Andrew Garfield, known for his high-profile roles, can trace part of his meteoric rise to the acting fraternity back to his work as a young reporter in 1974’s Red Riding. This trilogy, now available on Netflix, has proven to be a crowning achievement in contemporary British television. Based on four novels by David Peace, ‘1974’, ‘1977’, ‘1980’ and ‘1983’, Red Riding was first introduced to audiences by Channel 4 in 2009. Delving into the gritty underbelly of Yorkshire during the 1970s and 1980s, the series revolves around police corruption, crime, and complex narratives that loosely borrow from the grim realities of the era.
While Red Riding’s portrayal of Yorkshire’s metaphorical dark night of the soul combines the haunting tales of the notorious Yorkshire Ripper with fictitious narratives of child kidnappings and murders, this series was universally well-received upon its 2009 release. Complimenting its chilling storyline, well-crafted scenarios, and reputable source materials were the prodigious talents of Tony Grisoni, who adapted the screenplays, and the versatile directors: Julian Jarrold, James Marsh, and Anand Tucker, each directing a separate film in the series.
The first installment, ‘The Year of Our Lord 1974′, features a host of talented actors. Notably, Andrew Garfield plays a young journalist investigating a series of schoolgirls’ disappearances, with one victim discovered grievously mutilated. The performance, which followed his BAFTA award win for ‘Boy A’, further showcased Andrew’s immense talent, catapulting him onto the global stage, including leading roles such as Spider-Man and Oscar-nominated performances in films like ‘Hacksaw Ridge’ and ‘Tick, Tick Boom!’
Paddy Considine takes on the mantle of a detective from Manchester in Red Riding, drawn into the labyrinth of the Yorkshire Ripper case in a bid to shine a light on the investigative team’s operations. The concluding installment, ‘The Year of Our Lord 1983’, sees Mark Addy in the role of a local lawyer representing a young man, portrayed by Daniel Mays, wrongfully jailed for the child murders introduced in the first film. Mays, whose acting credits span across an array of roles from crime series ‘Line of Duty’ to the recent ‘Bookish’, brought further acclaim to the series.
Red Riding also boasts a remarkable supporting ensemble comprised of legendary actors such as Lesley Sharp, Rebecca Hall, David Morrissey, Sean Bean, Warren Clarke, Maxine Peake, Jim Carter, and Peter Mullan, to name just a few. Sean Harris adds an iciness to the show’s tone. Such an impressive cast testifies to the series’ commitment to quality and its seamless fusion of Peace’s books with Grisoni’s scripts, affirming that the small screen is as compelling for A-listers as any Hollywood blockbuster.
By 2009, with Red Riding serving as a brilliant example, the notion of distinguishing actors by their work in film and television had all but vanished. Grisoni’s adaptation managed to capture Peace’s raw and intense literary style, utilizing the longevity provided by television to give it a well-defined structure. Previously, many novels were deemed nontranslatable to screen, but Red Riding indicated that even intricate, surreal narratives can, with calculated pacing and screen time invested in the right script, become television triumphs.
First aired, Red Riding quickly gained notoriety as a ‘[place] so dark even Darth Vader would have trouble going there,’ according to critics. The New York Times highlighted its cinematic appeal, describing it as a relentless, pitiless world overrun by men and terror, with its beauty reflecting solely in its cinematography and performances.
Red Riding notably precedes the 2014 HBO crime series ‘True Detective’ in its ground-breaking style and narrative approach. Trading South Yorkshire for the U.S Deep South, ‘True Detective’ ultimately mirrors Red Riding’s Dante-like descent into the metaphorical hell, reflecting the cyclical pattern of terror and darkness. Unsurprisingly, ‘True Detective’s’ creator acknowledges himself as a fan of Red Riding.
Today, Red Riding is recognized as a significant turning point for television thrillers, introducing the notion of transporting audiences to familiar yet eerily altered realms. Not only did Red Riding deliver a new storytelling approach, but it also embraced technological advancements in the industry. The first and third films benefited from the Red One digital camera, first launched in 2007, which offered a similar quality to the traditional 35mm film and excelled in low-light environments.
While the bleak narrative might deter some viewers seeking escapism, it’s worth noting that the series retains great relevance in the current geopolitical climate. As David Morrissey suggests, the show explores how even a modicum of corruption can have significant, cascading impacts, akin to the consequences of any war, no matter how seemingly minor.
Despite its oft-grim nature, Red Riding ultimately delivers a humane approach. It explores ethical boundaries, particularly in relation to the portrayal of violence towards young girls. Grisoni’s adaptation, while faithful to Peace’s novels, reduces the darkness quotient, with the final film providing a semblance of redemption not seen in the original books.
As Grisoni reflects, his version of redemption was a response to the emotional realities he faced adapting such harrowing material over two and a half years. He found a point of divergence from Peace’s merciless approach saying, ‘David doesn’t save anyone. Whereas I needed to.’ This approach extended a ray of hope, offering viewers some form of emotional relief within the otherwise grim narrative.
An interesting note is the discrepancy between the number of Peace’s novels and the Red Riding films – four books, but only three movies made it to the screen. Despite Grisoni penning a complete script for ‘1977’, it never saw the light of day due to budget limitations.
Despite its trials and challenges, the Red Riding Trilogy stands as a testament to collaboration and creative ambition, combining the talents of world-class actors, dedicated directors, and an accomplished screenwriter who successfully translated a set of unique novels into a captivating television series.
Today, the Red Riding series continues to captivate audiences around the globe and is available for streaming on Netflix, representing an auspicious marriage of literature and screen that resonates powerfully with viewers.
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