Featured Audience Ratings

• Anthony L

  
  A dark and gritty beautifully crafted thriller. Made for TV films aren't supposed to be this good, this is by far the best thing that's been on British TV for years and it has since opened the gates for other great dramas. The cast is perfect, the trilogy actually making a… More
  A dark and gritty beautifully crafted thriller. Made for TV films aren't supposed to be this good, this is by far the best thing that's been on British TV for years and it has since opened the gates for other great dramas. The cast is perfect, the trilogy actually making a few peoples careers. Loosely based on real events and with that very realistic British 1970's feel that they got down perfectly. I real thrill, I can't wait to see the second part....

• KJ P

  
  There are so many questionable scenes in this film, which make the film very intriguing to watch, as it is a trilogy, and all the answers will come forth later. Some of the dialogue makes no sense to me, but it is beautifully filmed and well-plotted, making that okay. "Red… More
  There are so many questionable scenes in this film, which make the film very intriguing to watch, as it is a trilogy, and all the answers will come forth later. Some of the dialogue makes no sense to me, but it is beautifully filmed and well-plotted, making that okay. "Red Riding: 1974" is essentially about finding a killer of children, but quite honestly, there is so much more behind the screen than you make think. Andrew Garfield is brilliant as Eddie Dunford, the journalist who is in deep investigation. The acting is top notch here and the filmmakers really know how to tell a compelling story. This is a great film!

• Zach B

  
  From the time that Stieg Larsson's Millennium Trilogy had become a world wide accomplishment in crime fiction, there has been a rather large productions of crime fiction films being adapted into cinema. One of which is the Red Riding Trilogy, originally written by David Peace.… More
  From the time that Stieg Larsson's Millennium Trilogy had become a world wide accomplishment in crime fiction, there has been a rather large productions of crime fiction films being adapted into cinema. One of which is the Red Riding Trilogy, originally written by David Peace. Now, I know that it is something of a bold statement to say that these crime novels were adapted purely based on the success of Stieg Larsson's novels/ films, but in a way, that seems to be the main idea. Mostly due to people wanting to have a new found taste in crime. But, this is about Red Riding: In The Year Of Our Lord 1974. Okay, first thing that I need to talk about in terms of this film, and one of the main slashes against it, is how difficult it is to understand anything that any of the characters are saying. Now, this is mainly a problem due to how thick their accents are. The plus about this is that it allows the film to have that dark, British atmosphere that just makes things all the more creepier. The negative is that you can not understand anything that any of the bloody characters are saying. So, take it as you will. Me personally, I liked it because it just added to the atmosphere and the acting itself explains what the characters are saying. With the direction, nothing really stood out. I mean, yeah, this film was gorgeously shot and the idea of having all the gruesome details spoken about and never shown really did add a good bit to the film. But there are some things that the film could have done without. Mainly talking about the six or more sex scenes that occur. I am glad that you never see anything too explicit, but after a while, it does kind of get irritating and starts slowing down the pace. The one thing about this film that I need to speak of is up and coming star Andrew Garfield. Prior to this film, I saw him in David Fincher's The Social Network and he was fantastic in that film. But here, he is able to steal the show. What mainly impresses me is how he was able to copy the British dialect, the presence, and basically become a character that I doubt he could ever really pull off. But here he did. At the time this review is being written, he is currently promoting his film The Amazing Spider-Man. It is a pity that most American audiences will know him for being in red and blue tights and not as a deranged, sex loving journalist. He is, and will probably be, the main reason why most people will want to see this film and he does not disappoint. In the end, I am a sucker for crime fiction and what we have here is a rather nice, dark start to a film series that chronicles that corruption of the law, the Yorkshire Killer, and the way how anyone tries to stop the hero. Yeah, the film is hard to watch due to the dialects and how thick the accents are, but if you must, put on subtitles and watch this film. Trust me: you won't really be disappointed. Yeah, it is not great or a masterpiece, but it is worth a watch.

• Idrees K

  
  An intriguing and compelling neo-noir. Though it has the feeling of being incomplete (as the first part of a three part story), it still manages to give the viewer a sense of how far and wide the corruption really goes. The subtlety of some of the connections made by the protaganist… More
  An intriguing and compelling neo-noir. Though it has the feeling of being incomplete (as the first part of a three part story), it still manages to give the viewer a sense of how far and wide the corruption really goes. The subtlety of some of the connections made by the protaganist really force the viewer to pay attention or wind up losing track of the case....much like a real investigation.

• Michael S

  
  "1974" is a strong, promising start to the RED RIDING TRILOGY. It's a brooding, moody examination of police corruption told in the most bleak fashion possible. It doesn't offer any easy answers, and even key plot elements are revealed subtly. Though this can… More
  "1974" is a strong, promising start to the RED RIDING TRILOGY. It's a brooding, moody examination of police corruption told in the most bleak fashion possible. It doesn't offer any easy answers, and even key plot elements are revealed subtly. Though this can confuse and isolate viewers, the film keeps you immersed in it's world and invested in it's characters, especially Andrew Garfield in the lead who really shines here. Sure, Certain elements might seem unclear, but by the end the film really comes together in it's own unique, satisfying way. Hopefully the plot will be further fleshed-out in the final two parts. (Be sure to get those subtitles ready. The accents are HEAVY in this film and some of the dialogue is near incomprehensible. Also, "1974" is notorious for various audio dips and problems which makes matters worse. The subtitles help greatly).

• Emile T

  
  Similar to films like Fincher's Zodiac or the Millenium trilogy (The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo), the first establishment of the Red Riding trilogy happens to be as grim as these kind of movies get and also manages to pull out of promising young actor Andrew Garfield a nice lead… More
  Similar to films like Fincher's Zodiac or the Millenium trilogy (The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo), the first establishment of the Red Riding trilogy happens to be as grim as these kind of movies get and also manages to pull out of promising young actor Andrew Garfield a nice lead performance, but never gives the thrills or succeed to be as engaging as the previously mentioned thrillers. It is still quite good on its own, but I guess I will have to see the other two films of the series for this one left me pretty disappointed.

• Lady D

  
  With a very slow start, this installment in the Red Riding triology builds up to a powerful climax. With an all star British cast, all of whom give great performances, Part one whets the appetite for the rest of the trilogy.

• Emily A

  
  Um.... alright. This movie is oppressively grim, utterly devoid of life and levity, and all the characters seem quite unhappy to be here or anywhere. The story was similar in tone to The Girl With The Dragon Tattoo, but I didn't find these characters anywhere near as engaging.… More
  Um.... alright. This movie is oppressively grim, utterly devoid of life and levity, and all the characters seem quite unhappy to be here or anywhere. The story was similar in tone to The Girl With The Dragon Tattoo, but I didn't find these characters anywhere near as engaging. The London accents presented a bit of a challenge to make sense of what the dialogue was, and the story is propelled forward by a rookie journalist's hunger for the truth. In a sea of people with no lust for life, why anyone cares about anything boggled me. All these characters behaved as though they were gripped by misery to the point of suicide. I wonder if there is ANY way to make this story breathable: the world of this movie is so shit that a serial killer goes around kidnapping, torturing, raping, murdering and mutilating little girls and everyone seems to roll over and accept it as inevitable. I bought the entire trilogy, buit I don't even know if I want to continue.

• Bruce B

  
  Best serial killer film I have seen in a very long time maybe even ever. the first of 3 movies in this Trilogy. Very Suspenseful, did they get the killer or not, guess we will see in 1980 Sequel. Worth 5 stars.

• El Hombre I

  
  Although a bit confusing until the film progressed a bit more, the police corruption storyline is told rather well and much more realistic than some of the corrupt cop movies these days. No explosions or massive killings, but bribery, cover-ups and murder play a big part. Also unlike… More
  Although a bit confusing until the film progressed a bit more, the police corruption storyline is told rather well and much more realistic than some of the corrupt cop movies these days. No explosions or massive killings, but bribery, cover-ups and murder play a big part. Also unlike may Hollywood movies this film tells a very broad story, not always having the action happen onscreen, but having some of the story take place through dialogue between characters and some things are left to the imagination. Always great to see Sean Bean. <a href="http://s273.photobucket.com/albums/jj203/goji9000/?action=view&amp;current=RedRiding1974_4.jpg" target="_blank"><img src="http://i273.photobucket.com/albums/jj203/goji9000/RedRiding1974_4.jpg" border="0" alt="Photobucket"></a>

• Nicki M

  
  Slightly confusing at times, but decent English crime thriller. Nice and dark, and the 70's setting interested me as it was my birth year (but don't yell that around too loud. LOL!). I think this was pretty well done. As I said, I did find it a little confusing in story,… More
  Slightly confusing at times, but decent English crime thriller. Nice and dark, and the 70's setting interested me as it was my birth year (but don't yell that around too loud. LOL!). I think this was pretty well done. As I said, I did find it a little confusing in story, but my husband, who was in and out of the room the whole time it was on, was able to explain the confusing bits to me without even watching it properly, so I am assuming that could have just been me and my wonderful attention span. (not).

• Cynthia S

  
  Could have been really good, but it just went in some odd directions. I really wasn't fully sure all the time that I was understanding everything that happened, or why either.

• ♥˩ƳИИ &

  
  Cast: Andrew Garfield, David Morrissey, John Henshaw, Anthony Flanagan, Warren Clarke, Jennifer Hennessy, Mary Jo Randle, Rachel Jane Allen, Rita May, Michelle Dockery Director: Julian Jarrold Summary: Loosely based on the facts surrounding Britain's notorious Yorkshire… More
  Cast: Andrew Garfield, David Morrissey, John Henshaw, Anthony Flanagan, Warren Clarke, Jennifer Hennessy, Mary Jo Randle, Rachel Jane Allen, Rita May, Michelle Dockery Director: Julian Jarrold Summary: Loosely based on the facts surrounding Britain's notorious Yorkshire Ripper case, this grim thriller, Part 1 in the television adaptation of David Peace's novels, uncovers rampant police and civil corruption in mid-1970s Northern England. Girls are disappearing, the Yorkshire community is abuzz with gossip and fear, and a young reporter (Andrew Garfield) is suspicious when a mentally handicapped immigrant is fingered for the heinous crimes. My Thoughts: "The first film of the trilogy, and it really sets the tone for the next two installments. It's gritty, and the setting is grim. There are many character's in the film and it's at times hard to follow with the quickness of their words meshed with the heavy British accent. There are many shady character's, which leaves you never knowing who to trust. Not even the police are to be trusted in this one. Which had me at first wondering how they got away with some of their actions. The first installment is more about all the police and political corruption then it is about the murders. But the film did a great job at drawing you into the story to where you will want to see how the rest of the it unfolds. So on to the second one.."

• Stella D

  
  the first film of a trilogy based on a series of novels inspired by the yorkshire ripper. in this story an ambitious young journalist begins to see connections in the disappearance of several young girls in the early 70's. he becomes personally involved in the case which is… More
  the first film of a trilogy based on a series of novels inspired by the yorkshire ripper. in this story an ambitious young journalist begins to see connections in the disappearance of several young girls in the early 70's. he becomes personally involved in the case which is obstructed at every turn by police corruption. well acted, especially by andrew garfield in the lead role, and with very interesting cinematography. all told there are two serial killers and 3 different directors involved in the series, with a whole host of actors and some recurring characters tying the stories together. we'll see how that goes....

• Aaron N

  
  Peter Hunter: You don't like the police much, do you? Martin Laws: No love lost, no. Peter Hunter: So when someone kicks down your front door, kills the dog and rapes the wife, who you gonna call? Martin Laws: Well it certainly wouldn't be the West Yorkshire Police -… More
  Peter Hunter: You don't like the police much, do you? Martin Laws: No love lost, no. Peter Hunter: So when someone kicks down your front door, kills the dog and rapes the wife, who you gonna call? Martin Laws: Well it certainly wouldn't be the West Yorkshire Police - they'd already *be* in there, wouldn't they! A trilogy of films set against a backdrop of serial murders, including the Yorkshire Ripper case. While they are each standalone films, handled by different directors, they share the same setting and feature some of the same characters and themes throughout. I could review each of these films separately, but this film project was ambitious enough to warrant my viewing of them in quick succession of each other, and in doing so I feel that it would be best to sum up my thoughts in one review. The films are set in 1973, 1980, and 1983. The first film features Andrew Garfield (future Spider-Man) as a journalist looking into the unsolved murders of several young girls. During his investigation he makes encounters with the mother of one of the victims (Rebecca Hall) and a corrupt businessman (Sean Bean). In 1980, Paddy Considine stars as a police officer brought in to investigate the Ripper murders. In this film, the focus moves towards corruption from within the police department. The final film focuses on the redemption of some of the characters and wraps up many of the running plot lines. It also features Mark Addy as a public solicitor looking into the past abductions. This final film relies the most on the previous films, utilizing many flashbacks, but still functions as a solid standalone feature. John Dawson: Fucking A. I'm no angel. The three films were directed by Anand Tucker, James Marsh and Julian Jarrold. Each of them have distinct visual styles for their films, which is fitting with the time frame that these films are set, as the quality becomes better and better. 1973 is filmed with 16mm film, giving it the grittiest feel of the three, while 1983 was filmed with the Red Camera, making it the cleanest. This approach again adds to keeping these films separate as features, while feeling appropriate to their tone. This trilogy as been frequently compared to David Fincher's Zodiac, which is apt. Both these films and that one are sprawling crime sagas that maintain a dark tone throughout and feature many characters and plot lines. While Zodiac is the better feature, this trilogy sure does manage to ring very true in the same ways, by featuring a solid set of stories, focused more on what the events cost these characters in their own lives and the procedural elements surrounding their stories. Certainly aiding these films are its performances. Garfield does a solid job, even if much of his job requires having his ass kicked for probing to deep. Bean is at his sleazy best. Rebecca Hall does quite well in one of the smaller roles, as does Peter Mullan (an actor I admire). David Morrissey does a fine job, being the one actor to have a fairly important role in all three features. In terms of ranking these films, I am actually having a fairly indifferent feeling towards which one is the best, but if I had to choose, I would say the second feature, 1980, is the best conceived. 1974 certainly relishes the most in it's style and 1983 is about concluding the series, but 80 seems to be the one I would come back to most easily. The dark tone of these features can certainly hold one back from getting the most out of them. It takes a bit of time to really embrace what is going on, and the thick Yorkshire accents certainly didn't an American like me get deeper involved at a quicker point. This is certainly a series I have high praise for. It was an ambitious project that certainly paid off. A unique film series that benefited from the approach to its scope. BJ: 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7. All good children go to heaven.

• Steven C

  
  The first part of the Red Riding Trilogy is a good one. It's so stylish and well acted that you are sucked into the world the picture creates. Andrew Garfield is spot on and Julian Jarrold directs with such style and assuredness that the ever present dread is a character all… More
  The first part of the Red Riding Trilogy is a good one. It's so stylish and well acted that you are sucked into the world the picture creates. Andrew Garfield is spot on and Julian Jarrold directs with such style and assuredness that the ever present dread is a character all it's own. This is also one film where the production design is so seamless it also seems completely natural. A bit like "The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo" meets "Zodiac".

• familiar s

  
  At first, I wasn't going to rate this movie because I felt that I should do it after watching the whole trilogy (since I read that the whole mystery gets solved in the last part). But since I'm not sure if I'll see the rest of them (owing to how wonderful this one was),… More
  At first, I wasn't going to rate this movie because I felt that I should do it after watching the whole trilogy (since I read that the whole mystery gets solved in the last part). But since I'm not sure if I'll see the rest of them (owing to how wonderful this one was), I thought I'd better rate it now anyway. After all, it would be an unbiased rating of the movie on its own; how it stands independently of the other two parts. For me, it started off well & I thought it's gonna be a worthwhile serial killer movie (BTW, I've no idea of the real story behind Yorkshire Ripper. I don't know anything about the book this is based on, either). But after a few, the movie wanders in altogether different direction. And the romantic track with some forced love-making scenes only makes the matters worse. The execution is way too lame. One of the reviewer here says: "1974 is the most cinematic of the three, with a more fictitiousness and entertainment feel than the other two." Now if this was entertaining than the other two, I wonder if I'd be going for them. Yet, being an avid fan of mystery flicks, you never know.........

• Luke B

  
  Fantastic British film that takes an obviously interesting story, but then takes another route. The film is set at the time of the Yorkshire Ripper, but instead of exploring that case, it goes after a more interesting and generally less explored , idea. Red Riding is more about police… More
  Fantastic British film that takes an obviously interesting story, but then takes another route. The film is set at the time of the Yorkshire Ripper, but instead of exploring that case, it goes after a more interesting and generally less explored , idea. Red Riding is more about police corruption, than it is serial murders. It shows how power, inevitably corrupts and how the individual greed of certain officers can be detrimental to a case. Andrew Garfield continues his acting dominance, as the kind of idealistic journalist that they all want to be when they are young. He slowly uncovers a grim underworld of police corruption, politics and a shopping mall. If I were to draw any comparisons between this and any other work, it would have to be The Wire. That's a huge compliment, but don't let it be forgotten that Red Riding is a grim (it is set up north), tense and angering drama, that perfectly mixes fiction and non-fiction alike to form the most affective piece.

• Walter M

  
  It is 1974. Eddie Dunford(Andrew Garfield) is a young journalist who gave it a try in London before returning in semi-disgrace to his native Yorkshire to work for the local newspaper. The first case he covers is the disappearance of Clare Kemblay, a young girl. The police feel… More
  It is 1974. Eddie Dunford(Andrew Garfield) is a young journalist who gave it a try in London before returning in semi-disgrace to his native Yorkshire to work for the local newspaper. The first case he covers is the disappearance of Clare Kemblay, a young girl. The police feel it might be the work of local gypsies and burn one of their camps to the ground, a crime Eddie is tipped to anonymously. On his own, the reporter makes a connection from Clare to two other local girls who had gone missing in recent years. Going against the advice of his colleague Barry(Anthony Flanagan), he goes to interview one of their mothers, Paula Garland(Rebecca Hall). While I am sure I would not be the first one to note certain resemblances between this opening chapter of the "Red Riding Trilogy" and a certain classic film that was released in 1974, it also manages to stand on its own in capturing a time and place, establishing a setting for the rest of the series with a great cast of British actors. Eddie may reference the fantasy of James Bond but this is the harsh reality of working class lives.(No wonder Bond wanted to get away so much.) They suffer under a corruption that is not only municipal in character,(This is the last we will hear of the proposed shopping center, so we can only guess what happened.) but also spiritual with a good deal of religious symbolism thrown in. And it is no coincidence that each chapter's year is introduced with "In the year of the Lord." Into this mess falls Eddie, perhaps the only pure person around, who feels he can make a difference in this rotten world.

• Don't Tase M

  
  Analogous to the GIRL WITH A DRAGON TATTOO films, this one actually was produced and released on the small screen (television) in the same year, 2009. Set against the 1970s and early 1980s in Yorkshire, England, (that's the "north" where they do what they like) unlike… More
  Analogous to the GIRL WITH A DRAGON TATTOO films, this one actually was produced and released on the small screen (television) in the same year, 2009. Set against the 1970s and early 1980s in Yorkshire, England, (that's the "north" where they do what they like) unlike Stieg Larsson's best-selling trio of books, no central character dominates in this grey, ashen-coloured trilogy. Adapted from David Peace's Red Riding Quartet, the films wade deep into the onion-esque layers of the Yorkshire Police corruption during the hysteria-filled period when the famed-Yorkshire Ripper murders captivated and terrorised the whole of England. The three feature-length films, the first beginning in 1974, the second in 1980, and the last in 1983 are wonderfully written, cast, acted, and superbly filmed. Stunning performances abound in each of the films, especially in the first film from current-Spiderman actor, Andrew Garfield as a zealous investigating journalist, Eddie Dunford. Paddy Considine, with Game of Thrones's alumni Sean Bean & Mark Addy each turn in compelling performances. Perhaps the most unnerving of them all is Sean Harris's crooked cop Bob Craven; (his ferret-like intensity will enrage you until you realise he's literally chewing through the scenery with aplomb.) Fans of David Fincher's ZODIAC will absolutely enjoy this very English take on the ambivalence of justice, the murky side of the law, and the quest for truth that cannot be denied.

Read all 20 featured audience ratings