Matt Smith is receiving widespread critical acclaim for what is being hailed as his television performance of the year in the new Sky Atlantic series, The Death of Bunny Munro. The six-part black comedy, which debuted on November 20, is an adaptation of the novel by Nick Cave and features a star-studded cast.
A Dark Tale of Addiction and Grief
The series follows the life of its protagonist, Bunny Munro, a sex-addicted travelling salesman portrayed by Smith, who uses his door-to-door beauty product business to meet women. The story charts his journey following the suicide of his wife, as he hits the road with his young son, Junior, played by Rafael Mathé, promising to show him how to become a man.
They are joined by a formidable supporting cast including Sarah Greene, Johann Myers, Robert Glenister, Alce Feetham, David Threlfall, Lindsay Duncan, and Elizabeth Berrington.
Critical Acclaim for a 'Perversely Compelling' Performance
Critics who have streamed the series have been united in their praise for Smith's transformative and challenging role. The Standard's Michael Hogan declared it one of the TV performances of the year, noting that without Smith's sheer magnetism, the series might have become too twisted to watch. He wrote that Smith makes the repellent Bunny perversely compelling.
The Independent's Patrick Smith described Smith as brilliantly vile and superb, highlighting how the actor reveals layers of his character beneath an alcoholic haze, somehow making this paragon of deplorability almost sympathetic, despite his horrific actions.
Empire's David Opie called the performance deranged and thoroughly unhinged, stating that Smith's ability to keep the audience invested in such a vastly unlikeable character is a testament to his skill. He noted it is one of the year's most uncomfortable, yet brilliant, watches.
A Surreal and Beautiful Spectacle
While the subject matter is dark, the production has been praised for its visual style. The Financial Times's Rebecca Nicholson described the series as a beautiful, surreal father-and-son tale. She credited writer Pete Jackson and director Isabella Eklöf for wrestling the story into a beautiful spectacle, suggesting Bunny's bad behaviour is softened by a greater empathy that feels very contemporary.
Uncut's Peter Watts affirmed that the show's success rests on Smith's outstanding performance, providing just enough impish charm to keep the audience invested in Bunny's pathetic fecklessness.
For viewers who can stomach its challenging themes, The Death of Bunny Munro on Sky Atlantic is being positioned as a must-see drama, primarily due to a career-defining turn from its leading man.
