Red Riding: 1974 (2009)

User Rating:

7.8/10   

Director:

Julian Jarrold

Writers:

David Peace (novel)
Tony Grisoni (screenplay)

Release Date:

5 March 2009 (UK)

Genre:

Crime | Drama | Mystery | Thriller

Plot:

A rookie journalist looks to solve the increasingly vexing case of a serial killer on the loose. |

Plot Keywords:

Year In Title | Digit In Title | Color In Title | Based On Novel | Number In Title

Cast

Andrew Garfield	...	Eddie Dunford
David Morrissey	...	Maurice Jobson
John Henshaw	...	Bill Hadley
Anthony Flanagan	...	Barry Gannon
Warren Clarke	...	Bill Molloy
Jennifer Hennessy	...	Mrs Kemplay
Mary Jo Randle	...	Eddie's Mum
Rachel Jane Allen	...	Susan Dunford
Rita May	...	Aunty Win
Graham Walker	...	Uncle Eric
Berwick Kaler	...	George Greaves
Katherine Vasey	...	Steph (as Katharine Vasey)
Danny Cunningham	...	Gaz
Michelle Dockery	...	Kathryn Tyler
Robert Sheehan	...	BJ

Runtime:

102 min | Germany:102 min (European Film Market)

Country:

UK

Language:

English

Colour:

Colour

Sound Mix:

Dolby Digital

Certification:

UK:18

Filming Locations:

England, UK

Company:

Channel Four Film

Movie Connections:

Followed by Red Riding: 1980 (2009)

Let this wolf at your door.

Wow. Just . . . . wow! This is quite possibly the finest drama I have EVER seen on British TV in years and years and years, possibly even the finest drama ever. But before I begin the review let me just say that you really need to see all 3 parts of the trilogy to get the most from the overall tapestry.

When a little girl's body turns up (with swan wings stitched into her back) in Yorkshire all eyes turn to the police force to apprehend the killer as swiftly as possible. Unofrtunately, the police seem to be too busy lining their own pockets and framing other people to find any real justice. After a life of relative inadequacy (and I know THAT feeling), a returning local lad (played by Andrew Garfield) decides to dig a little deeper but it's not long before he's in way over his head with more victims linked to the crime and more suspects that may well seem "untouchable".

Okay, it may still feel like a TV production but if it does then it's certainly one with the best production values. Cinematic in many ways that could, hopefully, make you forget that you're watching a small-screen opus.

The cast list, as is the case with the entire trilogy, is a dream one./ You may not know all of the names but, trust me, these people are great actors firing on all cylinders. Peter Mullan (always great), David Morrisey (so good that he made me forget all about the travesty he was in with Sharon Stone), Sean Bean, Warren Clarke, Eddie Marsan, Rebecca Hall and Sean Harris (again, is he EVER bad??) are just some of my favourites from this outing.

The subject matter certainly doesn't make for comfortable viewing and there were times when even a lifelong horror fan such as myself began to wince and worry about what was yet to come. In many ways I feel that this actually did trip into horror territory but with a very real, unsafe horror that encroaches on our reality more often than any of us would like it to. The helplessness of child victims and the helplessness of those left in the hands of corrupt authorities/guardians ensures that you won't have an easy viewing experience. But you will have a damn worthwhile one.

See this if you like: Zodiac, The Woodsman, L.A. Confidential.