disappointment media
  • Home
  • Reviews
  • Interviews
  • The Snake Hole
  • About

BASED ON A TRUE STORY -- An Edgy, Consistently Fun Satire of True Crime

6/6/2023

0 Comments

 
Review by Sean Boelman
Picture
America has a strange and morbid obsession with true crime in shows, documentaries, and podcasts, and several comedies have come out poking fun at the phenomenon. Although Based on a True Story’s high concept premise may not revolutionize the genre, its sharp writing and strong cast manage to keep things consistently funny and — perhaps more importantly — thoroughly suspenseful.

The series follows a struggling married couple who decide to partner up with a serial killer to create a podcast capitalizing on the obsession people have with true crime. This isn’t the first true crime podcast comedy — Only Murders in the Building kicked off a movement of them — but this show’s uniquely edgy and dark take allows it to be memorable.

Although the pilot episode is a bit weak, this can be excused given that much of its runtime is spent setting up the premise. Once the characters get up to their wacky hijinks in creating and promoting the podcast, the show becomes incredibly fun and addictively binge-worthy, with a pace that keeps you on the edge of your seat wanting to know what comes next.

The show’s interrogation of the true crime genre isn’t as substantial or insightful as it clearly seems to think it is. Characters frequently ask whether what they are doing is the right thing, or if they are exploiting the victims of these brutal crimes. Ultimately, the question the writers need to ask is that, by capitalizing on the popularity of the true crime genre themselves, are they too just as culpable as the characters in the show?
Picture
One of the best things about this show is how perfectly it captures the balance between hatable and charismatic. On the one hand, all three of the show’s leads are absolutely selfish, terrible people. Yet there is something somewhat charming about them that wins over. Even though the protagonists are a socialite married couple — an archetype that would usually be dislikable to a majority of audience members — and a serial killer, it’s shockingly fun to go on this adventure with them.

A large part of the show’s success can be owed to its three leads, all of whom are great. Kaley Cuoco and Chris Messina have such believable chemistry, really sealing the tension in their relationship. However, the scene-stealer is Tom Bateman who, apart from an American accent that is a bit off at times, is both incredibly funny and unsettling in the role.
​
When the series falls back on CGI for some of its more violent scenes, it begins to look a little goofy. Still, there are a few incredibly creative sequences in the series, particularly toward the end of the series. Episode 5 is probably the peak of the show, containing both some of the most tense and funniest moments in the show.

Based on a True Story is a super fun crime comedy with a great cast and a killer premise that it takes full advantage of. Like the podcasts that it satirizes, viewers of this show won’t be able to get enough, and will be waiting with bated breath to see what happens next in a hopeful season two.

Based on a True Story streams on Peacock beginning June 8. All eight episodes reviewed.

Rating: 4.5/5
               
0 Comments



Leave a Reply.

    Archives

    September 2023
    August 2023
    July 2023
    June 2023
    May 2023
    April 2023
    March 2023
    February 2023
    January 2023
    December 2022
    November 2022
    October 2022
    September 2022
    August 2022
    July 2022
    June 2022
    May 2022
    April 2022
    March 2022
    February 2022
    January 2022
    December 2021
    November 2021
    October 2021
    September 2021
    August 2021
    July 2021
    June 2021
    May 2021
    April 2021
    March 2021
    February 2021
    January 2021
    December 2020
    November 2020
    October 2020
    September 2020
    August 2020
    July 2020
    June 2020
    May 2020
    April 2020
    March 2020
    February 2020
    January 2020
    December 2019
    November 2019
    October 2019

    Authors

    All
    Adam Donato
    Alan French
    Allison Brown
    Camden Ferrell
    Cole Groth
    Daniel Lima
    Dan Skip Allen
    Erin M. Brady
    Jonathan Berk
    Joseph Fayed
    Josh Batchelder
    Paris Jade
    Rafael Motamayor
    Sarah Williams
    Sean Boelman
    Tatiana Miranda

disappointment media

Dedicated to unique and diverse perspectives on cinema!
  • Home
  • Reviews
  • Interviews
  • The Snake Hole
  • About