Barnaby Walter, 21/05/2009
In 1963 five children and teenagers were killed by Ian Brady and Myra Hindley.This two-part drama, broadcast on ITV1 in 2006, documents the events that shook the country over 40 years ago. However this is not to say that the terrible murders committed by Brady and Hindley are brought vividly to life. This sensitive and well written drama avoids any such horrors, while still managing to capture the immensity and weight of the situation.
Calmly setting down what occurred before, during and after the murders, this takes an interesting and original look at the case by concentrating on Dave Smith's involvement. After being invited to join in with one of the horrific killings (the only scene of violence in the whole film, shown mostly through suggestion) Smith, the boyfriend of Myra's sister, goes to the police to turn them in. The community however do not draw the distinction between killer and observer so easily, and as the publicity surrounding the case grows so does the bad feeling towards anyone associated with the Hindley family.
It must be stressed that the deaths of Pauline Reade, John Kilbride, Keith Bennett and Lesley Ann Downey are never seen nor detailed. The recording made of Lesley Ann Downey's death is never played but the effect of it is powerfully portrayed by the facial expressions of those who hear it onscreen. Although the killing of Edward Evans, the 17-year-old victim, is bloodily illustrated, the scenes are brief and the violence not dwelt upon. Instead of blandly whispering the harrowing story, the two-part film benefits by the lack of sensationalism. Maxine Peake, famous for her comic role in Dinnerladies is remarkable as Hindley, injecting her character with a surreal sense of haunting normality which truly emphasises the horror of her crimes. ITV were criticised at the time of commissioning this drama for reducing such as tragic event into Sunday-night entertainment. In my view it is important to use mediums such as film and television, as long as due respect and sensitivity is upheld, so these events are not forgotten.
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