Rent Deadwater Fell (2020)

Incredible scenery cannot distract from the terrible writing & nonsensical narrative tone/choices - Deadwater Fell review by TB

Heavily trailed/advertised in the media, mainly due to the presence of David Tennant, this was something I was interested to watch, especially after seeing his performance as Dennis Neilson. But despite some incredible visuals of the beautiful Scottish countryside, everything else is a complete mess.

The tone of this drama is totally misjudged, the narrative all over the place. Characters behave in no logical way at all, whether it is the adults or the children. Everyone appears to be in the wrong programme & the direction/writing is atrocious. After his incredible & nuanced performance as Neilson, here Tennant attempts to play another deeply conflicted man. Except this time all the tics & moody actions just don't fit, it's like watching a checklist of those traits acted out.

Similarly, the other characters are badly written. Jess & her other half are meant to be a couple, but there is almost no love between them, just different trite set-ups leading to arguments. The mother of Tennant's character is badly written as well. There are also at least two plotlines which go nowhere & the characters concerned vanish without explanation.

The main kudos and reason for 2 stars is there is also a welcome focussing on abuse normally are not featured in TV dramas, particularly coercive control & mental bullying. The character of Kate is, whilst also not well written, a representation of what so many women have to deal with in terms of horrific home lives with despicable partners.

But this is a small positive in what is effectively a tonally all over the place & unfocussed drama.