Fans of dark, gripping, and emotional crime dramas are in for a treat with an underrated gem streaming for free on BBC iPlayer. The series has been hailed as 'outstanding' with 'some of the best acting' ever seen on television.
A Gripping True Crime Drama for Broadchurch Fans
With excellent emotional arcs and horrific grisly crimes at its centre, much like the fan-favourite Broadchurch, this true crime show has viewers in a chokehold. The three-part biographical crime drama, Rillington Place, centres around the real-life case of one of Britain's most prolific serial killers, John Christie, and the wrongful execution of Timothy Evans instead.
John Christie was a serial killer and serial rapist active between the 1940s and early 1950s, and his story is a horrifying one. The series takes a look at the home life of John Christie and his wife, Ethel, all while John committed a string of murders allegedly unbeknownst to his wife.
Three Perspectives on a Horrifying Story
Each of the show's three episodes tells the story from the three main characters' point of view: John Christie, Ethel Christie, and Timothy Evans, the couple's upstairs neighbour who was wrongfully executed for John's crimes. Directed by Craig Viveiros, Rillington Place first premiered on BBC One in November 2016.
The series stars an incredible Tim Roth as John Christie, and praise for his hair-raising performance has been widespread. Samantha Morton stars as Ethel Christie, Nico Mirallegro as Timothy Evans, and Jodie Comer as Beryl Evans, all of whom have been commended for their stellar portrayals.
Award-Winning Production
The true crime drama won a BAFTA for Best Photography & Lighting: Fiction and was also nominated in the Best Production Design category. Since 10 Rillington Place, the house where John committed murders and buried victims, no longer exists (demolished in the early 1970s), the interiors were recreated at BBC Scotland's Dumbarton Studios near Glasgow. The street's exteriors were filmed in the parking lot of the same studio, while a few other locations across Scotland were used to represent London.
Critical and Audience Praise
The series has garnered praise from all quarters. One critic wrote: 'All very grim and ominous, but the first part of Rillington Place is a slow burn that's never anything short of completely captivating.' Another reviewer said: 'Rillington Place is a solid miniseries that is worth watching.' A third critic added: 'The story is as grisly and horrific as you might expect.'
A glowing IMDB user review states: 'Excellent Creepy Drama. Well… this was an outstanding retelling of the murders committed by the extremely creepy soft spoken Mr Christie who was brilliantly played by Tim Roth. It was a very dark, superbly written three part drama. The cast did a stellar job in bringing the characters to life. I highly recommend this series especially if you like true life crime dramas.'
One fan lauded the acting: 'The acting, done by all, is hands down some of the best I've seen. Tim and Samantha did not miss a beat. I, also, couldn't be more pleased with every single person's amazing performances. I'm disappointed this did not receive the credit it deserves in the awards arena. It draws you in and doesn't let go. If you love dark, slow, and terrifying then this is for you!'
Another viewer said: 'Three episodes, each a compelling & enthralling watch. The acting is flawless and even the minor-part actors were genuine. So good, I watched them all twice within the same week. You won't be disappointed.' One impressed fan added: 'Good to the last drop. They don't make many well acted murder series from the perspective of the killer. This series is certainly interesting and well made. It makes a difference when you have actors who are at the top of their craft.'
Rillington Place is available to stream for free on BBC iPlayer.
