"Afterlife" (2005) TV series 2005-????

User Rating:

8.1/10   

Creator:

Stephen Volk

Seasons:

1 | 2

Genre:

Drama | Horror | Mystery | Thriller

Tagline:

You don't choose the spirits, they choose you.

Plot:

University lecturer Robert Bridge (Andrew Lincoln) becomes involved in a series of supernatural events surrounding medium Alison Mundy (Lesley Sharp) in this chilling TV series.

Plot Keywords:

Supernatural | Psychic

Awards:

3 wins

Cast

Lesley Sharp	...	Alison Mundy (14 episodes, 2005-2006)
Andrew Lincoln	...	Robert Bridge (14 episodes, 2005-2006)
Kate Duchêne	...	Barbara Sinyard (13 episodes, 2005-2006)
Anna Wilson-Jones	...	Jude Bridge (13 episodes, 2005-2006)
Joshua David-Kennedy	...	Josh Bridge (5 episodes, 2005)

Runtime:

47 min (14 episodes)

Country:

UK

Language:

English

Colour:

Colour

Aspect Ratio:

1.78 : 1

Sound Mix:

Stereo

Certification:

Australia:M | UK:12 (2 episodes) | UK:15 (4 episodes) | Hungary:16

Filming Locations:

Bristol, England, UK

Company:

Clerkenwell Films

Trivia:

In the commentary, it is revealed that Andrew Lincoln accepted the offer to play Robert Bridge purely on reading the script for the first scene of the first series, and that Lesley Sharp was already involved.

Quotes:

Alison Mundy: Who was that?
Robert Bridge: Jude.
Alison Mundy: Your ex-wife?
Robert Bridge: Yes.
Alison Mundy: Hmm, that’s nice for you.
Robert Bridge: It’s not important.
Alison Mundy: Really?
Robert Bridge: I'm trying to help you Alison.
Alison Mundy: Go home to your wife Robert.
Robert Bridge: No.

A series of un-realised potential

Afterlife is a series of un-realised potential. I watched two episodes and both adhered to the same odd mix: excellent set-up, surprisingly complex characterisation, but absolutely no time whatsoever to develop plot. Watching both episodes made me think that they must have been edited down from something much longer and more worthwhile.

What makes Afterlife worth grabbing, whatever its faults, is a remarkable performance from Lesley Sharp. The writer has given her a fantastic role - a medium who teeters on the edge of mental health - and Sharp fills the part with quite extraordinary humanity. It's a shame that Andrew Lincoln turns in such an unconvincing performance as a psychology lecturer. He seems to struggle to convince that he would even get into university, let alone be able to teach.