Murder Among the Mormons
{{Short description|2021 true crime TV series}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=April 2022}}
{{Infobox television
| image = Murder Among the Mormons.png
| image_size =
| genre = Documentary
| director = {{Plainlist|
- Jared Hess
- Tyler Measom
}}
| writer =
| opentheme =
| country = United States
| num_seasons =
| num_episodes = 3
| music = Joel Goodman
| executive_producer = {{Plainlist|
- Joe Berlinger
- Ryan O'Dowd
- Jared Hess
- Tyler Measom
}}
| producer = Jannat Gargi
| cinematography = Bianca Cline
| editor = {{Plainlist|
- Greg O'Toole
- Matthew Prekop
}}
| language = English
| runtime = 45-58 minutes
| company = BBC Studios
| network = Netflix
| released = {{Start date|2021|03|03}}
}}
Murder Among the Mormons is an American true crime documentary television miniseries following Mark Hofmann, one of the most notable forgers in history, who created forgeries related to the Latter Day Saint movement. Joe Berlinger serves as an executive producer. It consists of three episodes and premiered on Netflix on March 3, 2021.{{cite web|url=https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/live-feed/netflix-sets-murder-among-the-mormons-docuseries-on-1985-utah-bombings-exclusive|title=Netflix Sets 'Murder Among the Mormons' Docuseries on 1985 Utah Bombings (Exclusive)|website=The Hollywood Reporter|first=Jackie|last=Strouse|date=February 4, 2021|accessdate=March 3, 2021|archive-date=March 4, 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210304014344/https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/live-feed/netflix-sets-murder-among-the-mormons-docuseries-on-1985-utah-bombings-exclusive|url-status=live}}
Plot
The series follows Hofmann, one of the most accomplished forgers in history, who created forgeries related to the Latter-day Saint movement. Hofmann created explosive devices resulting in two deaths, and was exposed as a forger and sent to prison.{{Cite web|title=Hofmann Pleads Innocent To Weapons Indictment|url=https://apnews.com/article/ae1397b060dc5dcffd08533ca40dd2b4|access-date=2021-03-05|website=AP NEWS|archive-date=2021-04-23|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210423040615/https://apnews.com/article/ae1397b060dc5dcffd08533ca40dd2b4|url-status=live}}{{Cite news|last1=Lindsey|first1=Robert|date=1987-02-11|title=DEALER IN MORMON FRAUD CALLED A MASTER FORGER (Published 1987)|work=The New York Times|url=https://www.nytimes.com/1987/02/11/us/dealer-in-mormon-fraud-called-a-master-forger.html|access-date=2021-03-05|issn=0362-4331|archive-date=2021-03-04|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210304152221/https://www.nytimes.com/1987/02/11/us/dealer-in-mormon-fraud-called-a-master-forger.html|url-status=live}}{{Cite news|last1=Lindsey|first1=Robert|date=1986-02-16|title=EXTORTION BY FORGERY GIVEN AS MOTIVE IN UTAH MURDERS (Published 1986)|work=The New York Times|url=https://www.nytimes.com/1986/02/16/us/extortion-by-forgery-given-as-motive-in-utah-murders.html|access-date=2021-03-05|issn=0362-4331|archive-date=2015-05-24|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150524191601/http://www.nytimes.com/1986/02/16/us/extortion-by-forgery-given-as-motive-in-utah-murders.html|url-status=live}}
Episodes
{{Episode table |total_width= |background=#000000 |overall= |title= |director= |airdate= |airdateR={{cite web|url=http://www.thefutoncritic.com/showatch/murder-among-the-mormons/listings/|title=Murder Among the Mormons|website=The Futon Critic|accessdate=March 3, 2021}}|country=U.S. |viewers= |episodes=
{{Episode list
|EpisodeNumber = 1
|Title = Episode 1
|DirectedBy = Jared Hess
Tyler Measom
|OriginalAirDate = {{Start date|2021|3|2}}
|Viewers =
|ShortSummary =
|LineColor = 000000
}}
{{Episode list
|EpisodeNumber = 2
|Title = Episode 2
|DirectedBy = Jared Hess
Tyler Measom
|OriginalAirDate = {{Start date|2021|3|2}}
|Viewers =
|ShortSummary =
|LineColor = 000000
}}
{{Episode list
|EpisodeNumber = 3
|Title = Episode 3
|DirectedBy = Jared Hess
Tyler Measom
|OriginalAirDate = {{Start date|2021|3|2}}
|Viewers =
|ShortSummary =
|LineColor = 000000
}}
}}
Production
In 2017, Jared Hess and Tyler Measom began conducting research on the story, met with those who participated in the series and attempted to contact Hofmann, who did not respond to requests for an interview.{{Cite web|date=2021-03-05|title='Murder Among the Mormons' Duo on Their Personal History With the True-Crime Saga|url=https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/live-feed/murder-among-the-mormons-duo-on-their-personal-history-with-the-true-crime-saga|access-date=2021-03-05|website=The Hollywood Reporter|archive-date=2021-03-05|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210305162007/https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/live-feed/murder-among-the-mormons-duo-on-their-personal-history-with-the-true-crime-saga|url-status=live}}{{cite web|url=https://www.esquire.com/entertainment/tv/a35683846/murder-among-the-mormons-directors-interview-lds-church-response/|title=The Murder Among the Mormons Directors Are Prepared For the Church of Latter-Day Saints' Response|website=Esquire|first=Lauren|last=Kranc|date=March 3, 2021|accessdate=March 3, 2021|archive-date=March 3, 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210303191729/https://www.esquire.com/entertainment/tv/a35683846/murder-among-the-mormons-directors-interview-lds-church-response/|url-status=live}} The series was initially pitched as a six-episode series; however, when Netflix and BBC Studios joined the project, it was reduced to three episodes.{{cite web|url=https://www.deseret.com/faith/2021/2/23/22296381/murder-among-the-mormons-netflix-director-jared-hess-explains-turn-to-true-crime-mark-hofmann|title=Jared Hess explains his turn to true crime for Netflix series 'Murder Among the Mormons'|website=Deseret News|first=Tad|last=Walch|date=March 3, 2021|accessdate=March 3, 2021|archive-date=March 3, 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210303012554/https://www.deseret.com/faith/2021/2/23/22296381/murder-among-the-mormons-netflix-director-jared-hess-explains-turn-to-true-crime-mark-hofmann|url-status=live}}
Reception
On Rotten Tomatoes, the series holds an approval rating of 88% based on 16 reviews, with an average rating of 7.29/10. The website's critical consensus reads, "Investigating an outrageous but true story with restraint, Murder Among the Mormons is entertaining true-crime pulp and a fascinating examination of a community."{{cite web|url=https://www.rottentomatoes.com/tv/murder_among_the_mormons/s01|title=Murder Among the Mormons|website=Rotten Tomatoes|accessdate=April 22, 2021|archive-date=March 22, 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210322182704/https://www.rottentomatoes.com/tv/murder_among_the_mormons/s01|url-status=live}} On Metacritic, it has a weighted average score of 74 out of 100, based on eight critics, indicating "generally favorable reviews".{{cite web|url=https://www.metacritic.com/tv/murder-among-the-mormons/season-1|title=Murder Among the Mormons|website=Metacritic|accessdate=March 4, 2021|archive-date=March 3, 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210303141357/https://www.metacritic.com/tv/murder-among-the-mormons/season-1|url-status=live}} In the week of its debut, the show was ranked third overall for original-content Video on Demand streaming, with 587 million minutes streamed, according to Nielsen.{{Cite web |url=https://www.nielsen.com/us/en/top-ten/ |title=Top 10s: TV Ratings, Video Games, SVOD |access-date=2021-04-02 |archive-date=2021-04-01 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210401175249/https://www.nielsen.com/us/en/top-ten/ |url-status=live }}
References
{{Reflist|30em}}
External links
- {{IMDb title|13987620}}
- {{Metacritic television}}
{{Joe Berlinger and Bruce Sinofsky}}
{{Netflix original ended series (2019–present)}}
Category:2021 American television series debuts
Category:2021 American television series endings
Category:2020s American documentary television series
Category:Documentary television series about crime in the United States
Category:American English-language television shows
Category:Netflix original documentary television series
Category:Television series by BBC Studios
Category:Television series created by Joe Berlinger