Close to Home Murder in the Coalfield (Lauchhammer – Tod in der Lausitz) is a German murder-thriller series that premiered on March 22, 2023, on Netflix. Directed by Till Franzen and written by Frauke Hunfeld alongside Silke Zertz, the story follows a series of unsolved murders that had been occurring for a long time in a small town.
The series stars Misel Maticevic alongside Odine Johne in the lead roles. The rest of the supporting and recurring cast includes Ella Lee, Marc Hosemann, Jacob Matschenz, Lucas Gregorowicz, Hilmar Eichhorn and more. Felix Novo de Oliveira is the cinematographer, and Andreas Weidinger, alongside Christoph Zirngibl, gives the music.
-Close to Home Murder in the Coalfield Review Contains No Spoilers-
Without wasting any time, the series opens with exactly what is mentioned in the title. A gruesome murder takes place in a small German town with a small population and an even smaller police force. The death of the young girl opened up a can of worms. From rampant drug problems to corruption and a series of environmental issues, the town had bigger obstacles than it seemed.
A dark and eerie tone is set up from the get-go. The premise is set up fairly well, and we get an idea of how the story will unfold. The pace of the plot is slow and is maintained throughout the series, giving us a raw and uncut form of storytelling. Moreover, the plot contains a realistic investigation of the crime and takes us through each step, leaving behind no unanswered questions.
However, the script is not devoid of loose ends. There are no definitive conclusions to a few instances which were integral to the plotline. At some points, the story feels confusing due to the addition of sudden flashbacks and subplots. Some of the characters’ point of existence in the plot also feels questionable a few times. Nevertheless, the individual instances do converge and relate to each other in the end.
The plot is nothing new and is predictable most of the time. The build-up is done seamlessly, but the revelations fell flat. Furthermore, the twists and turns fail to create an element of surprise. That said, the story is executed well, even if the scenarios are not unforeseeable. The compelling storytelling by the creators manages to keep one hooked and asking for more.
The most interesting aspect of the series was the cinematography which constructed a mysterious and strange ambience that allows us to submerge in the story fully. Additionally, the background music played an integral role in elevating the narration process. Rustic scenes in the town are another element that helped the storyline.
Undoubtedly the actors did an amazing job of portraying the characters. Odine Johne as a competent, unforgiving detective, stood out the most. Marc Hosemann’s captivating performance of a crooked officer also did not go unnoticed. Kai Ivo Baulitz’s depiction of a psychotic killer is gripping and believable to the point it makes one uncomfortable.
Close to Home Murder in the Coalfield Review: Final Thoughts
The story of the series is straightforward and wastes no time getting to the point. It also follows a consistent pace and includes a thorough, realistic investigation of the gruesome murders. However, it can be triggering to some of the viewers as it contains graphic language and imaging of the events. Nevertheless, it is a solid show with a satisfying end and is recommended if one enjoys murder mysteries.
Close to Home: Murder in the Coalfield is now streaming on Netflix. Did you watch the series yet? Let us know your thoughts in the comments below!
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