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Title SpotlightCrime

Steeltown Murders

CrimeDramaHistory

Three murders - unsolved but never forgotten. Thirty years on, can DCI Bethall find the serial killer who terrorised 1970s Port Talbot?

Year

2023

IMDb

7.1

Hero Poster

Cast

Marc Evans

Director

Philip Glenister

DCI Paul Bethell

Steffan Rhodri

Phil 'Bach' Rees

Cast

Marc Evans

Director

Philip Glenister

DCI Paul Bethell

Steffan Rhodri

Phil 'Bach' Rees

Scott Arthur

Young DC Paul Bethell

Sion Alun Davies

Young Phil 'Bach' Rees

Nia Roberts

Karina Bethell

Gareth John Bale

DC Geraint Bale

Richard Harrington

Colin Dark

Keith Allen

Dai Williams

Steve Nicolson

DI Tony Warren

Aneurin Barnard

Joseph Kappen

Karen Paullada

DSI Jackie Roberts

Kriss Dosanjh

Young Rohan Anwar

Kriss Dosanjh

Rohan Anwar

Natasha Vasandani

Young Sita Anwar

Priyanga Burford

Sita Anwar

Oliver Ryan

DCS Ray Allen

Amy Morgan

Young Jean Hughes

Calista Davies

Geraldine Hughes

DD

Dyfan Dwyfor

Young D.S. Vic Jenkins

EW

Ed Whitmore

Writer

Trailer

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Comments

10 Comments

angelinaAug 15, 2023

M❤️K[][]Aug 14, 2023

💜🖤R̸a̸g̸h̸a̸d̸🖤💜Aug 14, 2023

La carte qui gagneAug 14, 2023

Mohamed AlkordiJul 5, 2023

While this is based on true events, we still have to give credit to a well written script. No drag, no point where you feel like the flow is lost. A good cast definitely helps. The actors doing the negative roles, nailed it without going overboard. All the supporting cast did their jobs extremely well. Seeing Sion Alun Davies again after Hidden. I liked him in that. Doesn't have much to do here, but still did well. However, the star of the show has to be Robert Glenister. I noticed him in Paranoid, for the very first time, then in a recurring role in A Touch of Frost and finally in Sherwood. He has been great in each of those and this was no different.

Alex RendellJul 5, 2023

'Steeltown Murders' is a fictionalised reconstruction of a true story about the eventual identification of a serial killer years after an initially fruitless investigation. It suggests that solving the crime required that the police had access to both new technologies (namely the use of DNA profiling) and a new mindset. It's a tale solidly told, although one feels that the writers have had to work quite hard to create the idea that the shadow of the past lies heavy on the latter-day investigators; without this conceit, there might not be much dramatic tension in the story, given that the prime suspect is by this point dead.

W Ʌ Y EJul 3, 2023

I recently watched Steeltown Murders, the latest crime drama to hit our screens, and I have to say, I was hooked from the start. The plot immediately drew me in with its mysterious killings and interconnected web of secrets in a small, industrial town. The stellar cast, led by Sion Alun Davies, Steffan Rhodri, and Aneurin Barnard, delivered captivating performances that made the characters feel authentic. I appreciated how the show tackled important issues such as corruption, poverty, and neglecting marginalised communities, although, at times, the execution felt heavy-handed. The gloomy atmosphere of the town was captured perfectly through the cinematography and production design. However, the series' pacing was a drawback, with some episodes lacking the necessary momentum to maintain my interest. Despite its flaws, the emotional depth explored in Steeltown Murders resonated with me, leaving me with a lingering melancholy. Overall, this series is worth a watch for fans of the genre.

El maria de luxeJun 26, 2023

This drama is based on a true story; how Wales' first serial killer was finally identified almost 30 years later. Both of the real life detectives (Paul Bethell and Phil Rees) worked with the writers and producers of the show as did the families of the murder victims. The third detective in 2002 (Gariant Bale) is played by the nephew of the real life detective. I wanted to see this drama for several reasons. Firstly I thought Manhunt by the same writer, Ed Whitmore handled the real life cases with considerable sensitivity. Secondly, I've enjoyed seeing Philip Glenister in various dramas. All the cast and crew are Welsh with the exception of Phil whose mother is Welsh. The story flashes back and forth between 1973 and 2002. The 70s were very well evoked in the show. (I was a teenager then, only 1 year older than the murdered girls). A few people online complained they found the flashbacks confusing but I never did even though they aren't labelled. For the lead characters, their younger versions are very well cast and quite believable. Although the show is a bit slow moving at first, I found it drew me in. It is not gory (the actual murders are not shown.) I thought it handled the true crime aspect with sensitivity and unlike some shows; it didn't sensationalize either the crimes or the perpetrator. To me, the care and sensitivity the writer and the producers took in bringing this story was evident. Trigger warning: there is some discussion around the forensic evidence resulting from rape and a victim who was raped recounts her story (not in a graphic way). The story line closely follows the real life events in both investigations. Unlike some dramas, it shows the amount of work the police do and is more realistic in how this process unfolds with the sharp contrast between 1973 and 2002. One character (Sita) is fictionalized, she represents various friends of the real life girls. As a parent who lost a child myself, I was especially struck by the realism of its depiction of parental grief. Some of the scenes are heartbreaking but beautifully done. . Although Philip Glenister is playing a policeman again (his most famous role being Gene Hunt, a fictional policeman), this character is very different. He effectively conveys Paul Bethell's determination and tenacity in finding the killer and his sensitivity with the families. Recommend.

Jacky VikeJun 21, 2023

I was a young Detective in 1973, and was involved in the investigation. This is not a true reflection of the hard work that was carried out by hard working officers. It made them out to be drunken incompetents, which they weren't. The portrayal of Mr Allen was diabolical. As a drama I thought it was weak, and very Ashes to Ashes. The majority of events and characters were dramatic licence, end of. I would have thought the makers of the programme would have done more research, and had spoken to officers who actually worked on the investigation. The main man in all this was Mr Dark, the expert who made the DNA breakthrough with a shadow of a doubt. For civilian viewers, no doubt they'd enjoy, however it wasn't for me, I'm sorry to say.

Dorigen23Jun 19, 2023

Personally, I don't know how anyone could award this a 9 or a 10, but I would recommend a watch. The production values are excellent and the cast was very good. Usually I don't like flashbacks but this show told the story very well flicking between the investigation in 1972 and the investigation in 2002 (?). The flashbacks aren't used to fill the story but to illuminate how things were done back then. The story of the investigation is very well written, but my only problem with the writing was the lack of dramatic tension. Drama needs conflict and there isn't much of it in this show. There were several missed opportunities to develop antagonistic tension that would have made this show a 9 and also give the actors more chance to get the viewer involved instead of just watching. The first episode was too slow and just full of 'fillers' to set the scene in 1972. Get past the first episode and watch the rest.