BBC viewers hail 'authentic and unpretentious' crime drama about real serial killer
BBC iPlayer has become the new home for an "intense" crime drama steeped in real events. The Black Forest Murders is a four-part series delving into the harrowing investigation of two young women's deaths in the south of Germany.
Drawn from the factual Walter Roth book 'Soko Earle', the show fuses two actual criminal affairs from 2016, transforming them into enthralling police narrative fiction.
The drama unfolds as the police uncover the body of a young woman, brutally murdered by a faceless assailant, igniting their hunt for the ruthless killer amidst a burgeoning pile of clues.
Concurrently, the sleuths find themselves ensnared in another homicide case, leaving doubts about possible links to the first incident while uncanny similarities with an Austrian case from years before surface.
Nina Kunzendorf stars as Barbara Kramer, with Tilman Strauß playing Thomas Riedle, complemented by a cast featuring Aliki Hirsch, Boidar Kocevski, Atrin Haghdoust, and David Richter, reports the Express.
The description teases: "The clock is ticking... When a woman is bludgeoned to death, detectives face mounting pressure to crack the case and catch a killer. Intense crime drama inspired by real-life cases."
Initially debuting in Germany, viewers there have extolled the series, with many binge-watching it in one intense session.
A review acclaimed: "I watched the entire series in one sitting and thought it was excellent. The meticulous investigation was amazing. Nina Kunzendorf was at her best as a fair and likeable boss in a strong team."
One viewer praised the four-part series enthusing, "I found this four-part series extremely good. It was exciting, with good dialogue, some of which was mumbled-it was due to the dialect -and a very good portrayal of a real series of murders. The actors did a very good job, especially Ms. Kramer, who acted convincingly. It was a glimpse behind the scenes of a special investigation unit. I'd be happy if there were more short series."
Another said they couldn't help binge-watching: "We liked the series so much that we watched all the episodes right away. And it never got boring. This crime thriller was free of staged chases and unnecessary action-just good, real police work. Good actors, though difficult to understand at times."
A third chimed in: "A wonderfully authentic and unpretentious narrative, a crime story like you'd only wish for, not cluttered with ridiculous subplots and overly contrived action. A fantastic team around Nina Kunzendorf, who always remains believable. Fantastic! I wish there were more original productions with such a dense atmosphere and such well-acted acting,".
Following its acquisition by BBC, Sue Deeks, Head of BBC Programme Acquisition, remarked: "The Black Forest Murders is an authentic and compelling crime series focussing on the work of a meticulous investigative team."
She further commented on the depth of the series adding: "As well as being a gripping murder mystery, the series offers a detailed look at the challenges of solving complex crimes, and the psychological toll on those involved in such high-stakes investigations."
Black Forest Murders can be viewed on BBC iPlayer.
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