SC reactions: Lifetime keeps dark spotlight on Lowcountry with Murdaugh Murders: The Movie
By now most of us have seen the Lifetime photos: "Hollywood" actors playing the roles of the tragic Alex Murdaugh family in an upcoming film, the father grasping the son in a violent, abusive-looking embrace.
But for the people who live in the South Carolina Lowcountry, especially those who know the Murdaughs and those affected by the now notorious Alex, those promo images meant to entice future audiences hit home in a different way.
Earlier this week, Lifetime announced that its milestone 500th original movie would be the two-night event Murdaugh Murders: The Movie starring Bill Pullman as Alex Murdaugh and premiering on Oct. 14 and 15 at 8p/7c.
Disgraced S.C. lawyer Murdaugh's decade-long financial and drug-related crime spree, and his March 2023 double murder conviction for killing his wife, Maggie, and younger son, Paul, put his hometown of Hampton County and the surrounding Lowcountry area ― The 14th Judicial Circuit ― in a harsh and unrelenting public spotlight.
Now, as the story line continues to unfold ― Murdaugh just this week accused a court official of jury tampering and demanded a new murder trial ― those movie promo images leave a strong impression on locals who know the family and knew the slain Murdaughs.
South Carolina reacts to Lifetime's Murdaugh Murders: The Movie
Murdaugh Murders: The Movie is part of Lifetime's "Ripped From the Headlines" lineup of true crime movies, and as with many movies based on real, often tragic events, there are likely to be reactions from those on the ground and closest to the story.
As Lifetime announced the film project photos on its social media pages, comments in the many Murdaugh chat groups ranged from a handful of enthusiastic and affirming "can't wait to watch" posts to an overwhelming number of "disgusting," "cheesy," and "cringe" comments.
Some applauded or criticized the choice of actors, many commented on how realistic the film might or might not be, and others wondered simply if Hollywood would get the Southern accents rights.
But for those closer to the true-crime saga, the reactions were deeper, more emotional.
"This whole thing is surreal," said a Hampton County friend of the Murdaugh family, who asked not to be identified. "I can’t wrap my head around it all. We have brought our relatively quiet little town into the spotlight in such a negative way."
Sara Holstein Graves, a local historian, genealogist and Hampton County native, is also a friend of the Murdaugh family, as well as a friend to some of the people impacted by that family, such as the Cooks involved in the fatal 2019 Murdaugh boat crash and the Satterfield/Harriott families victimized by Alex Murdaugh's insurance scheme.
"It's disappointing that my hometown is heading up Lifetime's "Ripped From the Headlines" lineup," said Graves. "I'm also sad to see yet another title that includes the entire family, as the title and content should really only focus on Alex; his family has caught enough shrapnel for things they didn't do. I cringe when I think of the victims, co-workers and family members who will be dramatized by actors at the height of tragedy for the entertainment of others. I understand books and documentaries that look into the factual events that lead up to these crimes, but there is a huge difference between trying to learn and understand versus using a tragedy for the entertainment of others."
Graves also expressed concerns about how realistic a dramatic reenactment film might be. Chief among many people's concerns where the photos depicting physical confrontations between Alex and his son, Paul. Other than the shooting deaths for which Alex Murdaugh was convicted, there has been no public evidence of physical violence by the accused father prior to the killings.
"They will have to invent dialogue for the movie, as it looks like they will be depicting events between individuals for which there were no witnesses. That always makes me nervous."
She was not alone. Another Hampton County native and friend to both the Murdaugh family and other families impacted by the story expressed doubts and concerns.
"Based on the promotional materials released thus far, it’s obvious that Lifetime wasn’t interested in telling these stories accurately," said Aubrey Dempsey. "Considering the amount of pain and sadness suffered by all involved it’s a shame that Lifetime would add to that by dramatizing the tragedy in the interest of ratings."
But regardless of how locals feel, many will likely still watch, just to see for themselves what the film is all about.
More about Bill Pullman as Alex Murdaugh on Lifetime
According to the Lifetime press release, Murdaugh Murders: The Movie will be a two-part, four-hour film depicting the tragic, shocking life of Alex Murdaugh "who, on the surface, is a prominent and respected South Carolina lawyer, loving husband and father, but behind closed doors, lived a drug-filled secret life that ultimately led to murder...behind all the power, black ties, and fancy dresses Alex had many secrets..."
The movie project follows the wealthy and powerful, but haunted Murdaugh family from Paul Murdaugh's fatal, high-profile boating accident to Alex stealing insurance settlements and robbing legal clients, before gunning down his wife and child at their Colleton County estate, Moselle.
Bill Pullman is also known for his recent works in The Sinner and Halston. Murdaugh Murders: The Movie also stars Lauren Robek (Firefly Lane, Yellowjackets) as Maggie Murdaugh, Curtis Tweedie (I Zombie, Supernatural) as Paul Murdaugh and Donovan Stinson (UnReal, So Help Me Todd) as Detective Hume who is investigating the murders.
Murdaugh Murders: The Movie is produced by Murdaugh Productions Inc. in association with Johnson ProductionGroup. Stacy Mandelberg, Timothy O. Johnson, Jason Ryan, Oliver DeCaigny and Michael Vickerman ExecutiveProduce, while Navid Soofi produces. Greg Beeman directs from the script written by Michael Vickerman.
Hampton County Guardian Editor Michael DeWitt, the Greenville News and USA TODAY Network will continue to follow the ongoing criminal and civil cases surrounding the Murdaugh crime saga. Follow DeWitt on Twitter at @mmdewittjr and support his local and national journalism with a digital subscription.
This article originally appeared on Augusta Chronicle: Lifetime to release Murdaugh Murders: The Movie, starring Bill Pullman
