One to Watch: ‘Under the Banner of Heaven’ Andrew Garfield’s grisly true crime drama is underappreciated

Introducing the latest entry in our ‘One to Watch’ series, where we spotlight must-see movies and TV shows, both old and new. This time, we’re highlighting Andrew Garfield’s gripping and often overlooked true crime series, Under the Banner of Heaven.

Despite receiving critical acclaim upon its release in 2022 and featuring a stellar cast alongside Andrew Garfield— including Sam Worthington, Wyatt Russell, and Daisy Edgar-Jones—Under the Banner of Heaven initially garnered little attention. The series was quietly tucked away on Disney+ in the UK, where it went largely unnoticed, gathering dust for over 12 months. However, its recent addition to ITVX in the last few months, one of the UK’s major streaming platforms, has finally brought it a broader audience. Yet, even with this newfound visibility, the show still hasn’t received the recognition it truly deserves.

In my view, Under the Banner of Heaven showcases one of Andrew Garfield’s finest performances in an already remarkable career. He serves as the emotional core of the series, delivering a portrayal that is both powerful and deeply affecting. But it’s not just Garfield who shines— the entire cast steps out of their usual roles, elevating the series. Together, they make Under the Banner of Heaven one of the standout miniseries from 2022, it’s truly underappreciated.

The seven-part limited series, created by Oscar-winning screenwriter Dustin Lance Black, delves into the harrowing investigation of the brutal murders of 24-year-old Brenda Lafferty (played by Daisy Edgar-Jones) and her 15-month-old daughter in July 1984. As the story unfolds, the series uncovers increasingly disturbing truths: the corruption within religious fundamentalism, the complicity of institutions that prioritize pride over truth, and the violent history of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints (LDS), commonly known as Mormonism.

Detective Jeb Pyre (Andrew Garfield) and his partner, Bill Taba (Gil Birmingham), peel back the layers of the murder case through intense interrogations with the Lafferty brothers. Brenda’s husband, Allen (Billy Howle), is a distraught, bumbling figure, while his brothers—Robin (Seth Numrich), who is withdrawn, and Sam (Rory Culkin), a fundamentalist living off the grid—reveal the twisted dynamics of their family. As Pyre journeys deeper into the investigation, he is forced to confront the dark heart of his own religion, where core beliefs are distorted by fanatic interpretations, leading to terror and violence.

The series is a slow-burn steeped in darkness and tension, creating an atmosphere that is consistently unsettling, relentlessly foreboding, and at times, deeply disturbing. Yet, despite its discomforting nature, it stands as a powerful work of television. As the story unravels, the focus shifts from the mystery itself to the devastating tragedy of a family driven down a horrifying, murderous path.

You can stream all episodes of Under the Banner of Heaven on Disney+ and ITVX in the UK, and on Hulu in the US.

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