Burning Body

I had no preconceived notions going in. Just looking for a murder mystery. I am a huge fan of true crime drama, and also procedural forensics. Yeah, if you are in search of a cinematic "tour de France" (joke turn of phrase that my late husband always used, instead on "tour de force"), this isn't it.

This way exceeded my expectations. I am not a native Spanish speaker, but I know enough to decipher the lyrics of the periodic background songs -- so the soundtrack is excellent, and is a sort of character in the story. To know this is a true story is telling within the framework of the series. This is a series that should be binge watched.

Now streaming on Netflix (released on 8th September 2023), this limited series, primarily in Spanish, delves into a harrowing tale inspired by true events. I opted for the English-dubbed version, providing a more familiar auditory experience.

At the heart of the story lies the brutal murder of a police officer, burned beyond recognition. Suspicion quickly narrows down to two other agents intricately connected to the deceased: his girlfriend and her secret lover. What unfolds is an intricate web of relationships, motives, and dark secrets, further emphasized by the real-life recordings featured in "Rosa Peral's Tapes", which Netflix has made available concurrently.

Úrsula Corberó, whom many might recognize as Tokyo from the hit series "Money Heist" (2017-21), takes center stage, portraying Rosa Peral. Her performance is stellar; she excels in capturing the essence of a character battling internal tumult. Her controlled demeanor and ability to convey raw emotion without overt theatrics only amplify the suspense. Admittedly, it was her reputation from "Money Heist" that drew me to "Burning Body" in the first place.

Though the pacing is deliberate, every scene drips with tension. Every character is masterfully fleshed out, carrying layers of depth and mystery. The meticulously crafted storyline, paired with a contemplative ending, solidifies "Burning Body" as a gem within the 'Dark Crime Thriller' genre. The fact that this tale mirrors real-life events only adds to its allure.

Despite its merits, I did find the series occasionally languid, docking a star for the same. However, for those with a penchant for gripping narratives and real-life mysteries, "Burning Body" is an absolute must-watch.

If you know the details of the story, it's just not very entertaining. Perhaps because I just watched the documentary series, that this dramatic retelling feels redundant. With nothing especially gripping about either the story telling, the acting, or the level of suspense, I got bored with it quickly. It seemed to drag on and on. They could have done this in a 90 minute movie.

This is an interesting case, and the documentary series is very good, I highly recommend it. I probably would have liked this dramatic series more if I hadn't known the details of the case going into it. Instead, I wanted it to be over after about 3 episodes, just to get to the end.

This production jumps all over the place too much. I have to keep pausing to figure out who she is with and where in the storyline it might be. I usually enjoy the Mexican and Spanish productions as they are so different from American film. I realize it's based on a true story but there could be an easier way to tell it like maybe adding years or dates as sub titles to it. Some of the characters aren't that camera friendly either. If you want a long lasting series try Malverdere. That keeps you on your toes. I am running out of things to say about this particular production so over and out. Don't know if I would recommend it.

I am Catalan/Spaniard so I was expecting this mini series because I knew about this terrible crime/story. To be honest, the cast and direction here does an excellent job. Almost everything is great except for the crime.

First, the story is around 80% true so it is important to know that this crime had happened almost identical as the producers here want to explain.

Second, I have enjoyed the settings. Real and pretty similar to real life. I appreciate they used real locations and places where they used to move.

Last, there is something I don't really liked here. The music. It does not really fit well here. Forced, and nothing to do with the story. There was one time were I had to turn the volume down.

Anyway, nothing is perfect. But this mini series is great and I recommend to everyone who love inspired on true events, crime fiction. Enjoy!