Many are saying this is slow and it is, but its done in a masterful way which builds to the end that we all know. For me, what makes this a joy is the remarkable acting.
37 Reviews
Far better then some of the reviews.
rhino-868524 September 2018
Bone-chilling performance
jonathan-747-4616222 June 2018
Tim Roth plays the notorious serial killer John "Reg" Christie with bone-chilling eeriness, a masterly performance to no small extent aided by the cinematography and lighting, which would have had Hitchcock nodding in approval, and which borders as closely on the exagerrated as it gets without overstepping the line (in my opinion). The set design provides the appropriately grim backdrop of the poorer areas of 1940s and 1950s London, and the soundtrack is certainly enough to make anybody lie awake wondering what might be lurking under the floorboards of the house you just moved into.
The story is very well told, leaving enough for the viewer's imagination to add to the horror as the ghastly details creep into your mind. But there is a piece missing at the very end, as if the director suddenly realised that the allotted running time was quickly running out, and had to cut out a large chunk without forethought.
That, unfortunately, takes away a few stars from what would otherwise have been a little masterpiece, but which is now left marred by an ending that seems oddly thrown together with too many loose ends dangling.
Nevertheless, it's well worth a watch - you'll never look at your balding uncle the same way again.
Understated Smarmy Tension
whatithinkis14 December 2016
The slow pace of this is like that of a snail leaving a trail of slime.
The lighting is dark. The setting dim and dirty. Squalid but normal given the time and place.
Tim Roth is so convincingly creepy and his speech, whispery and spare, so steeped in threat, it's a task just to undertake to watch each next horrible installment.
Horrible as in effective.
There is no actual violence and yet it is as if every single second of the entire production is violent.
I'd give it a higher rating, in that I think it is so evocative, but the subject matter is too dark and I prefer to save high marks for work that stimulates us to loftier places.
Still, simply as art, all the skills are wonderful. The actors excellent. The writing terrifying.
I wouldn't have undertaken to write a review at all, but at this juncture there are only two other reviews, neither of which seem, to me, to 'get it.' So here is another view.
The lighting is dark. The setting dim and dirty. Squalid but normal given the time and place.
Tim Roth is so convincingly creepy and his speech, whispery and spare, so steeped in threat, it's a task just to undertake to watch each next horrible installment.
Horrible as in effective.
There is no actual violence and yet it is as if every single second of the entire production is violent.
I'd give it a higher rating, in that I think it is so evocative, but the subject matter is too dark and I prefer to save high marks for work that stimulates us to loftier places.
Still, simply as art, all the skills are wonderful. The actors excellent. The writing terrifying.
I wouldn't have undertaken to write a review at all, but at this juncture there are only two other reviews, neither of which seem, to me, to 'get it.' So here is another view.
Do not hesitate!
holywd-344637 November 2017
Cannot believe anyone gave this less than 9/10! The suspense, mood, performances are the best thing I've seen for a very long time- including cinema, TV, or DVD. Samantha Morton & Tim Roth, whom I've long admired, are nothing short of superb in their understanding of the characters, their tenuous daily existence, the era in which they lived and their relationship. Samantha Morton's portrayal also speaks volumes about a 'woman's place' in society & in a marriage in those times. Tim Roth had me recognising the complete lack of emotion that Christie masked, READILY, with appropriate & socially accepted comments and lies; and the ability to portray himself as the victim, as employed by true psychopaths. This is deep and unnerving if you really think about it. Who lives next door to YOU?
Gloom and doom
paul2001sw-12 January 2017
Warning: Spoilers
True serial killers are mercifully rare. But Reginald Christie strangled six women for no good motive, and an innocent man, Timonthy Evans, was sentenced to death for one of those before Christie's guilt became unarguable. In 'Rillington Place', Tim Roth is excellent as the mass murderer, a sad little man for whom you might feel sorry if not for his method of relieving his frustrations. There's absolutely no hint of Hannibal Lecter about this man; yet he was horrifyingly effective in what he did. Overall, however, the drama is mostly painful, and while this is probably inevitable, what is lacking is a sense of ordinary life going on around the sad world of the Christie family. Instead, we see a world only of smog, austerity, and a mood of unremitting gloom - if London was really as dreary as this, it's a wonder there weren't thousands of Christies, not just one.
Oh boy this is not for the faint hearted.
Sleepin_Dragon27 December 2016
I have wondered for many years why there had been no attempt to retell the grizzly story of the goings on at number 10 Rillington Place. The fabulous 1971 version featuring the marvellous Richard Attenborough will live on as a classic forever. So once again, well done BBC for retelling a story in such a thorough and compelling way.
The three hour format worked well, it allowed the story to develop naturally, at no point did it feel rushed, each character was given time to deliver.
Tim Roth was sensational in the role of Christie, softly spoken, calm, yet monstrous and conniving, I believed utterly in the character he portrayed. He certainly looked the part also. It feels unkind to say that Samantha Morton is a safe pair of hands, but that she is, an actress of immense talent, who always seems to deliver the goods, a super performance as Mrs Christie.
This drama made me curious about the case, and I've picked up a book for some further reading.
If I was brutally honest, I'd say Part 1 was a little too slow, and felt like it had been padded out, twenty minutes into the second part though it takes a very sinister turn, and transforms into something nasty, but enthralling.
Harsh, unnerving, but very impressive. 9/10
The three hour format worked well, it allowed the story to develop naturally, at no point did it feel rushed, each character was given time to deliver.
Tim Roth was sensational in the role of Christie, softly spoken, calm, yet monstrous and conniving, I believed utterly in the character he portrayed. He certainly looked the part also. It feels unkind to say that Samantha Morton is a safe pair of hands, but that she is, an actress of immense talent, who always seems to deliver the goods, a super performance as Mrs Christie.
This drama made me curious about the case, and I've picked up a book for some further reading.
If I was brutally honest, I'd say Part 1 was a little too slow, and felt like it had been padded out, twenty minutes into the second part though it takes a very sinister turn, and transforms into something nasty, but enthralling.
Harsh, unnerving, but very impressive. 9/10
Neighbour from hell
Lejink16 December 2016
This was a very stylised dramatisation of the life and heinous crimes of serial-killer John Reginald Christie who besides killing seven women, his wife included and almost certainly a baby girl (to which he never confessed, right to the end), also caused the execution of one of the victim's husband, the hapless Timothy Evans, who was given a Royal Pardon in 1966 some 16 years after his hanging. Stylised in that the filming itself is low-key and washed-out in appearance, while the direction makes use of slow-motion shots, unusual camera-angles and a strangely disembodied soundtrack of contemporary songs, most notably "Whispering Grass".
Then there's Tim Roth's turn as Christie, where he reminds me of none so much as Leonard Rossiter's classic comedy creation of Rigsby, another sleazy landlord-type but with a less murderous bent. Roth speaks in a hissing whisper, walks with a shambling gait in his miles-too-big overcoat and hides his evil behind a pair of National Health spectacles. Almost everywhere he goes, creepy background music surrounds him. I also found it strange that each episode started with a scene after his arrests, such as the discovery of the bodies in his bricked-up kitchen, before abruptly stepping back in time to depict the lead-up to the murders.
Interestingly, there are almost no graphic recreations of his killings, rare but welcome in modern TV and cinema, indeed there's no murder shown in episode one at all, plus we only start the story after he's killed his first two victims, before the doomed Evans family arrive as upstairs neighbours.
As I indicated, Roth's mannered acting dominates proceedings, not completely to the production's advantage, but there is good support from Nico Mirallegro as Evans and Samantha Morton as Christie's long-suffering wife. The period reproduction is up to the BBC's usual high standard. However, I never really felt at any point that Roth's Christie was truly evil, for example, there are only the vaguest hints of his necrophilia and while I can imagine the difficulty in compressing eight murders into a three hour duration, can't help but feeling the concentration on the Evans murders detracts from the fact that the man was an evil serial killer as well as showing a disrespect for his previous victims. Arguably, the key murder was the first one, which set him on his grisly path, yet we get no real indication it ever happened and are thus given no real motive as to how this lecherous little man could be driven to his terrible crimes.
Naturally, those of us with longer memories will compare this dramatisation with the excellent feature film from the 1970's starring Richard Attenborough, where I sensed the aura of evil much more than Roth emanates here. Perhaps that was partly due to effective casting against type, but in the end I felt that the depiction of Christie was misguided here and that this, plus the strained direction ultimately detracted from the dramatic impact of the piece as a whole.
Then there's Tim Roth's turn as Christie, where he reminds me of none so much as Leonard Rossiter's classic comedy creation of Rigsby, another sleazy landlord-type but with a less murderous bent. Roth speaks in a hissing whisper, walks with a shambling gait in his miles-too-big overcoat and hides his evil behind a pair of National Health spectacles. Almost everywhere he goes, creepy background music surrounds him. I also found it strange that each episode started with a scene after his arrests, such as the discovery of the bodies in his bricked-up kitchen, before abruptly stepping back in time to depict the lead-up to the murders.
Interestingly, there are almost no graphic recreations of his killings, rare but welcome in modern TV and cinema, indeed there's no murder shown in episode one at all, plus we only start the story after he's killed his first two victims, before the doomed Evans family arrive as upstairs neighbours.
As I indicated, Roth's mannered acting dominates proceedings, not completely to the production's advantage, but there is good support from Nico Mirallegro as Evans and Samantha Morton as Christie's long-suffering wife. The period reproduction is up to the BBC's usual high standard. However, I never really felt at any point that Roth's Christie was truly evil, for example, there are only the vaguest hints of his necrophilia and while I can imagine the difficulty in compressing eight murders into a three hour duration, can't help but feeling the concentration on the Evans murders detracts from the fact that the man was an evil serial killer as well as showing a disrespect for his previous victims. Arguably, the key murder was the first one, which set him on his grisly path, yet we get no real indication it ever happened and are thus given no real motive as to how this lecherous little man could be driven to his terrible crimes.
Naturally, those of us with longer memories will compare this dramatisation with the excellent feature film from the 1970's starring Richard Attenborough, where I sensed the aura of evil much more than Roth emanates here. Perhaps that was partly due to effective casting against type, but in the end I felt that the depiction of Christie was misguided here and that this, plus the strained direction ultimately detracted from the dramatic impact of the piece as a whole.
"A stepping stone."
RatedVforVinny7 November 2018
Being a TV series Rillington Place can (and does) go into so much more detail. Unlike the film, this is also about the life of his poor wife Ethel and the ill-fated Timothy Evans. The squalid area of Notting Hill and the dimly lit streets, look like something out of the darkest Victorian times and the conditions are almost inhuman. The feel and vibe is very creepy and leaves a lot to the imagination, right up the the final third of the last episode (of three). Depressing but a gripping true story. Tim Roth is magnificent and Just like the original movie, this will burn deeply, disturbing your mind.
Great promise - failed to deliver
mwnciboo23 December 2016
The subject matter and atmosphere, are excellent but the story is plodding and flat. It is to a degree impressive that Tim Roth is unrecognizable and credit should be given for an excellent convincing accent, which often proves to be the downfall of many an A-lister trying to do serious Drama. But therein lies the issue, there never feels like there is much serious Drama, it is a dark and brooding subject matter but it comes across as meandering and lethargic. The audio is variable, often needing subtitles as the set pieces of dialogue were often breathy or quiet.
Interesting, but did not live up to, or make the most of it's potential.
Interesting, but did not live up to, or make the most of it's potential.
Egad Tim Roth Makes A Fine Serial Killer
smartinezmd3 February 2020
This series is very much underrated. Tim Roth is malevolence personified. I do not really know what else to say other than do not let the way-too-low IMDb score fool you. From the quick reads that I did over the internet, the storyline stays close to the truth. Well-done 'period piece' as well. Nico Mirallegro does a heart-wrenching portrayal of the young and hapless Tim Evans. All the acting is top notch and the dialogue is very natural and believable. Kudos to Samantha Morton as Ethel Christie.
Disappointing
dolphinfish16 June 2018
John Christie was a monstrous example of the banality of evil, the kind of funny little man found in every street and apartment block in the world. Most of them are just that, funny little men who are perfectly harmless and eventually pass off to their reward without doing a single mischief to anyone. And then you get the occasional devil in horn rim glasses. John Christie was one such, operating in button-down post WWII England, and the whole, shocking story could have made a chilling series. Indeed, Tim Roth's portrayal of the murderer is desperately creepy and utterly believable, but the whole thing doesn't rise to the level of the 1971 Richard Attenborough effort, 10 Rillington Place. This can be put down to a single sentence - political correctness at the BBC. This organization is daily growing increasingly pompous in its portrayals of the past. Everything before the pill was dark and dank and hellish, and always accompanied by sinister music. And the subtext is always "it's the system, man", with nobody responsible for anything. This just ruins the performances of a stellar cast working at the tops of their game. Pity. Next time somebody films this story, let's hope it's someone who isn't intent on turning it into politics.
Superb
rsmltdsf19 December 2016
If only to provide some contrast to the slightly negative reviews, I must say I thought this was a superb production.
Roth's whispering was as intentional as was the shifting accent of a character who was wanting to 'fit in' with any environment he found himself in.
A thoroughly unnerving performance by Roth, admirably supported by Morton's portrayal of a character seemingly unable to find her voice all contributed to a very unsettling, but rewarding viewing pleasure.
It too lead me to Wiki for a round up of the historical facts and travesties of justice.
Roth's whispering was as intentional as was the shifting accent of a character who was wanting to 'fit in' with any environment he found himself in.
A thoroughly unnerving performance by Roth, admirably supported by Morton's portrayal of a character seemingly unable to find her voice all contributed to a very unsettling, but rewarding viewing pleasure.
It too lead me to Wiki for a round up of the historical facts and travesties of justice.
Quite slow
gallagherkellie19 November 2022
I didn't know anything about this real life story before watching, but I found myself looking it up midway through episode 2 as not much had happened yet. I do like perspectives of other characters and it's probably a good thing that you don't see murders taking place, but it just means there's zero 'thrills' or action or twists or anything really.
Tim Roth is amazing in this. The actress playing his wife was also great. To be honest the acting was good all round. I usually love British crime shows but this one was just that little bit too slow for me.
I'be almost finished episode 2 but decided to stop here. If you're looking for something gripping this isn't really it. Sad story though!!
Tim Roth is amazing in this. The actress playing his wife was also great. To be honest the acting was good all round. I usually love British crime shows but this one was just that little bit too slow for me.
I'be almost finished episode 2 but decided to stop here. If you're looking for something gripping this isn't really it. Sad story though!!
Impressive on the surface but beware
keith-61818 December 2016
Another look at the Christie serial killer saga starring Tim Roth and Samantha Morton - what could possibly go wrong? Quite a lot as it turns out mostly connected to the name of Craig Viveiros the director. The acting throughout was fine but the director decided to make the whole enterprise in the mode of a horror movie complete with dark lighting, dark sinister music and slo-mo sequences with yet more dark sinister soundscapes. The scenes that worked best had no music at all and were quite sinister enough because of the work and effort the actors had invested in them. Why Mr Viveiros decided that the audience would find it necessary to add a music track and film techniques to tell us what to think is beyond me? I addition to these shortcomings of the director. I must also add that there's almost no detail about the murders - no modus operandi - in fact, no fact! After the second episode I was compelled to look up Wikipedia and learned more in five minutes than I had in two hours. I persevered with the third episode partly so as not to waste the previous two hours but also because I was enticed by Tim Roth and Samantha Morton's performances. But in spite of them the whole experience still left me wishing I'd watched the movie with Richard Attenborough instead. Maybe I will do that anyway.
Rillington Place
0U19 March 2020
Despite the reality based subject matter, this is not an exploitational movie. Viewers seeking violence and gore will be disappointed. For the rest of us, it's a study of evil - its existence, its manifestation, and its consequences for innocent and guilty alike. Superbly filmed with a first-rate cast. Roth's restrained delivery of a seemingly innocuous man who contains a monster will make your blood run cold.
Good but a bit dull
leavymusic-214 September 2019
Could have been a better, but the problem here is one can't help comparing it to the Film version made in 1971 starring the genius of Richard Attenborough.
If you're making up choice which one to watch then there's little contest, however this BBC version is still credible, if a little dull to start.
Dark, disturbing, perfect and believeable.
Chillihead117 August 2019
First off - Not as good as the Richard Attenborough 10 Rillington place but! A very haunting and somewhat more perverse idea. This is still a standalone shocker, less schlock but more psychological depth. Love this and the original, should I be concerned?
Bit slow but last episode brilliant
mattman_spurs14 May 2020
Warning: Spoilers
I think this could have been done over 2 episodes - I found the first 2 hours too slow and my attention wavering, I almost didn't bother with the final episode but I'm pleased I did as that was excellent. Tim Roth is brilliant and the last episode is much more gripping as you start to get into the mind of Christie. Also interesting as this isn't something I'd heard about before and I'm now off to Wikipedia....
Excellent series
rivanerakaren11 July 2018
Rillington Place Review💤
kolleen_adelphia121 October 2019
Before starting to watch this movie, be sure you are wide awake. For as much of a build up the synopsis Is, the first few minutes of the the series, not to mention the very impressive cast........ if it had gone any slower I'd be "down the drain" myself. This series was good, don't get me wrong there, it just dragged on and on. It may have been a bit more tolerable if even a quarter of the scenarios &/or choices the characters made, weren't so blatantly unbelievable!!! Some of the lies, stories, lines didn't contain an ounce of common sense. I understand it was a different time, people were in such a different place than we are today. True, very true.....,.. but that doesn't excuse the amount of frustration I felt watching this program!!! I just hope you have a much better experience than I.
Good to the last drop
lawnmorgan30 June 2020
They don't make many well acted murder series from the perspective 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. I was not aware of the murders or Mr. Christie.
Excellent Creepy Drama.
jhmoondance7 March 2022
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.
The ending was obviously a forgone conclusion but great nonetheless.
I highly recommend this series especially if you like true life crime dramas.
The cast did a stellar job in bringing the characters to life.
The ending was obviously a forgone conclusion but great nonetheless.
I highly recommend this series especially if you like true life crime dramas.
Too slow and disjointed - but the leads stand out.
khunkrumark9 December 2016
One aspect of making a drama based on actual events is that we mostly know what's going to happen. This has the disadvantage of removing some of the apprehension needed to make good dramas work but it has the benefit of letting the viewer focus on other things.
And in this case, there are plenty of 'other things' to absorb. The exquisite attention to detail on the sets, the (sometimes odd) writing, the inconsistent accents of some cast members and the masterful performances of Tim Roth and Samantha Morton.
For some viewers (like me) it's worth re-familiarizing yourself with a little backstory about these characters and the events that happened, as they give some reason and motivation behind some of the strange decisions that are made.
There is probably too little material for a three-hour miniseries to satisfy a young audience and the violence of the events that unfold are implied rather than displayed... which leaves the drama somewhat lacking in suspense... especially in a story where such inventive ways were used to dispatch the victims.
In the end, this BBC drama is drab, uneventful and too long. What makes it even more difficult to digest are the choppy and confusing (and entirely unnecessary) flashbacks and flashforwards.
And in this case, there are plenty of 'other things' to absorb. The exquisite attention to detail on the sets, the (sometimes odd) writing, the inconsistent accents of some cast members and the masterful performances of Tim Roth and Samantha Morton.
For some viewers (like me) it's worth re-familiarizing yourself with a little backstory about these characters and the events that happened, as they give some reason and motivation behind some of the strange decisions that are made.
There is probably too little material for a three-hour miniseries to satisfy a young audience and the violence of the events that unfold are implied rather than displayed... which leaves the drama somewhat lacking in suspense... especially in a story where such inventive ways were used to dispatch the victims.
In the end, this BBC drama is drab, uneventful and too long. What makes it even more difficult to digest are the choppy and confusing (and entirely unnecessary) flashbacks and flashforwards.
Call The Midwife with ligatures.
andrew-3368420 February 2019
I felt this telling of the story was brilliantly acted. Notting Hill looked grim enough but probably not as grim as it would have been in reality back then.
I must have enjoyed it so much that is was not aware of any soundtrack. Will have to watch it again.
Prompted to read the book again. To think that there were workmen coming and going at 10 Rillington Place while the murder of Beryl Evans was committed. To realise that her body was in the middle floor flat for 3 days while Timothy Evans was still living there prior to moving off to Wales. There were so many bits of luck for Christie to not getting caught.
Chilling.
I must have enjoyed it so much that is was not aware of any soundtrack. Will have to watch it again.
Prompted to read the book again. To think that there were workmen coming and going at 10 Rillington Place while the murder of Beryl Evans was committed. To realise that her body was in the middle floor flat for 3 days while Timothy Evans was still living there prior to moving off to Wales. There were so many bits of luck for Christie to not getting caught.
Chilling.
Wonderfully HORRIFYING!
templadavis13 January 2021
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. I have read about Christie's crimes quite a bit and never expected this to literally get under my skin and show me exactly what i believe Christie's was like. I was sickened by John Christie's HORRIBLE crimes and I do not flinch easily. If you love dark, slow, and terrifying then this is for you!
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