Sarah Snook shines in Melbourne-shot domestic thriller

Privilege and disadvantage, care and exploitation, power and corruption, us and them, foreigners and natives, working women and stay-at-home mothers, husbands and wives, and ways of sharing (or not sharing) the domestic burden: these pairings, oppositions, and conflicts all shape the plot in ways large and small, subtle and lesser. And together they rise It’s All His Fault well beyond the norm.

Michael Pena brings dignity, determination and compassion to a beautifully drawn role as the police detective who leads the investigation while facing his own challenges as the parent of a disabled child. Dakota Fanning is also good as the fellow parent who struggles to find her own work-life-marriage balance, yet befriends Marissa while others choose to blame her for what happened.

But the person who anchors everything is Sarah Snook and she is amazing. She’s in tears almost from beginning to end, but she’s never a victim. He is horrified, confused, angry, determined and always utterly convincing.

This is Snook’s show, which stars, executive produces and practically hosts its international cast in her adopted hometown. And it certainly succeeds.