Watched it last night. Quite nicely done and everybody acted well, especially Peter Capaldi as the prosecutor. That said, it didn't have a single moment that I could honestly describe as chilling - or even a bit eerie for that matter. The script looks to be based on the text and where there are additions, such as Martin claiming that there were thirteen jurors, these did nothing to improve matters. The story itself is not one of James' scarier offerings and I suspect for best effect needs to be read aloud to a small gathering suitably mellowed by much passing of the Port leftwards.
Slightly daft bit of directing: one of the witnesses, William Reddaway, is described in James' text as a child of around 13. Gatiss substitutes a black actor (who is 32) - with a thin moustache. No issue with the substitution, but totally bewildered as to why the script was not suitably modified. The judge and prosecutor address him throughout as "child" cautioning him not to be "frightened" which sounds ridiculous and only draws attention to Gatiss's liberal pretensions. Perhaps that's the point.never trust a man in a blue trench coat, never drive a car when you're dead |