This is based on a true story, as The Red Barn Murder refers to an 1827 murder in Polstead, Suffolk, England. There, a young woman named Maria Marten was shot dead by her lover, William Corder, at the Red Barn, which was a local landmark. The two were going to elope, and afterward, Corder sent letters to Marten’s family claiming they were married and living on the Isle of Wight, but that she was not well. Maria’s stepmother had a dream that Maria had been murdered, and soon, her body was discovered in the barn. 

Corder wanted to keep his relationship with Marten a secret, but she gave birth to their child in 1827 and wanted to be his wife. He may have killed the child, but still agreed to the wedding. The murder was investigated by James Lea, who was one of the police officers who tried to find the legendary Spring-Heeled Jack later. 

In this, Tod Slaughter is Corder, who murders the pregnant Maria (Sophie Stewart) and buries her beneath the barn. She had another lover, Carlos (Eric Portman), who found and brought Corder to the law.

Slaughter debuted on screen in this at the age of 49!

The honest Maria Marten already had two children out of wedlock and “was notoriously free with her affections.” Carlos isn’t a real person; as for the stepmother’s dream, research today believes that she was an accomplice to the murder. As for how old Corder is, that’s also made up, as well as his being a rich man.

You can watch this on Tubi.