A new eight-part TV drama, The Twisted Tale of Amanda Knox, has drawn criticism for its portrayal of the infamous murder case of British student Meredith Kercher. The series, which began streaming on Hulu in the US and Disney+ internationally, dramatises the wrongful conviction and eventual acquittal of Knox, Kercher's American flatmate, for the 2007 murder in Perugia, Italy.
Kercher's sister Stephanie expressed dismay at the project, telling The Guardian as filming began: 'Our family has been through so much and it is difficult to understand how this serves any purpose.' The series has been driven by Knox, who has been vocal about her experiences since her exoneration, including through two memoirs, a Netflix documentary, and several podcasts.
The drama has been criticised for its inconsistent tone, presenting Knox in a light-hearted manner with black humour and romanticised scenes. Showrunner KJ Steinberg said the series aimed to introduce 'Amanda, the person' before her public image as a 'warped version'. However, critics argue that the irreverent narration and stylistic choices, reminiscent of shows like Inventing Anna, undermine the severity of the case.
Knox spent almost four years in prison before her conviction was quashed in 2011, then re-convicted and finally acquitted by Italy's Supreme Court in 2015. The court cited 'stunning flaws' in the investigation, and the European Court of Human Rights later ordered Italy to pay her compensation for police misconduct. Despite this, many question the need for yet another retelling of Knox's story.
