Movie Review - Luther: The Fallen Sun

Director: Jamie Payne
Genre: Crime/ Thriller/ Drama/ Mystery
Runtime: 129 minutes
Year: 2023
Starring: Idris Elba, Andy Serkis, Cynthia Erivo
 
Description: Brilliant but disgrace detective John Luther (Idris Elba) breaks out of prison to hunt down a sadistiv serial killer (Andy Serkis) who is terrorizing London.

Review: Detective Chief Inspector (DCI) John Luther is back. After five seasons, Idris Elba may take on the role of the tormented, driven and unorthodox detective one more time. This time in a feature film, where he hunts down a psychopathic serial killer who has his victims picked out by an army of hackers, only to blackmail them with their online secrets and lure them into his sick trap.

That Luther must first escape from a heavily guarded prison to do so is just a detail. In a fairly straightforward manner, he is released, and from then on a multi-level cat and mouse game begins. Luther wants nothing more than to catch the killer, as do his former colleagues. Even though they are also trying to catch Luther, they make clever use of him. Because if they find Luther, then they will most likely find the killer.

This dark thriller does not always excel in credibility, just like the series. Luther always gets away with a lot. And while the entire detective team is still in the dark, halfway through the story he magically sees through the perpetrator’s mindset, motives and next steps. And although Luther is a brilliant detective, it feels a bit too easy, too coincidental.

Still, there is enough to enjoy The atmosphere keeps you on the edge of your seat and the acting is strong. Not only Elba excels, but Andy Serkis also does week as the deranged antagonist. His actual motives might leave you with lots of questions in the end though.

Not a lot of familiar faces return for this film, but since most of Luther’s immediate colleagues and loved ones have died, that’s not such a surprise. But one character I was missing, was Alice Morgan. The interesting dynamic between her and Luther has always been a thread through the series.

“Luther: The Fallen Sun” is probably not the finale that fans were hoping for, but still, it was an enjoyable watch for everyone who has watched the series.

Rating: 3/ 5

TV Show Review - Luther (Season 3)

Season: 3
Genre: Thriller/ Drama
Number of episodes: 4
Year: 2013
Starring: Idris Elba, Ruth Wilson, Dermot Crowley, Warren Brown, Michael Smiley, Paul McGann, Nikki Amuka-Bird, Sienna Guillory, David O’Hara

Description: DCI John Luther (Idris Elba) is a near-genius murder detective whose brilliant mind can't always save him from the dangerous violence of his passions.

Review: In the third season of “Luther”, John Luther is secretly investigated by his former colleague Erin Gray and her new partner George Stark. They try to get Luther’s loyal partner Justin Ripley to get on board with them.
Like season 2, this season only had four episode and it deals with two cases. The first case follows a serial killer, who copies the murders from the Shereditch Keeper that happened 30 years ago. This is case has some real scary moments, because the killer is pretty creepy During this investigation, Luther is also asked to look into another case. What he doesn’t know is, that Luther was requested by Stark and Gray do investigate this case. This way they want to catch him red handed when he makes a mistake or he shows his unorthodox methods.
The second case deals with a man who suffers from ‘hero complex’. At least that’s what Luther thinks. The suspects murders criminals like pedophiles, who he believes didn’t get the right punishment for the crime.
Luther is also getting a bit of romance in this season, in the form of Mary. Luther gets to know her, when he accidentally hits her car.
The show had a very good finale, mostly thanks to Idris Elba and a surprising return of a beloved character. But overall, this was so far my least favorite season. I loved how they did it in the first season, one case per episode.

TV Show Review - Luther (Season 2)

Season: 2
Genre: Thriller/ Drama
Number of episodes: 4
Year: 2011
Starring: Idris Elba, Ruth Wilson, Dermot Crowley, Warren Brown, Michael Smiley, Paul McGann, Nikki Amuka-Bird, Aimee Ffion-Edwards, Kierston Wareing

Description: DCI John Luther (Idris Elba) is a near-genius murder detective whose brilliant mind can't always save him from the dangerous violence of his passions.

Review: John Luther, a complex man with a complicated personal and professional life. Luther is a very intelligent man, explosive, aggressive, emotional. And in season 2 we get to know the detective a little bit more. His relationship with Alice is strange, but also the relationship between him and Mark.
After the happenings at the end of season 1, we’re back in London and there are some changes. DS Ripley is back in uniform, Alice is in a mental hospital and Luther ‘plays’ Russian roulette with his father’s gun.
Luther wouldn’t be Luther if he didn’t ask Ripley back. Because his loyalty is worth much to Luther. DSU Schenk leads a new team and Luther and Ripley join him. There they meet DS Erin Gray, who does everything by the book, unlike Luther and Ripley.
Season 1 had six episode, this season has only 4. And there are two cases, taking over two episodes each. Alice is out of the picture, so we need a new red thread. This comes in the form of Jenny Jones, a prostitute working in the adult film industry. Her mother thinks it’s involuntary and Luther comes to the rescue. I’d rather see more of Alice, but this is also an interesting change.
“Luther” is a show that grabs you, thanks to again the fantastic performance by Idris Elba in the titular role. His very honest and realistic emotions are something many of us can relate to. How it doesn’t let him go. And we can somehow also understand the blind trust that Schenk and Ripley have in him.
Again, a really great season.

TV Show Review - Luther (Season 1)

Season: 1
Genre: Thriller/ Crime/ Drama
Number of episodes: 6
Year: 2010
Starring: Idris Elba, Ruth Wilson, Dermot Crowley, Warren Brown, Michael Smiley, Paul McGann, Indira Varma, Steven Mackintosh, Saskia Reeves

Description: DCI John Luther (Idris Elba) is a near-genius murder detective whose brilliant mind can't always save him from the dangerous violence of his passions.

Review: When I started this show, I thought there were enough British detectives. But when you’ve got Idris Elba as your lead, it’s a little different. Elba turns a very standard role into something special.
At the start of season 1, we see Luther chasing a man, who seemingly has abducted and killed girls. We see how Luther can rescue him from falling down, but he purposely doesn’t. because of the investigation of this happening, Luther can’t work until the investigation is finalized. He is asked back. Soon we learn he is in a difficult relationship with his wife Zoe and that, on the first case back, he starts getting a strange connection with the supposed suspect. The question we all ask is, why would you let him work as a detective, when you know all this? Well, because he is the best on the job.
The red thread in this first season, is the connection between Luther and Alice, the woman we meet in the first episode. Her parents were brutally murdered and Luther knows she did it. But there is no evidence and Alice walks away. but because Alice is Luther’s equal when it comes to intelligence, the two form an unlikely bond.
I’m glad the show doesn’t fully focus on that. This is the only part that you can only understand if you see all episode. The rest can also be watch separately. Each episode focuses on a new case.
I’m definitely going to continue this show. Not only because I simply love detective stories. Idris Elba is magnificent and created an interesting character I want to explore more.