What’s the official synopsis?
Per HBO Max publicity, “Love & Death tells the true story of Candy and Pat Montgomery and Betty and Allan Gore–two churchgoing couples enjoying their small town Texas life…until an extramarital affair leads somebody to pick up an axe. Inspired by Evidence of Love: A True Story of Passion and Death in the Suburbs and a collection of articles from Texas Monthly (Love & Death In Silicon Prairie, Part I & II).”
Says Sarah Aubrey, Head of Original Content, HBO Max: “This is a gripping story about the frustrations and desires of two women in a small town that culminates in a terrible act of violence.”
Should you read up on what happened before you watch?
If you aren’t familiar with the story or didn’t want the Hulu series, Candy (which actually didn’t begin production until two months after Love & Death had started filming, even though it came out first), Linka Glatter says hold off for now. “Stay away, just go for the ride. But they’re going to be people that know the story already. And because of the Hulu series or they’ve read the articles, or there was a TV movie made a long, long time ago. Obviously, the story still intrigues. All I can say is that even if you’ve seen other things, it is approached in a really different way. And there’s room for all kinds of storytelling. And this is a very different way to tell this story.”
Who’s in the cast?
Elizabeth Olsen (WandaVision, Marvel Cinematic Universe, Martha Marcy May Marlene) as Candy Montgomery, Patrick Fugit (Almost Famous), as Candy’s husband, Pat Montgomery, Jesse Plemons (The Power of the Dog, The Irishman), as Allan Gore, and Lily Rabe (The Tender Bar, Shrinking) as Allan’s wife, Betty Gore. Krysten Ritter (Marvel’s Jessica Jones, Breaking Bad) plays Candy’s best friend, Sherry Cleckler, and Tom Pelphrey (Ozark) plays attorney Don Crowder. (Speaking of Pelphrey, wait till you see the final three episodes). Keir Gilchrist plays Pastor Ron Adams, Elizabeth Marvel plays Pastor Jackie Ponder, and Bruce McGill plays judge Tom Ryan.
