About Murder on Middle Beach (HBO)

Murder on Middle Beach is a riveting four-part documentary series released in 2020 on HBO. The series was directed by first-time filmmaker Madison Hamburg, who examines his complicated journey to solve an unspeakable crime and absolve the people he loves. It covers Madison's quest to uncover the truth about his mother's murder when he was a teenager, revealing a web of secrets that unfolds to be far larger than he could have ever imagined.

Making / Production

The series is scripted as a personal journey. Hamburg dedicated nearly 10 years of his life to investigate his mother, Barbara Beach Hamburg's murder, and documenting it for the series. It began as a college project for Hamburg when he was a student at Savannah College of Art and Design. Over the course of production, he conducted dozens of interviews with potential suspects, including close family members.

Actors

• Madison Hamburg - played himself, the director and the son of the victim. He delivered a raw and emotional quest to solve his mother's murder.
• Barbara Beach Hamburg - The central character around whose murder the story revolves, can be seen in archival footage and pictures.
• Conway Beach - Barbara's ex-husband and Madison's father. He becomes a crucial part of the narrative as Madison explores the dynamics of their strained relationship.

Trivia / Interesting Facts

• Madison Hamburg initially started the documentary as a school project before it evolved into a much larger and more significant endeavor.
• We see some rare and personal footage in the series as Madison had started filming his family life even before the tragic death of his mother.
• The series took nearly a decade to get made, indicating the dedication and rigour with which Madison proceeded the investigation.

Quotes

• "This isn’t just a whodunit. Who did it is important, but it’s not as important as why it happened."

Music, Soundtrack

The series has an atmospheric and fitting soundtrack. The music is credited to numerous artists including the likes of ‘Hannah Parrott’ and ‘Justice Der’. The haunting music greatly enhances the series' dark and ominous mood.