'Murdaugh: Death in the Family' (2025) – A True Crime Movie That Cuts Deeper Than the Headlines

Imagine a Southern Gothic tragedy, but instead of faded plantation mansions and whispered family curses, the horror unfolds in courtroom transcripts, leaked texts, and the cold glare of a Netflix documentary. Now, take that story, hand it to a director who knows how to make legal jargon feel like a knife twist, and you’ve got ‘Murdaugh: Death in the Family’ (2025)—the true crime film that doesn’t just retell a scandal, but dissects the rot beneath the American legal system.

If you’ve scrolled through Twitter, binged a Dateline marathon, or even just glanced at a grocery store tabloid in the past three years, you’ve heard the name Murdaugh. The fall of South Carolina’s most powerful legal dynasty—marred by murder, fraud, and a web of lies so tangled it makes ‘Gone Girl’ look like a children’s fable—has gripped the nation. But does the 2025 film adaptation do justice to the chaos? Or does it get lost in its own ambition?

Spoiler: It’s messy. Just like the real story.

Cinematic poster for ‘Murdaugh: Death in the Family’ (2025) — where Southern charm meets Southern horror.

Why This Movie Matters (Beyond the True Crime Obsession)

True crime isn’t just entertainment anymore—it’s a cultural lens. From ‘Making a Murderer’ to ‘Dahmer,’ these stories force us to ask: How do power, money, and justice really work in America? The Murdaugh saga isn’t just another salacious scandal; it’s a case study in systemic failure.

Here’s why this film stands out:

• It’s not just about murder. While the deaths of Maggie and Paul Murdaugh are the catalyst, the movie digs into the how and why—the generational corruption, the cozy relationships between law enforcement and lawyers, and the way wealth can bend the law like a wet paper bag.
• It’s a legal thriller disguised as a family drama. Think ‘The Social Network’ meets ‘Night of the Hunter,’ with a side of Southern drawl. The courtroom scenes aren’t just procedural; they’re personal.
• It’s timely. With public trust in institutions at an all-time low, this film arrives like a Molotov cocktail tossed into the debate about justice, privilege, and who gets to wear the white hat.

But does it work as a movie? Or does it get bogged down in its own importance? Let’s break it down.

Plot Summary (Without Spoiling the Twists You Already Know)

If you’ve followed the case, you know the beats: The once-untouchable Murdaugh family—led by patriarch Alex Murdaugh (played with eerie charisma by Jake Gyllenhaal)—unravels after the brutal murders of his wife and son. What follows is a spiral of lies, financial fraud, and a botched suicide-for-hire plot that would be laughable if it weren’t so tragic.

The film smartly doesn’t rehash the case like a Wikipedia entry. Instead, it focuses on:

• The family dynamics. The Murdaughs aren’t just criminals; they’re a dynasty. The movie explores how power corrupts across generations, with flashbacks to Alex’s father and grandfather (both played by a terrifyingly smooth Bryan Cranston in aging makeup).
• The legal system’s complicity. One of the film’s most chilling scenes? A montage of local judges, clerks, and cops—all former clients or friends of the Murdaughs—exchanging glances in a courtroom. No words needed.
• The human cost. While the Murdaughs dominate headlines, the film gives voice to the victims often overlooked: the housekeeper Gloria Satterfield (whose death was initially ruled an accident), and the families of those harmed by the Murdaughs’ negligence.

Director Karyn Kusama (‘The Invitation,’ ‘Destroyer’) balances the sensational with the somber, never letting the story tip into exploitation. Well, mostly. (We’ll get to the missteps.)

What the Movie Gets Right (And Where It Stumbles)

✅ The Good: A Masterclass in Tension

The film’s strongest asset? It makes legal documents feel like a horror movie. Here’s how:

• The sound design. The click of a lawyer’s pen, the hum of a courtroom’s fluorescent lights, the silence before a lie is exposed—it’s all used to ratchet up the dread.
• The performances. Gyllenhaal’s Alex isn’t a mustache-twirling villain; he’s a man who’s spent his whole life believing the rules don’t apply to him. When the walls close in, his panic is palpable. And Florence Pugh as a dogged journalist (a fictionalized amalgam of real reporters) steals every scene she’s in.
• The pacing. At 2 hours and 15 minutes, it never drags. The timeline jumps between the murders, the financial crimes, and the trial, but it’s always clear where you are—no small feat for a story this convoluted.

❌ The Bad: When Reality Outpaces Fiction

Even the best true crime adaptations struggle with one thing: real life doesn’t always fit neatly into a three-act structure. Here’s where the film falters:

• Too many characters. The Murdaugh case involves dozens of players—lawyers, investigators, victims, enablers. The film tries to give them all screen time, leading to some confusing cuts. (Pro tip: Watch the documentary ‘Murdaugh Murders: A Southern Scandal’ first if you’re new to the case.)
• The tone whiplash. One minute, it’s a grim legal drama; the next, it’s dark comedy (see: the suicide-for-hire subplot). The shifts can feel jarring, though some might argue that’s true to the absurdity of the real events.
• The ending. Without spoiling it, the film’s final act leans heavily on symbolism—a choice that will either leave you haunted or rolling your eyes. (I was split 60/40 in favor of haunted.)

True Crime Fans vs. Casual Viewers: Who Will Like This?

Not every true crime movie is for everyone. Here’s how to know if this one’s for you:

🎯 You’ll Love It If...

• You’re a true crime junkie who’s followed the case and wants to see it dramatized with Hollywood polish.
• You like legal thrillers that double as social commentary (à la ‘The Insider’ or ‘Spotlight’).
• You appreciate ambiguous villains. Alex Murdaugh isn’t a monster; he’s a product of a broken system. That’s far more interesting (and infuriating).

🚫 Skip It If...

• You’re looking for a whodunit. The murders are solved early; the mystery is how the hell did this go on for so long?
• You dislike slow-burn tension. This isn’t ‘Se7en’; it’s more like ‘Zodiac’—methodical, atmospheric, and patient.
• You’re sensitive to real-life tragedy. The film doesn’t glorify the violence, but it doesn’t shy away from it either.

Behind the Scenes: How the Filmmakers Pulled It Off

Adapting a still-unfolding scandal into a movie is a minefield. Here’s how the team navigated it:

📜 The Research

The screenwriters David E. Kelley (‘Big Little Lies,’ ‘The Undoing’) and Nicole Holofcener (‘Enough Said’) spent over a year poring over court documents, interviews, and the FITSNews investigations that broke the story. They also consulted with:

• Former prosecutors familiar with the case.
• Journalists who covered the trials (including Mandy Matney, whose podcast ‘Murdaugh Murders’ was a key source).
• Psychologists to understand the family dynamics.

🎬 The Filming

To capture the oppressive heat and humidity of South Carolina’s Lowcountry, the crew shot on location in:

• Beaufort, SC (standing in for Hampton County).
• Charleston (for the legal scenes).
• A decommissioned prison in Georgia (for the jail sequences—because of course Alex Murdaugh ends up in jail).

The production design is immaculate, from the Murdaughs’ decaying family estate to the fluorescent-lit sterility of the courtroom.

🎶 The Score

Composer Hildur Guðnadóttir (‘Joker,’ ‘Chernobyl’) crafted a score that’s equal parts eerie and elegiac. She used:

• A modified cello to mimic the sound of a Southern swamp at night.
• Field recordings from abandoned courthouses (creaking floors, slamming doors).
• A choir singing in Gullah-Geechee, the creole language of the region, to underscore the cultural context.

How It Compares to Other True Crime Films

Where does ‘Murdaugh’ rank in the pantheon of true crime cinema? Let’s stack it up:

Film	Tone	Focus	How ‘Murdaugh’ Compares
Zodiac (2007)	Cold, procedural	The hunt for a killer	Similar obsession with detail, but ‘Murdaugh’ has more emotional stakes.
The Social Network (2010)	Sharp, dialog-driven	Power and betrayal	Both dissect elite corruption, but ‘Murdaugh’ is darker—less wit, more rot.
I, Tonya (2017)	Darkly comic	Media vs. reality	‘Murdaugh’ has humor, but it’s never campy—just tragically absurd.
Spotlight (2015)	Quiet, methodical	Institutional failure	The closest cousin—both are about systems protecting the powerful.

Verdict? ‘Murdaugh’ sits comfortably alongside these classics, though it’s more visceral than ‘Spotlight’ and less mythic than ‘Zodiac.’

Should You Watch It? The Final Verdict

Rating: 4.5/5 (A gripping, if imperfect, dissection of power and corruption.)

✔️ Watch It For:

• The performances, especially Gyllenhaal and Pugh.
• The atmosphere—it’s like stepping into a Southern Gothic nightmare.
• The questions it raises about justice, class, and who gets to be a victim.

❌ Skip It If:

• You want clear-cut heroes and villains.
• You’re not familiar with the case and don’t want to Google mid-movie.
• You’re tired of true crime fatigue (fair—sometimes the world is grim enough).

Best Viewing Experience: Watch it at night, with the lights dimmed, and maybe a stiff drink. Then immediately call your most conspiracy-theorist friend to debate it.

What’s Next? The Murdaugh Saga Isn’t Over

The film ends with a title card: “As of 2025, Alex Murdaugh remains incarcerated. The legal fallout continues.” And it’s true—this story is far from finished.

📅 Upcoming Developments to Watch:

• The appeals. Murdaugh’s legal team has already filed motions for a new trial. Will they succeed? (Spoiler: Probably not, but the process will be a circus.)
• The civil lawsuits. Families of victims, including Gloria Satterfield’s sons, are suing for damages. These cases could reveal even more about the Murdaughs’ financial crimes.
• The political fallout. South Carolina’s legal system is still reckoning with how this happened. Expect reforms—or at least more scandals.
• More media. A limited series from HBO is already in development, focusing on the financial crimes. And yes, there will be more podcasts.

In other words: If you thought this movie was wild, buckle up. The real story is still unfolding.

How to Dive Deeper (If You’re Obsessed)

Can’t get enough? Here’s your Murdaugh media binge list:

📚 Books

• ‘The Fall of the House of Murdaugh’ by Julia Bartlett (2024) – The most comprehensive book on the case so far.
• ‘Lowcountry Justice’ by Liz Farrell (2023) – Focuses on the legal system’s role in the scandal.

🎧 Podcasts

• ‘Murdaugh Murders’ (FITSNews) – The podcast that broke the story.
• ‘Southern Nightmare’ (Audiochuck) – Deep dives into the family’s history.

📺 Documentaries

• ‘Murdaugh Murders: A Southern Scandal’ (Netflix, 2023) – The best primer before watching the film.
• ‘The Murdaugh Dynasty: Power, Greed, and Murder’ (HBO Max, 2024) – More focused on the financial crimes.

🌐 Online Resources

• FITSNews – The local outlet that’s been covering this since day one.
• Court Listener – For the legal nerds who want to read the actual filings.

Final Thoughts: Why This Story Haunts Us

The Murdaugh case isn’t just another true crime tale. It’s a mirror. It reflects our obsession with power, our distrust of institutions, and the way money can warp justice into something unrecognizable.

What makes the film so effective—and so unsettling—is that it doesn’t give easy answers. There’s no cathartic moment where the bad guy gets his comeuppance and the system is fixed. Instead, it leaves you with a gnawing question: How many other Alex Murdaughs are out there, hiding in plain sight?

And that’s why ‘Murdaugh: Death in the Family’ isn’t just a movie. It’s a warning.

Your Turn: What Did You Think?

Have you seen the film? Did it live up to the hype, or did it miss the mark? Share your thoughts in the comments—just keep it civil, folks. This is a movie review, not a courtroom.

And if you’re new to the Murdaugh saga, start with the Netflix documentary, then come back and tell me if the film did it justice. (Pun intended.)

Related: The Best True Crime Documentaries of 2025 (So Far)

Want more deep dives into movies, true crime, and the stories behind the headlines? Subscribe to the blog or follow me on Twitter for the latest reviews and recommendations.

Now, if you’ll excuse me, I need to go watch something lighthearted. Maybe ‘Paddington’.