Paddy Considine as Peter Hunter and Sean Harris as Bob Craven in RED RIDING 1980 directed by James Marsh. Photo Credit:Phil Fisk. An IFC Films release.
Also Starring:
- Jim Carter
- Shaun Dooley
- Julia Ford
- Sean Harris
- Eddie Marsan
- Joseph Mawle
- Tony Mooney
- David Morrissey
- Peter Mullan
- Tony Pitts
- Lesley Sharp
- Robert Sheehan
- Chris Walker
Screenwriter:
Based on the Book Quartet by:
Producer:
Executive Producer:
Photography Director:
Production Designer:
Editor:
Music:
Stills Photographer:
Distributor:
Production Company:
* Most external filmography links go to The Internet Movie Database.
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Red Riding: 1980 (2010)
Also Known As: Red Riding: In the Year of Our Lord 1980
Opened: 02/05/2010 Limited
| Limited | 02/05/2010 | |
| IFC Center | 02/12/2010 - 02/25/2010 | 14 days |
| Music Box Thea... | 03/12/2010 - 03/18/2010 | 7 days |
| DVD | 08/31/2010 |
Trailer: Click for trailer
Genre: British Thriller
Rated: Unrated
Short Synopsis
RED RIDING - 1980 (Directed by James Marsh) finds the police and the public still baffled that the "Ripper" remains at large and may have inspired a copycat killer. A veteran police officer, Peter Hunter (Paddy Considine), is called in from Manchester to take over the investigation, but his new theories about the case only incite growing opposition to his involvement.
Long Synopsis
December 1980 Leeds -- and the Ripper's reign of terror has lasted six years. Peter Hunter, Assistant Chief Constable of the Manchester Police, is asked to head up a secret Home Office Enquiry into the West Yorkshire Police's Ripper investigation. In 1975 Hunter was sent to investigate the Karachi Club massacre in Yorkshire in which police were injured, but he was unable to complete the inquiry, so this is the second time he's been asked to examine the activities of the West Yorkshire force.
Hunter chooses Manchester detectives John Nolan and Helen Marshall to work alongside him. As soon as they arrive in Leeds, Hunter and Nolan go straight into the press conference in which Bill Molloy -- "the Badger" -- finds he's being removed as chief investigating officer and replaced by Jobson.
Hunter and team review each of the so-called Ripper murders. Ripper squad Detective Superintendent Bob Craven -- one of the cops injured at the Karachi Club shoot-out but now recovered - is supposed to be Hunter's liaison officer, but seems to be doing his best to be as unhelpful as possible. Hunter outlines his theory that the West Yorkshire Police have been blindsided by the Ripper tapes, and that the man they are looking for has already been interviewed and dismissed.
Hunter receives a visit from Martin Laws, who takes him to meet a young man called BJ. BJ suggests Hunter looks closely at the murder of Clare Strachan. When Hunter's team reviews Clare Strachan's murder, Bob Craven says it's irrefutably a Ripper killing based on forensic evidence. Helen points out that if it's not a Ripper killing a 'copycat' murderer is also at large.
Helen takes Hunter to meet Mrs. Elizabeth Hall, widow of Eric Hall, a detective on the Yorkshire force who was murdered. Martin Laws is also there. Mrs. Hall discloses that her late husband was involved in the publication of the porn magazine Spunk and gives an issue to Hunter that contains photos of Clare Strachan.
Hunter decides that former PC Tommy Douglas might know more about Eric Hall's business. Douglas was unable to return to work after the injuries he sustained in the Karachi Club shoot-out and pensioned off. Hunter probes Douglas but gets nowhere.
Hunter interviews Ripper squad detectives Alderman and Prentice specifically about the Clare Strachan murder investigation and Alderman blurts out that everyone knew it was a handy cover-up as Eric Hall had killed her.
Hunter receives a desperate call from Douglas saying he needs to talk. When Hunter arrives to discover Douglas and his young daughter horribly murdered, he begins to realise the enormity of what he's up against but is determined to see this investigation through to the bitter end. However, someone seems equally keen that he won't. After his house burns down in an arson attack on Christmas Day, Hunter finds himself forcibly removed from the investigation by the slur of professional misconduct.
After Christmas, Hunter arrives back in Leeds for a disciplinary hearing but discovers the station in chaos, packed with journalists: they've just caught the Ripper. Hunter and Nolan watch the Ripper being interrogated by Jobson and watch him confess to all the murders except that of Clare Strachan.
Armed with this information, Hunter drives to Preston to meet BJ. BJ recalls the details of the night of the Karachi shoot-out, as he was in the bar and Clare was the barmaid, and finally Hunter is given the evidence he needs to start to put right this catalogue of wrongs.
