The Sinner (2017)

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"The Sinner" is a 2017 seven episode crime drama starring Jessica Biel as Cora Tannetti and Bill Pullman as Detective Harry Ambrose. It is currently available on Netflix.

Cora is a 28 year old wife and mother of a 3 year old son. In the first episode we see her at the beach with her family. Suddenly, after seeing a young couple flirting and hearing a song, she rushes over to stab the young man seven times to his death.

The case seems clear cut, with ample evidence and plenty of eye-witnesses. Cora accepts her actions and pleads guilty to second degree murder which carries a 30 year sentence. Much of the series takes place between the time she enters her plea and before she awaits sentencing as it gradually reveals the reasons for her action through flashbacks, and recovered memories from visiting locations or hypnotism. Detective Ambrose is persistent as he keeps digging, refusing to give up Cora or the case, sensing there is more to it than there seems. And, of course, there is.

This is a gritty series. There is drug abuse and adult situations. Cora's sister, Phoebe, is very sickly, and her coming of age plays a role. Their parents are religious fanatics. And Detective Pullman, separated from his wife though still in touch with her, engages in some unusual sexual fetishes with another woman he knows.

But the story held my interest. Both Biel and Pullman turn in excellent performances. And the situations are portrayed well, as Detective Ambrose, with Cora's help, keeps peeling back more and more of the onion until we learn what drove Cora to kill in the last episode.

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