The hard Netflix miniseries Unbelievable is nothing for weak nerves. She is not afraid to vividly portray the trauma of a young woman. In doing so, the thriller touches on sensitive topics such as sexual abuse and the often destructive way society treats those affected.
8 episodes of tension: That’s what the Netflix thriller Unbelievable is about
The miniseries tells the unsparing story of how the life of young Marie Adler (Kaitlyn Dever) is thrown out of balance by a rape. This experience is made even worse by the fact that the investigating police officers do not want to believe her. She is even charged with an alleged false statement. Until Detective Grace Rasmussen (Toni Collette) and Detective Karen Duvall (Merritt Wever) reopen the case by chance. They quickly make connections to similar crimes that have disturbing pattern result.
Although we follow Toni Collette (The Sixth Sense, Knives out) and Merritt Wever (Nurse Jackie, Tiny Beautiful Things) as investigators on the hunt for a serial rapist, Unbelievable never forgets to simultaneously address the complex inner life of Marie Adler as a result of her trauma. In doing so, the series cleverly combines a gripping crime story with authentic drama.
Watch another Unbelievable trailer with German subtitles here:
Unbelievable – S01 Trailer (German subtitles) HD
The thriller shows sensitivity for a terrible, true story
Unbelievable may show an incredible story – it is still real. The series is based on true events, which are explained in the article “An Unbelievable Story of Rape” published in 2015. This analysis of the case can still be read on the homepage of the investigative news editorial team ProPublica.
Unlike the average thriller, Unbelievable allows its viewers do not have the luxury of writing off what happened as an entertaining thrill. The series is accompanied by an oppressive atmosphere. The suffering of the women affected is palpable. All of this makes the thriller series an intense television experience, but also one that not everyone will be able to endure.
The strength of the series lies in its empathetic tone in the face of a difficult subject matter that is often presented without the necessary sensitivity. We get to know various female characters who feel authentic and demonstrate their independence.
Netflix
Merritt Wever and Toni Collette in Unbelievable
Toni Collette and Merritt Wever are convincing in the roles of two relentless policewomen who not only have to face the search for an unknown serial killer, but also the failure of their male colleagues. Kaitlyn Dever, on the other hand, gets to explore the highs and lows of her character Marie, whose fate seems uncertain for a long time.
Behind the camera was a mostly female team responsible, including Susannah Grant (A Gifted Man, Fleishman Is in Trouble) and Lisa Cholodenko (Six Feet Under, The L Word). This decision also contributed to Unbelievable becoming an exciting series that is carried by complex female characters.
Unbelievable premiered on Netflix on September 13, 2019 with a total of 8 episodes and is still included in the subscription.
If you feel affected by the issue, contact the telephone counseling service immediately. You can get help from counselors on the free hotline 0800-1110-111 or 0800-1110-222, who have in many cases been able to show you ways out of seemingly hopeless situations.