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Amazon.co.uk Review
Edge of Darkness (1985) took the thriller serial to a new level of ambition, addressing the rising tide of environmental awareness--in parallel with John Boorman's The Emerald Forest (also 1985)--and asking such unflinching questions as what is the price of justice, and who, ultimately, rules Britain? If this sounds too worthy, the series' triumph was to address these concerns in the form of the most nerve-shredding, intense and dangerous television adventure yet screened. This tape presents the final three episodes, Craven (Bob Peck) going way beyond the point of no return as the secrets of Northmoor lead to an emotionally shattering, unforgettable conclusion. Troy Kennedy-Martin's brilliantly constructed story here confidentially exceeds the confines of any previous TV thriller, ending as an apocalyptic epic with global implications. Kennedy-Martin had previously written for The Sweeney, and here wedded that series violent cynicism to a spiralling maelstrom of a plot which echoed both The Medusa Touch and The Ipcress File. He next teamed mix-nationality investigators in the predictable but entertaining Schwarzenegger vehicle Red Heat, while Bob Peck starred in Jurassic Park and director Martin Campbell went on to Criminal Law, Goldeneye and The Mask of Zorro. --Gary S. Dalkin
Product Description
United Kingdom released, PAL/Region 2.4 DVD: LANGUAGES: English ( Mono ), English ( Subtitles ), SPECIAL FEATURES: 2-DVD Set, Cast/Crew Interview(s), Interactive Menu, SYNOPSIS: The British government's nuclear policy is in for a royal drubbing in the tense BBC-TV miniseries Edge of Darkness. Bob Peck stars as London police detective Ron Craven, whose political-activist daughter is murdered right before his eyes. Meticulously following the trail of clues, Craven uncovers a dark conspiracy involving the government and the powerful American CEO of a nuclear power plant. Joe Don Baker and a young Joanne Whaley-Kilmer co-star. The six-part series became a cult favorite in England, where it originally aired in November and December of 1985. All 307 minutes of Edge of Darkness are currently available on video. SCREENED/AWARDED AT: BAFTA Awards, ...Edge of Darkness
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Most Helpful Customer Reviews
236 of 247 people found the following review helpful
Format:DVD
Time has not been desperately kind to this classic from the days when the BBC was not afraid of political controversy and was able to commission serious drama for an audience whose attention span could run for fifty minutes a time over six weeks. It is ironic that the thing that made it so compelling at the time - its cutting edge, up-to-the-moment topicality - now lends it a slight air of antiquity. Having said that, this thriller (and the term is used accurately here) has a cast that could have graced any Academy Awards Ceremony (Bob Peck, Joanne Whalley, Jo Don Baker, Tim McInnery and a cast of other actors who have since become familiar BBC stalwarts) and their skills are utilised to the full by the slow-burn, screw-turning script of Troy Kennedy-Martin, brilliantly interpreted and paced by director Martin Campbell and underpinned by Kamens' and Clapton's haunting, iconic soundtrack.
The action is often deliberately slow-paced, but the shocking start hooks you in to events and watching the jigsaw pieces fit slowly into place to join past, present and future is compulsive. Bob Peck's performance is spellbinding, Joanne Whalley is captivating and Jo Don Baker's larger than life Texan, Jedburg, steals every scene. This series contends with "The Forsythe Saga" and "I, Claudius" as the best drama the BBC ever produced; it undoubtedly remains the best thriller. At last we have edge-of-the-seat, must-watch TV converted (third time lucky) into must-own DVD.
56 of 59 people found the following review helpful
Format:DVD
Check which DVD you are buying! Many of the other reviews here are about the "old" 2001 DVD from Meridian Entertainment. The BBC Worldwide version from 2003 (which we are meant to be discussing) is much, much better, so do yourself a favour and ignore the comments that were made before this DVD was actually released - for some reason Amazon had managed to get some reviews of the other version mixed up in here.
32 of 35 people found the following review helpful
Format:DVD|Amazon Verified Purchase
I only saw the fifth part when it was first screened in 1985 (where Craven & Jedburgh entered the Northmoor mine) and I sat on the edge of my seat the whole time. I'm delighted that THIS DVD version has been done PROPERLY and the sound & video quality are well up to standard.
For those who don't know about this political mini-series, the plot concerns a police detective who is drawn into a web of political mire by the murder of his daughter Emma who was a member of an anti-nuclear lobby (GAIA) and stumbles on the clandestine manufacture and storage of weapons-grade plutonium in an abandoned mine in Northmoor, and has to endure the subsequent political "fall-out" that results.
I only have one small criticsm: and that is that to begin with, the viewer feels very much an intruder into a very private death and subsequent period of grief. But stick with it, because underneath the plot simmers menacingly for a long time (rather like milk heating up in a saucepan on the stove) and then suddenly boils up... and does so with a-vengeance! As I hinted at earlier, the section where Craven & Jedburgh enter the mine and locate the plutonium is just gripping! And the music provided by Eric Clapton & Michael Kamen (now sadly passed away) very much enhances the sinister atmosphere.
There are some worthwhile extras on the two DVDs which have been adequately covered in other reviews. The six episodes have been transcribed just as they were broadcast - complete with beginning & ending titles.
If you like political thrillers, just buy this - you won't regret it! I'd give it more than five stars, but that's all we're allowed in an Amazon review!!
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Most Recent Customer Reviews
Dated, and sadly mediocre
I didn't see Edge of Darkness when it was first shown on TV. I thought I'd give it a go as it seemed to get mostly good reviews. Read more
Published 11 days ago by J. S. Hardman
Edge of Darkness
A very classic BBC series which was enjoyed the first time around and equally likeable on Disc Also looking forward to Watching the Movie version so I can compare both.
Published 17 days ago by mick flynn
plot emotion and style
Edge of darkness is a very good drama
Excellent acting. Solid story.
Highly recommended. Worth buying and renting
Excellent acting. Solid story.
Highly recommended. Worth buying and renting
Published 2 months ago by Bobby Klump
One of the best TV drama's I've seen.
I did not expect much from a 1985 drama for such a low price, but I was very surprised. From the first episode, you can tell that it's going to be a good series. Read more
Published 2 months ago by Mr. R. T. English
wished i hadn't bothered
I thought this was going to be good, as I remembered the series from my youth. But what a disappointment. It is really dated and slow. Wished I hadn't bothered. Waste of money.
Published 3 months ago by snooziflooze
Quality British Drama
If you're looking for a combination of top-quality acting, political thrill and a little bit of action, then this is a great DVD to buy. Read more
Published 4 months ago by Nerevar
Simply the best BBC Drama ever
Has there ever been such a fantastic pay back for the slow burn of the first episode leading to the frenetic action of the final two. Read more
Published 6 months ago by Andy Mac
I wish they still made them like this...
It isn't until you go back and watch something like this again that you realise that it isn't just rose tinted specs, people of my age (IE: who were of an age to see this first... Read more
Published 7 months ago by David P
Best TV drama ever.....
What can you possibly say.....this is an absolute must see. I remember watching it from start to finish 25 years ago. Wonderful!
Published 7 months ago by Mr. G. C. Gordon
Craven age
One of the best pieces of TV in the medium's history. It can be pigeon-holed as a political thriller or as plain drama but the truth is that it is both and much more. Read more
Published 10 months ago by ratmonkey
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