The second installment in the RED RIDING trilogy based on David Peace's novels is the least connected to the other films in the series, but integral to the overall story the three films tell. Director James Marsh (MAN ON WIRE) approaches the material as a straight police procedural. One careless statement sets this story rolling and its full ramifications are not known until the very end.
The Yorkshire Ripper is sending panic throughout the community. Peter Hunter (Paddy Considine, IN AMERICA) is brought in to help the investigation. But why him? He's known for ruffling feathers within the police ranks with his dogged investigations, particularly the one into the Karachi Club massacre, which ended the previous film. He puts together a team of the department's top investigators — Helen Marshall (Maxine Peake, TV's SHAMELESS) and John Nolan (Tony Pitts). He tries to keep his past affair with Helen quiet. When they try to get information from the previous investigators, they hit a brick wall. Officer Bob Craven (Sean Harris, 24 HOUR PARTY PEOPLE) tells Hunter that they'll catch their Ripper and he can have his own.
One murder in the file particularly interests Hunter. The murder of Clare Strachan (Kelly Freemantle) looks more like a copycat than a real victim of the Ripper. Soon the activist priest Martin Laws (Peter Mullan, THE CLAIM) leads Hunter to the male prostitute BJ (Robert Sheehan, upcoming SEASON OF THE WITCH), who has information about Claire, but is too scared to talk. The deeper Hunter gets into his investigations; the more he is threatened by outside forces that hinder his case.
What is being hidden and why? Sins of the past come back to haunt all the characters in this film. The story shows how public opinion and political pressures can affect a police investigation. Personalities clash and the wrong toes get stepped on. Conspiracies in the real world only have a chance to work when money or someone's life is jeopardized if they talk. That's a tough force to challenge when you're on the outside trying to peal back the layers.
Considine brings dignity to his role as the good cop in a world of bad cops. Who can he trust when he might be the one being set up from the start? He handles himself admirably in the face of it all. But can one man uncover something that has been purposely buried six feet deep? Sometimes it's up to those that buried it.
Buy “Red Riding” Trilogy on DVD Here!
Buy “Red Riding” Trilogy on Blu-ray Here!
Rick DeMott
Animation World Network
Creator of Rick's Flicks Picks
