THORNE: SLEEPYHEAD
UK, 2010, 130 minutes, Colour.
David Morrisey, Natascha Mc Elhone, Eddie Marsan, Aidan Gillen, O-T Fagbenie, Lorraine Ashbourne, Jack Shepherd, Sarah Lloyd- Gregory, Brian Mc Cardie, Stephen Campbell Moore.
Directed by Stephen Hopkins.
Mark Billingham is a respected crime writer. DI Thorne is the centre of several of his investigative novels. He is played by David Morrisey – with the intention of filming a series of six adaptations of the novel is. However, only two were made, Sleepyhead and Scaredycat. They were shown on British television in 2010.
Both have intricate plots. Sleepyhead worked on the theory of “Locked-in Syndrome�, the murderer killing women, even attacking Thorne, but wanting them to remain alive and unable to communicate. Much of the action takes place in a hospital where the survivor is able to communicate only by using her eyelids, even though she is conscious all the time, with a voice-over informing the audience of what she was feeling. There are several suspects including the surgeon at the hospital. However, the case is tied to the past, Thorne involved in the death of a man brutalising his children, shooting him and his being covered by his friend, Phil, who conducted the autopsies. There is a surprise revelation as to who the murderer is.
On the other hand, the murderers are unknown in Scaredycat, the screenplay working on the model of the Loeb and Lowe murders in Chicago in the 1920s (the model for Alfred Hitchcock’s Rope). The key characters and investigators continue on from Sleepyhead. There is an introduction here of another detective, played by Sandra Oh, complex, wanting to succeed, with a cocaine problem, causing problems but eventually trying to solve the case herself.
The film is interesting in its presentation of the relationship between the two murderers, one a leader from school days, the other being pressurised to participate in the killings.
1. The novels of Mark Billingham? Detection, police investigations, mystery? Television adaptation?
2. The London settings, the attention to detail, sense of place? Musical score?
3. The complexity of the plot, the character of Tom Thorne, David Morrisey as Thorne, his action in the past, the shooting, his role of investigation in the present, the connection between past and present?
4. The title, the dramatising of the “Locked-in Syndrome�? The victims, the attacks, the technique, the drugs, the deaths, Alison surviving, in hospital, the doctors, the voice-over and her commentary on life, communicating with her eyelids? Hearing everything? The further attacks? The revelation of the killer? Her asking to Anne to assist her in dying?
5. Thorne, his character, edgy, detective work, relationship with the authorities, with Ruth, the clashes with Kevin, Kevin rejecting his theories, taking command of the investigation? Thorne being attacked but surviving, the effect on him, physically, psychologically? His continued investigations? His suspicions of Phil?
6. The flashbacks to the past, Francis and his daughters, their death, the abuse of his son? The effect of the son and his disappearing the revelation about Phil, his homosexuality, his skills in autopsies, the relationship with the young man and his disappearance?
7. The flashbacks to Thorne, his confrontation of the Father, the argument, the father seeming willing to die, the setup? Phil and his suspicions, covering for Thorne? The final flashbacks, the father setting up the situation, forcing Thorne to shoot him?
8. Anne, her work in the hospital, personality, with Alison, the attraction to Thorne, her daughter, her daughter being involved with the surgeon, the connection with the killer? Anne and her being asked to help Alison to die?
9. Ruth, in command, the decisions, relationship with Kevin, with Thorne? Kevin, his personality, exercising power, clashes with Thorne? His rejecting evidence? And the irony of his relationship with Calvert’s widow?
10. Thorne and his interactions with his father?
11. Jeremy Bishop, role in the hospital, his medical skills, womanising, relationship with Anne, suspicions of his being the killer, caught with the women in his office?
12. The character of the orderly, his presence in the hospital, finding Alison, saving her, the background is coming from Canada, not under suspicion, the interrogation, the later interrogation, Phil recognising him? His elaborate laboratory, the truth, the effect of his father, the motivations? The final interrogation, biting his tongue, his death?
