A DEADLY AMERICAN MARRIAGE on Netflix is a true crime documentary about the murder of one man and the battle for custody of his kids. What is true and what is pure fabrication and lies?! Read our full A Deadly American Marriage documentary review here!
A DEADLY AMERICAN MARRIAGE is a new Netflix documentary. The runtime is around 100 minutes and it’s a real roller coaster ride, where you will undoubtedly change your mind a few times.
It’s a well-made documentary that utilizes facts and presents the story of this true crime in a chronological way. At the heart of this story, is the murder of an Irish man, which is then followed by a custody battle of his two children.
Continue reading our A Deadly American Marriage review below. Find it on Netflix from May 9, 2025.
Truth and lies
It all begins with a 9-1-1 call from people stating they’ve just had to beat a man in self-defence. The man was Jason Corbett and the people calling in were his second wife, Molly Martens, and her father, Tom.
The crime scene shows a horrific and bloody crime scene that doesn’t quite match the statements made by the two. What becomes a key part of the story afterwards is Molly’s battle to try and get custody of Tom’s two kids, Jack and Sarah.
Jack and Sarah’s biological mom passed away when they were very young. Molly came into their family as an au pair and when their father died, they only knew Molly as their parental figure.
Who was Jason Corbett?
Depending on who you ask, Jason Corbett was either the most loving and kind man or an angry and violent husband. The truth isn’t easy to come by when you have to so contrasting points of view.
Not least when the children change their statements over time. Also, we hear recordings that Jason didn’t know were being made, where he seems angry. However, Molly knew where these recording devices were and could control what would be recorded.
My point is that A Deadly American Marriage tries to show us all facts and leave it up to us. Not unlike The Staircase and other true crime documentaries with contrasting notions. The JonBenet Ramsey case being another obvious example.
I’m not entirely sure what to believe but the truth probably lies somewhere in between what we hear. Closer to one side than the other for sure though.
Watch A Deadly American Marriage on Netflix now
The directors of A Deadly American Marriage are Jessica Burgess and Jenny Popplewell. Previously, Jenny Popplewell also directed the Netflix true crime documentary American Murder: The Family Next Door while Jessica Burgess worked on American Monster.
It’s a fact (based on statements from several sources) that Molly Martens is a habitual and very creative liar. However, lying about some things doesn’t mean you lie about everything.
On the other hand, just because most people see a man as being wonderful and kind, doesn’t mean he can’t be angry or violent in his own home. The children and their happiness is all that really matters now and I hope they can finally find peace now.
A Deadly American Marriage is out on Netflix from May 9, 2025.
Plot
A widowed Irish dad. An American au pair. Love, marriage and a fresh start in the US end with him dead and her in prison. Was it murder or self-defense?
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