By Ben Thompson
The four-part BBC drama Dark Money followed a family in turmoil, after their son Isaac is sexually abused by a Hollywood film producer. The series delves into the aftermath, following the parents as they deal with the legal complications, media intrusions and their dysfunctional family unit.
Babou Ceesay and Jill Halfpenny star as the parents, Manny and Sam, and spend a good portion of the shows’ duration agonizing over how to help their son. While many viewers may dislike the parents for the choices they make, their performances are unquestionably raw and human.
The stand-out performance of the series comes from Max Fincham, who plays Isaac – the boy at the centre of the abuse scandal. Fincham, despite being 14-years-old, displays a mature understanding of the topic through his performance that would make anybody feel unnerved. I can’t comprehend how this young actor was able to play a character placed in such circumstances, but he will no doubt have a great career ahead of him.
The only criticism of the series, it’s that four episodes isn’t enough time to dedicate to this story. It’s almost a British tradition to produce series with few episodes, but this one could have benefited from a additional four episodes. I’ll be holding out hope that a second series will follow, and continue the story.
While Dark Money is a recommended watch, it’s not going to be for everybody. The atmosphere is eerie, creepy and often depressing, with the characters spending a lot of time arguing or wallowing in regret. But, if you can stomach the dark tones, I believe you should watch this series.
We are becoming increasingly aware of instances of men in power taking advantage of women in Hollywood, but fewer people know about the child actors who have also suffered at the hands of abusers. This series could be the first step in learning more about the dark side of glitz and glamour.
By Megan Levick A new exhibition celebrating female cyclists and tackling issues around women’s safety in urban spaces has launched at Manchester Central Library this month in celebration of International Women’s Day 2025. The aAh! Magazine X Lights Up Exhibition will run from 03 March to 29 March 2025 and showcases a range of multimedia…
Featured image: Alison Hall Future Media Production student Gracie Hall takes home top music photography award A Manchester Metropolitan University student has claimed a top national photography award, winning the Photographer of the Year title in the music category at the London Camera Exchange 2025. Gracie Hall, a BA Future Media Production student, impressed judges with her…
Featured image: Edward Firman There is no better combination than a good book and a hot cup of coffee; it’s the ultimate feeling of cosiness no matter the season. However, there’s something comforting about rainy days in Manchester, when the skies are gloomy and you stumble upon an independent bookstore. Over the years, bookstores have…
Featured image and gallery: Eden-Hopkins Fermo Manchester Met’s GoGlobal Week initiative continued on Wednesday with an event featuring award-winning poet Jason Allen-Paisant and acclaimed writer and Contemporary Fiction Professor Monique Roffey. Launching his first non-fiction book, The Possibility of Tenderness, Allen-Paisant and Roffey explored the themes of his memoir, dissecting his personal history and the…
Leave a reply