The Hunt for Raoul Moat (2023) is a horrific true crime tale. We were uncomfortable with the screen adaptation of this kind of distressing real-crime incident that happened. This limited mini-series is heart-wrenching to watch. But why? Well, because this real-life crime incident happened in 2010 in the United Kingdom.
That is not so long ago. There are surviving family members of the intended and/or unintended victims. So, the victims of such horrific violent crimes still live with their devastating consequences.
We honestly wonder how its innocent victims cope with such a scandalous tragedy. The one that took something precious from their lives, permanently.
2010: When The UK Police Launched The Biggest Manhunt…
Spoiler-Free Review of The Hunt For Raoul Moat (2023) Series
The synopsis & the introduction
Follows the police operation in 2010 to apprehend fugitive Raoul Moat (Matt Stokoe). He went to Northumbria (United Kingdom) after killing one person and wounding two others.
Now, let’s leave that debate about its screen adaptation aside. Instead, let us focus on this mini-series about the Raoul Moat. And discuss this despicable criminal as well as the innocent victims of his dastardly crimes.
However, before we proceed with its reviews, let us keep in mind that Raoul Moat was an infamous criminal. His criminal acts are still not forgotten by many people. The wounds inflicted by him on the victims and their families are yet to be healed completely.
So, what is the basic storyline of this mini-series?
This mini-series tries to balance the story of Raoul Moat and his blameless victims in its three episodes. So, it focuses most of its attention on police operations following the senseless acts of violence carried out by the hot-headed Raoul Moat. After killing one person and severely injuring two other people. Raoul Moat challenges the police force with his open defiance and public threats made using hand-written letters, modern social media, traditional newspapers and electronic media platforms. Later, when the police close in on him, he escapes to Northumbria.
After that, the Police Force launched one of the largest manhunts in the United Kingdom (UK) to capture Raoul Moat. About 10 per cent of the armed police from England and Wales (UK) joined in the said manhunt for Raoul Moat. So, what happened to Raoul Moat?
In case you wish to know about him, then go ahead and read the spoiler shared below.
The conclusion
The shocking crime committed by trigger-happy Raoul Moat and the tension-filled chase by the police kept us engaged for a couple of hours. The acting by its cast is good. It is worth noting that the Raoul Moat incident happened in Britain (UK), and its wounds are still fresh. The victims and their surviving family members are still trying to move on with their lives. Honestly, we could not shake off our feelings for the real-life victims of this senseless crime. At least a couple of days even after we finished watching the show. It is still haunting us, as it is based on a real-life criminal incident.
Rating of The Hunt For Raoul Moat (2023) Mini-Series
| FM Rating | 3.50/5 |
Poster of The Hunt For Raoul Moat (2023) Mini-Series
Key Details about The Hunt For Raoul Moat (2023) Mini-Series
| Genre | Crime, Drama |
| Original language | English (UK) |
| Released in | April 2023 |
| Season & | Season (1) One |
| Episodes | Episodes (3) Three |
| Cast | Lee Ingleby, Vineeta Rishi, Sonya Cassidy, Sally Messham, Matt Stokoe, etc. |
Trailer of The Hunt For Raoul Moat (2023) Mini-Series
Raoul Moat: Analysis Of Britain's Biggest Manhunt | Sky News.
Spoiler Alert: extra information about Raoul Moat’s crimes and his fate
A Peek into the 3 Episodes of this limited mini-series from the UK
First Episode
The fact-based crime drama begins with Samantha Stobbart striking up a new romance, but she is increasingly nervous about her abusive ex-partner Raoul Moat – who is about to be released from prison.
Second Episode
After his attack on PC David Rathband has terrible consequences, Moat continues to evade capture and doubles down on his threats against the police. Senior officers try to manage the manhunt amid reports that his prison release was mishandled.
Third Episode
The manhunt focuses on the village of Rothbury. The press attention is antagonising Moat, prompting police to request a media blackout. The police enlist the help of a survival expert, but a fresh sighting makes another attack seem likely.
Raoul Moat’s criminal acts
About the real-life Raoul Moat
A former body-builder Raoul Thomas Moat (Matt Stokoe) was not only a heavily built man with an intimidating physique (about 6ft 3in tall and 108 kg) but he also suffered from threatening anger issues. I
n the opening scene of this show, 37-year-old Raoul was shown inside the Durham Prison serving an 18-week sentence between February and July 2010. He was jailed for assaulting a 9-year-old relative of his.
More info. about his life before and after the prison term
Before his jail term, he was working as a panel beater, tree surgeon and bouncer. Also, he was excessively possessive about his 22-year-old ex-girlfriend Samantha Stobbart (Sally Messham), with whom he had a young daughter. He did not mend his way, even after a short jail term. The short prison sentence failed to reform him. After Raoul Moat served his short prison sentence for domestic violence, he was released on 1st July 2010. So, the jail authorities flagged his threatening behaviour towards his ex-girlfriend, Samantha and warned the local police.
But the timely warnings about the violent streaks of Raoul Moat got lost in the bureaucratic setup.
His criminal acts after Raoul left Durham Prison
Just days after leaving the Durham Prison, Raoul Moat shot and injured Samantha Stobbart (22-year-old mother of a young child) and shot dead her boyfriend Chris Brown (mistaking him for a serving police officer) in Gateshead on 3rd July 2010.
Later, in a cold-blooded manner, Raoul shot a traffic officer PC David Rathband who was finishing his shift in a marked patrol car in Newcastle on 4th July 2010. As a result, Rathband lost his sight in both eyes and then he died by suicide in February 2012 after struggling to come to terms with his injuries.
Focus on Raoul Moat’s fate in this mini-series (and real life)
Police launched one of the largest manhunts in the UK
After these violent acts, Raoul Moat started taunting the police, warning them that the police were not “taking him seriously enough” and then he went on about what he was going to do to them.
Police responded quickly with heavy manpower support to search for him. 160 armed officers were deployed to find Raoul Moat. In the search, at least 10 armoured anti-terrorist vehicles were shipped over from Northern Ireland while snipers, dogs, helicopters and even an RAF fighter jet were deployed too.
A couple of days into the manhunt, police secretly recruited TV survival expert Ray Mears to help track Raoul Moat’s movements in Northumbria.
What happened with Raoul in (Northumbria) Northumberland
On 9th July 2010, Raoul was seen in Rothbury, Northumberland. So, the police team surrounded him and he could not escape. The 6-hour-long stand-off between the Police and Raoul ended when he used his gun to kill himself in the head. Following Raoul’s death, Police arrested several of his associates on suspicion of assisting him. Two of Raoul Moat’s friends – Karl Ness and his friend Qhuram Awan received life sentences for conspiracy to murder and attempted murder in the said criminal case.
If you like the British mini-series based on real-life crimes and the police procedural drama, then do check out the Steeltown Murders mini-series, too.
Featured & Other Images: The Hunt For Raoul Moat | ITV.
