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.
Featured image and gallery: Jack Oliver After eight packed out performances across Europe Kaytranada arrives at Co-Op Live for his largest show on the European leg of his ‘Timeless Tour’. The 23,000 capacity venue is filled with excited fans who eagerly anticipate the start of the show after energetic performances from Pomo, Lou Phelps and…
Featured image: Olivia Taberner and Adomas Lukas Petrauskas From Arc’teryx raincoats to mud-clogged Salomons, we explore how outdoor garments have evolved from fashion trends to functional wear – bringing together communities of young men in the process. What began as a Patagonia jacket and a sunrise ambition soon turned into getting “battered at 3am by…
Featured image: Yas Lucia Mascarenhas and Adomas Lukas Petrauskas Manchester’s inner-city neighbourhood of Moss Side is often portrayed in the media as a dangerous area, plagued by knife crime and shootings. However, one resident and Manchester Met student – Baka Bah – believes this one-sided story doesn’t reflect the true spirit of his community. While…
Featured image: Molly Goble and Nicola Henry In the last five years, hate crimes against LGBTQ+ people have risen by 112%, underscoring the critical need for safe, inclusive spaces where queer individuals can find a sense of belonging. Amid this crisis, Queer Lit has emerged as a sanctuary in the form of a literary refuge…
Leave a reply