Review of the Netflix docuseries The Kings of Tupelo: A Southern Crime Saga Rating *****
The Kings of Tupelo has many of the same elements that made The Tiger King and Making a Murderer smash hits worthy of binge-watching. I remember parts of this story back in 2013, but I had no idea of the full story.
While there is a cast of quirky characters, the man at the center, Paul Kevin Curtis, who comes across as someone eager to tell his bizarre story, is at the center of everything that happens. Almost everyone in this series seems like they were taken from the cast of a Coen Brothers movie.
The title The Kings of Tupelo refers to the fact that two of the central characters in this story, who also happen to be brothers, are Elvis impersonators. Tupelo is where Elvis was born. The only criticism I have about the series is that you never hear Paul or his brother Jack when they’re doing their Elvis impersonations. The Elvis schtick is so central to the story that they should have ponied up the money for the rights to use a few song snippets.
From the very opening scene, where Paul Kevin Curtis is lounging in a pool, followed by the reveal that he was actually in a kiddie pool next to his trailer, I knew that I was going to like this series. I don’t want to give away any spoilers, but I will say that the way they edited the second episode is a masterclass in editing. The buildup, the sound effects, and the reenactment drawings all lead to a reveal worthy of an Oscar.
As good as the editing is, the cinematography is equally good. The people being interviewed are not sitting in a darkened studio with professional lighting. They are filmed in their homes and offices using natural lighting. Everything looks and feels real. The star of the show, though, is Paul Kevin Curtis. It’s his story, and he tells it well.
So, what is the series about? The studio pitch probably went something like this: There is this Elvis impersonator in Tupelo, Mississippi, actually two Elvis impersonators, and one of them happened to stumble on what he believed was a black market for selling body parts. He spends years trying to convince friends, acquaintances, politicians, and anyone who would listen that he has uncovered a huge conspiracy. Then things spiral out of control when he is arrested for trying to assassinate the President.
In addition to the interviews, the filmmakers make use of archival footage, reenactment drawings, and audio effects to round out a solid three-part docuseries worthy of your time.