Van Patten’s interpretation of Amanda’s transformation from a carefree young woman into a determined survivor is poignant and provocative in equal measure. .... Knox comprehends how knotty the process of reconciling with an ending that differs from what we want can be. Maybe others can find that understanding by viewing the version written by her own hand.

The show lands on the more successful end of the spectrum [of shows like Pam & Tommy, Good American Family and Impeachment: American Crime Story] in part by leveraging the same true-crime framing that damned her.

It's occasionally overstuffed, and only offers a little extra insight that keeps it from being a complete rehash of what we already know. But, thanks to some excellent performances, appropriately atmospheric direction and a mostly balanced take on the subject, it's still a gripping watch.

While the series is beautifully shot, with amazing acting and a story that sticks relatively close to the original case (if neglecting or ignoring some of the minutiae), the series has a ghoulish quality to it that doesn't sit well when all is said and done.

For the most part, “The Twisted Tale of Amanda Knox” doesn’t add enough new to the conversation for anyone who knows this story or has seen the very good Netflix doc titled simply “Amanda Knox.”

There are some solid performances in the ensemble cast, but the series’s guiding Knox-innocent viewpoint, combined with Knox’s direct involvement, makes the whole thing feel like its primary objective is buffing out any remaining dings and dents in her public image rather than providing a new angle on a story we’ve heard many, many times over.

The coquettish Van Patten makes for a compelling victim, but she lacks the enigmatic charisma of the real Knox. .... 18 years on, the story feels more focused on nostalgia than any real truth. We peer in, once again – but propping open the door only denies the possibility of closure.