TRUE-CRIME: “Until I Kill You.” / “A Confession.” / “The Claremont Murders.”

“Until I Kill You” (Britbox) true crime drama. Synopsis: Delia Balmer was a nurse at the Royal Free Hospital in London. She lived for several years in a relationship with a carpenter called John Sweeney, who later became physically abusive, including hitting and sexually assaulting her in a degrading manner. Later, after she had reported him to police and changed the locks on her doors, and while he was out on bail after being arrested, he attempted to murder her outside her home, leaving her with extensive injuries and close to death after a neighbour had beaten Sweeney off.

       As always British true crime threw the trajectory straight to heart, no qualms and no chasers in between. Pretty much like a dramatized documentary. Nick Stevens’ script from Delia Balmer's autobiographical book “Living with a Serial Killer” (2017) gave us the flesh and blood of the crime as is. A detailed police report with a poet's treatment. Director Julia Ford survived a heart-wrenching heart and soul out of it.

       But the unmistakable limelight of the 4-episode series is Anna Maxwell Martin as Delia Balmer. What a performance! She previously won two British Academy Television Awards, for her portrayals of Esther Summerson in “Bleak House” (2005) and N in “Poppy Shakespeare” (2008). I gotta watch those soon! 

       In “Until…” Ms Martin meticulously broke down Ms Balmer's unique character into shards of vulnerable lostness, insistent defiance, and raging agony that the bloodied glass cut into you. Fresh and real. A lecture on the subject of the evils of (domestic) abuse delivered in muted screams and dramatic restraint. 🎥👍📽

“A Confession” (Britbox) British crime drama about Sian Emma O'Callaghan, a 22-year-old British woman who disappeared from Swindon, Wiltshire, England, having last been seen at a nightclub in the town in the early hours of 19 March 2011. This series won two BAFTA acting awards in 2020 for Martin Freeman and Siobhan Finneran; 4 nominations total. Enough reason to check this out. 

       My pre-watch google says: “DSU Stephen Fulcher intends on catching the killer of a missing woman, even if that may cost him his career and reputation.” Why is that? Find out. I won't give you spoilers but this 6-episode series offers enlightenment on law enforcement procedures and policing ethics and their political implications and legal ramifications. Intrigued? 🎥👍📽

“The Claremont Murders” (Sundance Now) Australian crime drama, follows the investigation by the Western Australia Police Force to catch serial killer Bradley Robert Edwards, who went unnoticed in a sea of suspects and Task Force Marco that never let the case go.

       In most dramatized true crime series, especially the short 2-episode to 6-episode British-made features, the treatment is concise, concentrated, and almost journalistic. No room for elongated arias, bombastic action, or plodding, melodramatic backstories. This is it, as is. 

       “Claremont…” is Australian-made but the 2-part storyboard “reads” like a detailed police blotter. And the lighting is watchable, unlike others that simply infuriate me. 🎥💻📽