"Ultraviolet" (1998) TV series

User Rating:

8.4/10   

Seasons:

1

Release Date:

31 July 2000 (USA)

Genre:

Sci-Fi | Thriller

Tagline:

They Look Like Us. They Act Like Us.

Plot:

Michael Colefield is unwillingly thrust into the nightmarish world of vampires when he discovers a secret...

Plot Keywords:

Undercover | Secret | Police | Vampire | Secret Government Organisation

Cast

Fiona Dolman	...	Frances Pembroke (6 episodes, 1998)
Jack Davenport	...	Detective Sergeant Michael Colefield (6 episodes, 1998)
Idris Elba	...	Vaughan Rice / ... (6 episodes, 1998)
Colette Brown	...	Kirsty Maine (6 episodes, 1998)
Susannah Harker	...	Dr. Angela 'Angie' March (4 episodes, 1998)
Philip Quast	...	Father Pearse J. Harman (4 episodes, 1998)
Thomas Lockyer	...	Journalist Jacob Keanault (4 episodes, 1998)
Elizabeth Earl	...	Rose March (2 episodes, 1998)
Stephen Moyer	...	Jack Beresford (2 episodes, 1998)

Also Known As:

"Crossing the Line" (UK) (working title)

Runtime:

300 min (6 parts)

Country:

UK

Language:

English

Colour:

Colour

Sound Mix:

Stereo

Filming Locations:

Southwark Bridge, Southwark, London, England, UK

Company:

World Productions

Trivia:

Idris Elba reprised his role as Vaughn Rice in the unaired US remake.

Quotes:

Father Pearse J. Harman: Our free range days are over.

Movie Connections:

Referenced in Underworld (2003)

A Brilliant Mini-Series

I accidentally ran into an episode of this show one evening a couple months ago while scanning the mind numbing channels of DirecTv. Seeing Jack Davenport (of the UK version of "Coupling") and already being a fan of said show I decided to tune in. It was definitely time well spent.

I am a tremendous fan of the sci fi and horror genres. While movies such as Nosferatu, Dracula, Blade and such have their interesting tales to tell they are typically embraced by only a specific audience. While Ultraviolet is a series about vampires (although the word is never uttered in any of the episodes) it has a suspense and an intrigue that is shared with the best mystery or police dramas.

Those looking for pale faced vampires, hissing with fang filled mouths at crosses and stakes are sure to be disappointed. Instead we find a world of shadows, cerebral story lines that have real depth (and some ingenious twists and surprises). Colors and backdrops are well utilized to provide a start contrast. When you see the sun begin to set in any of the shows...you feel that sense of fear that the darkness brings to the human characters. The musical score definitely adds to the emotional tension.

All the actors provide solid contributions to their roles. Jack Davenport (as mentioned above from "Coupling" and "Pirates of the Caribbean") does a capable job in the lead role as a police officer who loses his partner to the dark side. He joins a secretive church sanctioned organization whose purpose is to understand and combat the individuals who are infected with the virus which causes this vampirism.

In my opinion Susannah Harker (scientist/doctor) and Philip Quast (priest/leader) had the most tangible roles. Their scenes regarding mortality, abortion, loss of loved ones could easily be taken from any dramatic series but here they are given the twist that only a show with vampires could provide.

The mini-series is available on DVD.