The Staircase
Movie • 2022 • Drama
ReportAn exploration of the life of Michael Peterson, his sprawling North Carolina family, and the suspicious death of his wife, Kathleen Peterson.
This movie contains 12 potentially triggering events.
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Both
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Your Triggers
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7
Unanswered Triggers
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Are there incestuous relationships?
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83 supporters
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2
only technically because she falls down a set of stairs to her death
1 comment | Add comment
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Abuse
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6
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SPOILERS!!!
dude kills his wife, it’s shown in graphic detail.
there’s also a brief mention of a man shoving his girlfriend
dude kills his wife, it’s shown in graphic detail.
there’s also a brief mention of a man shoving his girlfriend
1 comment | Add comment
Yes
3
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Addiction
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Anonymous
Prescription drugs (i.e. sleeping pills) are shown being taken. Also cocaine usage in ep3.
1 comment | Add comment
Does someone abuse alcohol?
14 supporters
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3
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Anonymous
Several characters are seen under the influence of alcohol
1 comment | Add comment
Animal
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3
Yes
12
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Anonymous
Toni Collettes character hits a deer with her car about 13 mins into episode 2, and the police shoot it to put it out of its misery.
1 comment | Add comment
Are animals abused?
168 supporters
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1
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3
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jesslrand
I'm episode 7, Kathleen takes a leaf blower to some bats. No harm to them is shown. Just a mass exodus from the attic.
1 comment | Add comment
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3
Is there a dead animal?
92 supporters
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8
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Anonymous
Deer hit by a car and then shot by a police officee, episode 2.
1 comment | Add comment
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4
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3
Assault
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3
-1
text
1 comment | Add comment
Bodily Harm
Does someone struggle to breathe?
29 supporters
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3
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2
Anonymous
The victim struggles to breathe when her death scenario is graphically shown in episodes 2 and 4.
1 comment | Add comment
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3
Yes
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3
Does a head get squashed?
51 supporters
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Anonymous
The victim sustains catastrophic head injuries, the source of which is debated throughout, and these are shown in graphic detail.
2 comments | Add comment
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3
Does someone have a seizure?
7 supporters
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Ep4 - near the end of the episode, just before the verdict, a person is shown convulsing at the bottom of the stairs.
1 comment | Add comment
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2
Does someone fall to their death?
11 supporters
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Nikkid222
wife is said to have fallen down a staircase
2 comments | Add comment
Is there eye mutilation?
86 supporters
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0
a lot of head trauma including eye trauma during katherine’s fall and shown in autopsy photos.
1 comment | Add comment
Is there excessive gore?
76 supporters
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2
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Anonymous
There is a lot of blood shown throughout in relation to the victim's death. Also very graphic autopsy photos are featured.
1 comment | Add comment
Children
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3
Family
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Does someone cheat?
16 supporters
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1
they try to say that michael peterson cheated on katherine but she was aware, so maybe, but not confirmed because she’s dead
1 comment | Add comment
Gross
Does someone vomit?
91 supporters
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11
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2
Ep1 - safe
Ep2 - safe
Ep3 - safe
Ep4 - after the verdict, Caitlin runs to the toilet. There’s audio and we see the back of her head.
Ep2 - safe
Ep3 - safe
Ep4 - after the verdict, Caitlin runs to the toilet. There’s audio and we see the back of her head.
5 comments | Add comment
Does someone wet/soil themselves?
18 supporters
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3
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Anonymous
Ep 1 - it's clear the victim's sweat pants are wet with urine in episode 1.
1 comment | Add comment
Yes
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Mental Health
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Does someone suffer from PTSD?
1 supporters
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3
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michael peterson and other family members show many trauma responses surrounding katherine’s graphic death
1 comment | Add comment
Noxious
Yes
4
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Prejudice
Are there homophobic slurs?
1 supporters
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3
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a lot of biphobia and homophobia including slurs
2 comments | Add comment
Is there ableist language or behavior?
39 supporters
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2
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1
Ep3 - Mike Peterson uses the word cripple in derogatory way.
1 comment | Add comment
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3
Is there hate speech?
1 supporters
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3
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1
0
Ep3 - ableism. The word cripple is used.
2 comments | Add comment
Sex
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5
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1
Vehicular
Is someone hit by a car?
20 supporters
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2
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1
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caseymarie
A main character hits a deer with her car
1 comment | Add comment
Violence
Is there blood/gore?
52 supporters
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5
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1
very graphic of her death and body at the bottom of the stairs
2 comments | Add comment
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3