Is Murdaugh: Death in the Family headed for the Golden Globes — or straight to America’s most unwanted?
Hulu’s latest true-crime drama revisits the rise and fall of South Carolina’s notorious dynasty, with Jason Clarke portraying Alex Murdaugh and Patricia Arquette as his wife, Maggie. The eight-episode limited series currently holds a 67 percent “fresh” rating on Rotten Tomatoes, signaling that while critics largely admire its performances, they remain divided on its storytelling and tone.
More from Gold Derby
Performances earn strong marks
Across the board, critics single out Clarke and Arquette for elevating the series. The Daily Beast’s Nick Schager calls it “a thorough and multifaceted portrait of the factors that made Alex commit his heinous deed, and a convincing and riveting performance from Jason Clarke that brings this tragedy, and the despicable man who caused it, to full-bodied life.”
Similarly, Ben Dowell of The Times UK declares, “The performances are superb,” while Aramide Tinubu at Variety praises the show as “an engaging portrait of greed, cruelty and arrogance,” adding that it “encapsulates what is so compelling about this particular family and why, ultimately, they self-immolated.”
With two Emmys and an Oscar already to her name, Arquette continues to draw awards-season chatter for her ability to humanize real-world figures. Her quiet yet layered portrayal of Maggie Murdaugh could land the actress her seventh Golden Globe nomination (she’s won three), even as critics debate the series’ overall merit. Meanwhile, Clarke’s unsettling transformation should fuel Hulu to push both leads in limited-series acting categories this winter. Arquette and Clarke are currently ranked eighth and ninth, respectively, in Gold Derby’s Golden Globes predictions.
Jason Clarke and Patricia Arquette in Murdaugh: Death in the FamilyDaniel Delgado Jr./Disney
A familiar, uneven retelling
Not everyone is convinced we needed this drama in our lives (or on our TV screens). Richard Roeper of RogerEbert.com calls it “an occasionally engrossing but mid-level project that never really grabs hold of you,” noting that while “the performances are outstanding, the production values are underwhelming.” USA Today’s Kelly Lawler is far harsher, labeling the series “exploitative, dull and lacking a point of view,” and describing it as “a new low point in our collective murder obsession.” Meanwhile, Angie Han of The Hollywood Reporter writes that while Murdaugh offers “a thoughtful and thorough exploration,” it “sticks to familiar territory rather than blazing new ground.”
Johnny Berchtold and Will Harrison in ‘Murdaugh: Death in the Family’ Daniel Delgado Jr./Disney
Murdaugh: Death in the Family is now streaming on Hulu.
Best of Gold Derby
Sign up for Gold Derby’s Newsletter. For the latest news, follow us on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram.
Click here to read the full article.
‘ The preceding article may include information circulated by third parties ’
‘ Some details of this article were extracted from the following source www.yahoo.com ’
