Colin Firth and Toni Collette give star power performances in a gripping American true-crime tale - or is it?

Introduction - A Netflix documentary series about the death of an crime author’s wife - remade as a eight part HBO thriller

Name of film: The Staircase

Created by : Antonio Campos

Year: 2022

Official Poster

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Trailer

Review

Its hard to believe this is a true story.

The Staircase is about author Michael Peterson, played by Firth, whose second wife, Kathleen, played by Collette, 'accidentally' died in December 2001. He says that he found her at the bottom of their staircase. He says she fell down the stairs drunk while he was outside by their pool. He says he held onto her, tried to save her, as he hysterically called the emergency services - but she died before they arrived.

The police in Durham, North Carolina are baffled – they see a body with a battered head and suspect foul play - Peterson is eventually, arrested and charged with first degree murder. The subsequent investigation reveals fascinating layers about the man, a fudged police investigation and the couple's back story.

Firth nails Peterson's character – as the viewer will see from the first Netflix doc - also titled, The Staircase - his mannerisms, narcissism, arrogance, slipperiness, detachment, self absorption and strange matter of fact, unemotional way of talking, are all captured by Firth. Peterson is not actually likeable and that cannot work in his favour.

While the trial is being prepared, Peterson thinks it a great idea to bring in an a French TV crew headed by Jean-Xavier de Lestrade to make an eight part doc, about the depth of this family's bonds and his unquestionable integrity. It doesn't quite pan out that way.

It is a great piece of work and a major Netflix hit. For those who haven’t seen it, it is in itself compelling, and this new HBO series replays the same story as an out and out thriller - did he do it, or not.

This reviewer can only tell you one of the many reveals in both series - Peterson's first wife was also found dead at at the bottom of a staircase.. It doesn't look good at all, as Peterson has to wriggle and rationalize two deaths.

The Staircase Mark 2, moves back and forward in time. Scenes with Peterson, Kathleen and their children at family dinners, look like the American suburban dream is alive and well.
After Kathleen's death, the family is united with Peterson, against the horror. But as evidence against him grows, the family starts questioning who he really is and begins to fracture. Kathleen’s sisters turn against him (Rosemarie DeWitt as Candace, is a pure fury) and the children change allegiance or cling with blind belief to their dad's innocence story.
The American legal system comes under suspicion too. Prosecution lawyers, Jim Hardin (Cullen Moss) and Freda Black (Parker Posey) badly blur the facts - the tension ratches up.

So Firth and Collette are absolutely fantastic – Collette is given less to do, but her believable, sincere performance as Peterson's loving, intelligent wife, gives room for Firth to shine.
To tell you what happens at the trial and the aftermath would be a giveaway. This reviewer can only say that Peterson's life had been dissected and picked apart by the media for two decades now.

The HBO series has received positive reviews from critics, with particular praise for Firth’s performance, and its' cohesive, stylish direction. Interestingly, Harrison Ford was initially set to star in the lead role, before being replaced by Firth in 2021.

As an aftermath members of the original documentary team, believe this second dramatization, portrays Peterson with too much empathy - Well Firth is a charismatic star, in contrast to the real Peterson who is on the surface very uninteresting - but Firth finds his own way to make this character unappealing, with dubious motives, in this reviewer's opinion.

That's the way it is with this thrilling story - divided opinions - viewers have to make up their own minds about the man.
Hold onto your seat.

Number of SUBs out of 10 - 8 out of 10

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Thanks for reading my review, always up for comments and a chat about films and TV.