Ripley

Patricia Highsmith’s 1955 psychological thriller novel The Talented Mr Ripley was first adapted for the screen shortly after its release in 1956 and has since then become one of the most famous and popular stories in Western culture. Alan Delon starred in the 1960 French adaptation Purple Noon and then most famously Anthony Minghella took the story to Hollywood in 1999 with the assistance of young stars Matt Damon, Jude Law and Gwyneth Paltrow. Now, enter the ubiquitous duo of Andrew Scott and Johnny Flynn.

Living as a fraudster in New York, Tom Ripley (Andrew Scott) is approached by an extremely wealthy businessman and hired to travel to Italy to urge his son Richard (Johnny Flynn) to return home. All expenses paid, the job seems like a dream to Tom, but upon arrival in Europe, he becomes enamoured with the life and personality of Richard, and the job moves from one of deceit and fraud to something far more sinister.

What writer-director Steven Zaillian has delivered is a series that is the perfect blend of charming and subtly unnerving. We truly believe that Andrew Scott is not in fact Andrew Scott acting at all, but Tom Ripley. We know who Tom is from the beginning: a conman who takes no prisoners when it comes to taking money and using other identities, but what develops is one of the most complex roles Scott has had to perform to date and he does so marvellously. Scott and Flynn are the on-screen duo of the ages and you find yourself gripped by every scene, even if it just merely focuses on painting during a rainy afternoon or a discussion about New York. Dakota Fanning is also given a chance to stretch her wings as Marge, in a more strong, assured and suspicious interpretation than we have seen before.

Academy award-winning cinematographer Robert Elswit once again shows what a cinematic visionary he is through Ripley. The cinematography is to die for, breathtakingly beautiful in a black and white presentation that you could dine on forever. The Amalfi Coast lends itself to the visual storytelling and the score gives a 50s noir feel to the series, with sinister tones combining with fresh jazz to complete the feeling of an era long past that is receiving a sprinkling of twistedness before our very eyes.

For some, Ripley may feel like a slow burn, but it is this meandering pace, interjected with sudden sobering moments of fear from Tom Ripley’s actions builds a never-ending sense of uncertainty and dread about each character’s next move. We know something is coming, we are shown it in the opening scene, but how is it going to come about and what chilling moments are we going to experience along the way? Zaillian teases you across this indulgent eight-episode masterpiece and leaves you crying out for more, while also needing a stiff drink.

Guy Lambert

Ripley is released on Netflix on 4^th April 2024.

Watch the trailer for Ripley here: