The Red Riding Trilogy

Written by David Peace (The Damned Utd), Red Riding is an intricate saga of venal sleaze, evil police dealing and grotesque perversion over three parts, 1974, 1980 and 1983. Set against the backdrop of the barbarous Yorkshire Ripper murders and the ensuing five-year hunt for this slippery killer, a spate of horrific child-killings and a local paedophile ring muddies the already murky waters. Corruption rips through the upper echelons of the police force, government and press, trickling toxically through the cracks of a broken-down society. The forthright cast features some of the best UK actors around including Paddy Considine (Dead Man’s Shoes), Peter Mullan (My Name is Joe), Maxine Peake (Shameless) and David Morrissey, all playing their parts with deserving gravitas. Beautifully shot by three different directors, rich in colour yet bleakly oppressive, all three films (made for Channel 4) should be watched in succession to fully appreciate the enormous complexity of the story and incredible wretchedness of the numerous connecting characters. (Released 11th November).