TRUE CRIME DRAMA: “The Sixth Commandment.” / “The Moorside.” / “The Stolen Girl.”

“The Sixth Commandment” (Amazon Prime/Britbox) true crime drama, based on the deaths of Peter Farquhar and Ann Moore-Martin. The tragic story explores the narcissistic manipulation and murder of Mr Farquhar and the death of his neighbour Ms Moore-Martin in Maids Moreton in Buckinghamshire, England in 2015 and 2017, and the fall out from these events including the police investigation and 2019 criminal trial of Ben Field and Martyn Smith.

       As the unsuspecting elderly victims, veterans Timothy Spall and Anne Reid delivered dramatic restraint that mirrored their helplessness from their tornentor's sinister machinations. Mr Spall, who won the BAFTA best actor last year for this series, is a familiar face in many British movies. Ms Reid was nominated for her role. I remember Anne in 2003's “The Mother,” a similar role, opposite Daniel Craig.

       Director Saul Dibb's “soft” treatment of Sarah Phelps’ daytime drama styled script offers a more humanized take of the crime without undermining the evil in Ben Field. No screaming, no overwrought drama. But we easily feel the vulnerability of Peter and Ann as they fall into the “warm,” deceptive hell in Ben's trap. Like most British series, this drama has only 4 episodes so it is easy to binge-watch it.

       The Sixth Commandment is "Thou shalt not murder," which fundamentally prohibits the deliberate taking of human life. I guess Ben Field, who was unemployed and was a voluntary and unpaid churchwarden, believed he didn't actually kill Peter. But he did. He was diagnosed with narcissistic personality disorder. For his crime, he was sentenced to life imprisonment. 🎥💻📽

“The Moorside” (Britbox) British drama, based on the 2008 disappearance of 9-year-old Shannon Matthews and the successful search for her by police and volunteers in Dewsbury, West Yorkshire, along with the revelation of mother Karen's involvement in Shannon's kidnapping.

       The series exudes familiar terrains: Community unity in times of a neighbor's distress, the sublimity of old-school friendships, and a wake-upper why individuals lose options on life coming from past traumas.

       In a short 2-hour/2-episode feature, these sensitive universal truths are amply tackled. Credit to Paul Whittington's non-weepy, non-moralizing script and Neil McKay's vibrant direction. 

       And sterling performances by Gemma Whelan as Karen Matthews, and Sheridan Smith and Sian Brooke as Karen's friends Julie and Natalie. 🎥💻📽

“The Stolen Girl” (Hulu) drama thriller, an adaptation by Catherine Moulton of the 2020 novel “Playdate” by Alex Dahl. Synopsis: A Europe-wide hunt ensues after a woman realises her daughter has been kidnapped. 

       Ms Dahl supposedly based her book on a real story. I didn't read the book though. But the TV series runs into several backstories or interjecting stories that weren't really expounded + characterization flaws that weren't cured so the entire feature seemed trying-too-much to be engaging or compelling.

       Acting though is exemplary, notably the leads Denise Gough as Elisa Blix, mother of the missing child, and Holliday Grainger as Rebecca Walsh, another mother who took the child. (We know Ms Grainger as Robin Ellacott in the “Strike” series, based on J.K. crime books.) 🎥💻📽