Product Details

• Actors: Andrew Garfield, David Morrissey, John Henshaw, Anthony Flanagan, Warren Clarke
• Directors: Anand Tucker, James Marsh, Julian Jarrold
• Writers: David Peace, Tony Grisoni
• Producers: Alasdair MacCuish, Andrew Eaton, Anita Overland
• Format: Box set, Color, DVD, Widescreen, NTSC
• Language: English
• Region: Region 1 (U.S. and Canada only. Read more about DVD formats.)
  
• Aspect Ratio: 1.66:1
• Number of discs: 3
• Rated: Unrated
• Studio: Ifc Independent Film
• DVD Release Date: August 31, 2010
• Run Time: 308 minutes
• Average Customer Review: 4.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (32 customer reviews)
• ASIN: B003NLE5L8
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #19,650 in Movies & TV (See Top 100 in Movies & TV)
• For more information about "Red Riding Trilogy" visit the Internet Movie Database (IMDb)

Editorial Reviews

RED RIDING TRILOGY - DVD Movie

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

70 of 82 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Surprisingly Tense British Crime Drama, June 14, 2010

By 

Compay (New Orleans, LA) - See all my reviews
(TOP 500 REVIEWER)   

This review is from: Red Riding Trilogy (DVD)

It's not often that I watch British movies, so I was surprised at just how good this made-for-TV film was. English writer David Peace published a four-edition book about serial murders and police corruption in Britain. The books were adapted into three movies for British television, and while the crimes that take place are real, the stories are fictional.

What attracted me to the 1980 installment in the trilogy was that it starred British actor Paddy Considine, who I became an instant fan of after watching PU-239 (The Half Life of Timofey Berezin). Paddy is terrific as Peter Hunter, a police officer brought on to help with an unsuccessful investigation of a serial killer.

What I liked about the film is that it wasn't particularly fast-paced nor suspenseful like some American crime dramas, but a slow, building tension that really delivered by the film's conclusion. The cinematography was great, with cold and rainy scenes giving it a bit of a film noir vibe. I absolutely loved the movie's score, which was haunting and beautiful.

Remember, this is a made for television movie, not a big-budget blockbuster. So if you're expecting a movie in the vein of Seven, that's not what you'll be getting. What you can expect is amazing acting by an experienced cast, bubbling tension, and a surprise ending.

As far as Red Riding 1974 goes, I've been a fan of British actor Sean Bean since his breakout role as IRA soldier Sean Miller in Patriot Games. While he doesn't get much screen time in this particular film, he's representative of the top-notch casting. The film has an incredibly experienced cast of talented British actors, which makes 1974 a real treat. The standout performance in this film is definitely Rebecca Hall's portrayal of Paula, the mother of a slain child. While she didn't get to demonstrate her acting chops in Frost/Nixon (as love interest to David Frost), she's given plenty to work with in 1974.

Much like Red Riding: 1980, the film stars very slow, and patiently comes to a rolling boil by the conclusion. I also loved the lighting used as the film progressed, particularly a dinner party scene with shades of Eyes Wide Shut. What's interesting is that the movie was shot on 16mm film that was often used in the 70's, so a genuine period vibe is established. 1974 isn't the same quality as Red Riding: 1980, but a film you should check out if you like conspiracy movies.

17 of 18 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Three Memorable Films Make One Unforgettable Viewing Experience, September 14, 2010

By 

K. Harris "Film aficionado" (Albuquerque, NM) - See all my reviews
(TOP 10 REVIEWER)    (HALL OF FAME REVIEWER)    (REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Red Riding Trilogy (DVD)

I have eagerly awaited the arrival of the "Red Riding" trilogy on DVD for some time. Something about the concept and execution of this project appealed to me in theory, and I must say that I was not let down! An ambitious British TV adaptation of several David Peace novels, the trilogy is filmed as three separate works with three separate directors. Several characters overlap and unify the films which center on a rural police force that has its own way of getting things done. Hard-edged and brutal, each chapter set in a different year (1974, 1980 and 1983) can stand alone--but together, this is a remarkable and affecting piece of work.

In "1974," Andrew Garfield (soon to be Spider-Man) plays a fledgling crime reporter hoping to make his name investigating a trio of local child murders. An affair with one victim's mother and some misdirection from local law enforcement lead him to confront a prominent citizen. He soon becomes the hunted as he doesn't know when to stop his search for the truth--and he may have to pay the ultimate price. In "1980," Paddy Considine plays a by-the-books cop brought in to re-investigate a serial killer case that has gone on for far too long. When it appears that one of the victims is not a part of the chain, this leads to another line of inquiry that may implicate several officers in police misconduct. And in "1983," David Morrissey (who has played a small role in the other films) steps to the forefront as lead inspector when another child abduction echoes the case that was solved in "1974." Reopening the case upsets old festering wounds and soon the truth about the crimes, cover-ups, and corruptions of the last 10 years come to a heated conclusion.

Garfield and Considine are terrific in "1974" and "1980" respectively. Each represent the moral center of a conspiracy that neither can control--and each is ultimately undone by the pursuit of truth. Both of these strong films would rate as 4 stars for me. It is in "1983," however, where things really start to get tied up and the knowledge of the previous films really enhance the series overall. Morrissey is absolutely devastating dealing with his own past corruption. As the facts about the child abductions and murders start to become clear, and several minor characters step up in surprising ways, the "Red Riding" trilogy becomes an extremely powerful examination of redemption. The 5 star finale left me thoroughly upset and disturbed--and the haunting tone of the film's final sequences will stay with me for a long time. An absolute recommendation, this is thought-provoking and adult entertainment--an experiment that worked exceedingly well. Two good films and one great one are made even better when seen in their totality! Don't miss it. KGHarris, 9/10.

52 of 67 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Subtitles A Must, July 4, 2010

By 

Robert H. Garcia "Pyrenees Doggie" (la) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Red Riding Trilogy (DVD)

I love this series. I own the original UK version. But I must admit. If you have not read the original novels--you will be adrift. Not through lack of film/adaptation quality--but through accents which render much of the dialogue un intelligible to US audiences. Accents are sometimes so thick (especially first segment 1974) that plot development is a Muddle. I can only hope that Blu Ray of this incredible series includes English subtitles--to make the series right. Not the first time that BBC series left off the obvious-subtitles. But this time--so necessary. Whether Rankin/Peace or other same such--no one should think that we USA'ers can understand dialects--even tho we have read the originals.