Common Sense Media Review
By Melissa Camacho
,
based on child development research. How do we rate?
Messy, quirky true-crime docu talks violence, has cursing.
Parents Need to Know
Why Age 14+?
Any Positive Content?
Where to Watch
Videos and Photos
The Kings of Tupelo: A Southern Crime Saga
Parent and Kid Reviews
What's the Story?
THE KINGS OF TUPELO: A SOUTHERN CRIME SAGA is a docuseries about a Tupelo, Mississippi, Elvis impersonator who finds himself caught up in a strange web of conspiracies. Paul Kevin Curtis is an Elvis Presley impersonator who, along with his brother Jack, was known for giving tribute performances to the King. But when the performer and self-employed janitor stumbled upon some refrigerated body parts while cleaning the morgue at the North Mississippi Medical Center, it led to his obsessive use of the internet to research conspiracy theories and uncover what he believed to be an organ trafficking operation. This also led to a rivalry between Curtis and local Wayne Newton impersonator and independent newspaper owner James Everett Dutschke, the likes of which ultimately led to Curtis' 2013 arrest for sending ricin-laced envelopes to government officials, including then-president Barack Obama. Interviews with Curtis, his family, and local politicians, along with archive footage of events, are featured throughout.
Is It Any Good?
This docuseries tells a dark and weird real-life tale that takes place in the small town once famous only for being Elvis Presley's birthplace. Mainly told from Paul Kevin Curtis' point of view, The Kings of Tupelo offers a colorful, albeit drawn-out narrative about life-threatening crimes, but not without humorously delivering details about the narrator's childhood and family relationships, as well as stories of infidelity, fetishes, local politics, and, of course, the community's Elvis roots. Throughout it all, the local eccentricities of Tupelo residents are highlighted. They're all interesting characters, but The Kings of Tupelo is so long and messy that it's often hard to take seriously, making it easy to lose sight of the fact that a real and potentially deadly crime was committed. Nonetheless, true-crime fans may find it compelling.
Talk to Your Kids About ...
Families can talk about the way this documentary series frames someone's attempt to murder the president of the United States. Is it appropriate to find the story humorous?
How has media historically represented people from the Deep South? How does The Kings of Tupelo: A Southern Crime Saga contribute to the existing stereotypes about people from this region of the United States?
TV Details
- Premiere date : December 11, 2024
- Cast : Paul Kevin Curtis , Jack Curtis , Elois Curtis
- Network : Netflix
- Genre : Reality TV
- TV rating :
- Last updated : December 27, 2024
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