is like a '50s housewife, sweet but either blind to all that goes on with Alex, or simply turning a blind eye to it all. Paul was portrayed as much nicer than he was in real life. Buster is not there at all! He's mentioned, but never present, not even at the trial. Did the real Buster threaten to sue Lifetime?

There's no plot, no buildup to anything, not even the murder or the murder trial. I guess the viewer was supposed to be satisfied watching Bill Pullman play a desperate drug addict. Wow, how thrilling. Stick with documentaries if you want to know more about the Murdaugh family. Don't waste your time trying to make it through this pluff mud.

The Murdough murders is a compelling story on its on but the production of the movie is a little slow. However Pullman's performance makes the show. I was surprised at how good he was! If you've watched true crime stories you should check this out. It's not the best movie but it's not the worst. The Murdough story is pretty interesting on its own but just watching Pullman slowly descend into a train wreck is fun to watch. Honestly he should win an Emmy for this one. Honestly I don't have much more to say about this show but I do need a few more words to meet the required characters. Check it out. I hope to see more from Pullman.

Puhleeze. The main character who's supposed to be Southern, called Beaufort BOOFERT. At least get the accent right.

I'm originally from Massachusetts so this is very reminiscent of what the Kennedy family thought their power would cover up. This is the SOUTH where the Good Old Boys still rule supreme.

The movie was entertaining enough and the main actors are pretty good. Bill Pullman was very unlikable as the slimed, Alec Murdaugh but the real Murdaugh was incredibly unlikable from what I've read. The story is what it is. Most assuredly if I hadn't moved to South Carolina, BOOFERT COUNTY, I wouldn't have watched this.