THORNE: SCAREDYCAT
UK, 2010, 130 minutes, Colour.
David Morrisey, Sandra Oh, Tom Brooke, Joe Absolom, Leo Gregory, Eddie Marsan, Aidan Gillen, O- T Fagbennie, Lorraine Ashbourne, Jack Shepherd.
Directed by Benjamin Ross.
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 making a series of six adaptations of the novel is. However, only two were made, Sleepyhead and Scaredy-cat. 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 murder is unknown in Scaredy-cat, the screenplay working on the model of the Blurb and low 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 should 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 various authorities, Ruth and her being in command, Kevin and his subsidiary role, his ambitions, collaboration and clashes with Thorne, Phil, his autopsy work, friendship with Thorne? Dave and his interrogations, the apprentice, learning, the evening with Sarah Chen?
4. The initial two murders, the prostitute, the location, the woman in the house with her son?
5. The formation of the theory that they were complementary killers, the locations, the style, one taking the initiative, the other following? The visuals of the murder of the little boy?
6. The little boy, hiding from the killer, his dead mother, taken in by care, the kindness, playing, Thorne and his playing with the boy? Entrusting him to his father (and the father grieving for the death of his wife), Thorne not telling the authorities that his mother had died? The bond with the boy? Too severe on interrogation, his being prevented from further questioning?
7. The capture of the killer, confessing, his attempting to kill the boy? His silence? His being set free as bait? The set up, in the apartment? Sarah Chen and her supervising him?
8. Sarah Chen, work, force, her character, wanting to prove herself? The episode with Dave? Trying to prove herself to Thorne? Her supervising the killer, taking the cocaine, misleading evidence, blaming the killer, her not telling the truth? Her being found out, the getting the information and the tracker, pursuing the killer, her death?
9. The other killer, the theory about there being complementary killers, the flashbacks to their school experience, the past, the bullying?
10. The meetings, the violent leader, wanting the other man to prove himself? The confrontation, the killing?
11. And the humane moments at the end with Thorne watching the little boy?
