Behind the Scenes of the Murders in ‘Murdaugh: Death in the Family’

LOS ANGELES, CA

The finale of ‘Murdaugh: Death in the Family’ takes viewers deep into the chilling moment when Alex Murdaugh killed his wife and son. Actor Jason Clarke prepared for this key scene by studying hours of trial footage and recordings. He aimed to capture not only Murdaugh’s animated public persona but also the calculated killer behind it.

Clarke shared insights with Variety, stating, “He’s got an element of Tony Soprano in him. He’s an entertainer. He’s not the sad clown, he’s the happy clown!”. Despite this understanding, the scene where Alex murders Maggie (Patricia Arquette) and Paul (Johnny Berchtold) is portrayed with a stark, subdued realism.

The scene unfolds initially without Alex, then transitions to his perspective as he recalls that fateful night from his prison cell. Clarke emphasized the need for precision in shooting the sequence, discussing the execution with director Steven Piet and the crew in Atlanta. It starts with a typical family moment, disrupted when Alex walks off to fetch a raincoat and guns for the attack.

“I didn’t really want to do this all night,” Clarke said regarding the filming. He added that depicting the violence was not only uncomfortable but necessary for authenticity. “It’s messy in its own way, and it’s quick, and then it’s over.”

While various documentaries have explored the Murdaugh case extensively, Clarke believes that this dramatization uniquely captures the horror of the actual events. He remarked, “That’s the whole point of doing it. Waters broke it down in trial, and then we, as dramatists, broke it down on screen.”

Key transitional moments throughout the series hint at Alex’s decision to kill his family. However, as portrayed, it is impossible to pinpoint when exactly he made the decision. Co-creator and writer Carrie Fuller noted that their aim was to convey the complexity of these family dynamics, exploring the struggles and turning points in their relationships.

The episode also gives insight into Maggie and Paul, adding depth to their characterizations as victims. “From my point of view, they were victims of Alex Murdaugh,” Carr said. “They were murdered in cold blood.”

Clarke described the impact of learning more about Murdaugh’s victims, saying, “I feel like I know the characters of Paul and Maggie more, and that community more.” He recounted receiving touchpoints from locals and experiencing the emotional aftermath just days following the murders.

The grief surrounding the Murdaugh case has ignited a multifaceted narrative, and Clarke noted the humor in his attempt to understand the local dialect after filming. Scenarios like calling someone ‘bo’ reflected the immersion of his role.

He cherishes the opportunity to shine a light on the victims while shedding layers of human conflict within the Murdaugh family, thereby delivering a respectful depiction of the tragedy.