When novelist Michael Peterson called 911 to report his wife had fallen down the stairs, cops find a blood-soaked crime scene that looks nothing like an accident.
If you’re into courtroom drama, bizarre twists, and wild conspiracy theories (yes, including an OWL), you’re gonna love this Netflix series.
It’s one of the wildest real-life whodunits ever filmed.
Trailer for “The Staircase”
Watch “The Staircase”
You can watch “The Staircase” on Netflix here.
Ratings:
- My Rating: 93/100
- IMDB Rating: 7.8/10
- Rotten Tomatoes Ratings: 82/100 (Users); 94/100 (Critics)
Director’s Note: Jean-Xavier de Lestrade directed “The Staircase.” He’s the Oscar-winning filmmaker behind “Murder on a Sunday Morning.” He got almost unprecedented access to Michael Peterson and his legal team starting back in 2001.
Release Date: Originally aired in 2004 as “Soupçons” in France. Netflix added 3 new episodes and re-released it worldwide in 2018.
My Review of “The Staircase”
The Setup
Michael Peterson, a novelist in Durham, North Carolina, is accused of murdering his wife Kathleen after she’s found dead at the bottom of their staircase. Was it an accident? Murder? Something stranger?
You Can’t Make This Sh*t Up
- The alleged murder weapon, a fireplace blow poke, went missing for years — and was miraculously found during the trial.
- Another woman linked to Peterson — Elizabeth Ratliff — was found dead at the bottom of a staircase 20 years earlier in Germany.
- The “Owl Theory” suggests Kathleen was attacked by a barred owl, not Michael — microscopic owl feathers were found in her hair! Evidence like the suspected owl talon shard and bird droppings on the blood was allegedly overlooked by police investigators.
More Highlights from the Doc
- The original 2004 version had 8 episodes filmed with almost total access inside the courtroom and Peterson’s defense team.
- Prosecutors revealed Peterson’s secret bisexual affairs as part of their motive theory. They claimed Kathleen found emails about Michael’s bisexual affairs and that led to a fatal argument . But forensic computer experts showed she never accessed the emails before her death.
- Michael Peterson eventually entered an Alford plea in 2017 after serving 86 months, accepting a conviction but maintaining his innocence.
Lesser-Known Details from the Doc
- The original title was “Soupçons” (“Suspicions”) when it aired in France. Netflix’s 2018 update added 3 more episodes showing Peterson’s post-prison life and the 2017 plea deal.
- The same poster — a Toulouse-Lautrec art print — hung at the bottom of both Kathleen’s and Elizabeth Ratliff’s staircases.
- Jean-Xavier de Lestrade spent over two years embedded with Peterson and his defense attorneys — unheard of access for a true crime series at the time.
- Critics have debated whether the docuseries is too sympathetic toward Michael Peterson, since it largely follows his point of view.
- There’s a whole side theory about a “secret intruder” — someone allegedly broke in and killed Kathleen — but there was no sign of forced entry or missing valuables.
Wrap Up
“The Staircase” dives into the chaos, biases, and randomness of a murder trial in the criminal justice system. You’ll finish it wondering if anyone can ever truly know what happened on that staircase.
Thanks for reading!
Rob Kelly, Chief Maniac, Daily Doc