The premiere episode of Love & Death was featured at the 2023 SXSW Film and TV Festival. Ahead of the series’ spring premiere, this series is set to capitalize on the true crime trend that shows no signs of slowing down. With an all-star cast, this miniseries has the potential to make a significant impact on the genre. 

Love & Death is a fictionalized account of Candy Montgomery, who was accused of the brutal axe murder of her friend Betty Gore. This series will not be the first time this story has been portrayed on screen. Jessica Biel portrayed Montgomery in Hulu’s 2022 series Candy. A Killing in a Small Town, a 1990 TV movie, was also based on this case. 

Specifically, the series is based on the book “Evidence of Love: A True Story of Passion and Death in the Suburbs,” by Jim Atkinson and John Bloom. 

Elizabeth Olsen and Jesse Plemons are immediate standouts in the premiere episode. Their on-screen chemistry is magnetic. The way they have constructed these characters is fascinating. It’s so fascinating how quickly they each jump to justification before anything has even happened. 

The premiere episode emphasizes the role of religion in middle America in the 1980s. It will be interesting to see if this series becomes a commentary on how religion plays a role in love and misguided passion. 

Ultimately, the hope is that Love & Death will be a true crime series that focuses on the humanity of the victim rather than the circus of the surrounding case. With true crime remaining incredibly popular, this series will get a chance to carve out a place for itself.

Check out the trailer for Love & Death below!

Love & Death Premieres April 27, 2023 on HBOMax.