I always forget how brilliant Emma Thompson is. Partly because she usually works in film rather than television, and I haven’t been to the cinema since the mid-90s. It’s also because she always seems so… well, so Emma Thompson in interviews and award speeches that I struggle to imagine her fully disappearing into a role for some serious acting.
But of course, she can—and does—in the new eight-part thriller Down Cemetery Road, Morwenna Banks’ adaptation of Mick Herron’s debut novel. Thompson plays private investigator Zoë Boehm, a woman both tough and brilliant. Herron is now better known for Slow Horses, the series about disgraced spies in Slough House, overseen by the weary Jackson Lamb, played by Gary Oldman, who has become a cult favorite for his portrayal of the beleaguered antihero we all relate to. I hope Thompson’s Boehm earns similar admiration, because she’s magnificent. Boehm is a role model for women everywhere, especially those held back by a lack of cynicism or a tendency to please others. Watch her and learn. See the barren landscape she stands in, the field of cares she no longer tends. “I don’t drink prosecco and I don’t bond emotionally,” she tells a new client, and it’s one of the show’s joys that she sticks to this almost entirely.
That new client is art restorer Sarah Tucker, played wonderfully by Ruth Wilson. Sarah is another woman with little patience for fools, except perhaps for her investment banker husband, Mark (Tom Riley). They’re enduring a dreadful dinner party with a potential client of Mark’s, a wealthy jerk named Gerard Inchon (Tom Goodman-Hill, clearly relishing his character’s sharp dialogue). Also there are Sarah’s friend “Wigwam” (Sinead Matthews), a hippy with four kids (“Are you starting a cult?” Gerard asks), and her new partner Rufus (Ken Nwosu), when a neighbor’s house explodes, killing two adults and injuring a child.
Sarah visits the child, Dinah, in the hospital. The staff’s odd hostility—they won’t let her see the girl and later seem to be whisked away in a car—fuels an obsession, hinting at Sarah’s past mental health struggles, to find Dinah. This leads her to Zoë and her hapless, devoted husband, Joe (Adam Godley), who starts looking into it.
Could Dinah’s disappearance be linked to events elsewhere? Specifically, at the Ministry of Defence, where anxious handler Hamza Malik (Adeel Akhtar) is being reprimanded by his boss, C (Darren Boyd, cast against type to chilling effect, using his comedic skills in a role with almost as many great lines as Gerard). The house wasn’t destroyed by a gas leak but by a bomb planted by a near-rogue agent C calls “Wreck-It Ralph” or “the Twisted Firestarter.” He must be reined in, and his mistakes covered up, along with whatever he was trying to hide for others. Watching the trembling Malik, no one holds out much hope.
Down Cemetery Road is excellent. There’s not a wasted moment or word; everything serves a purpose (especially Fehinti Balogun as Amos, the link between Malik and his dangerous agent, and Nathan Stewart-Jarrett as the man caught on Mark’s phone near the blast). The plot thickens quickly, and the twists are worth it. It neatly fixes the book’s minor issues, bringing Zoë into the spotlight much earlier.For example, it retains all the dry humor and sharp wit that fans of Slow Horses have surely been hoping for. And while this may be a side note, for those of us who can hardly stand to look at Jackson Lamb due to the thin layer of grime that covers him, it’s an important one: Zoë appears to have fully mastered basic hygiene and laundry. Who could ask for more?
Down Cemetery Road is available on Apple TV.
Frequently Asked Questions
Of course Here is a list of helpful and clear FAQs about the thriller featuring Emma Thompson crafted by the creator of Slow Horses
General Questions
Q What is the name of this new thriller with Emma Thompson
A The film is titled Down Cemetery Road
Q Who is the creator behind this movie
A Its crafted by Mick Herron the acclaimed author who created the Slow Horses book series and TV show
Q Is this movie connected to the Slow Horses series
A No its not connected While its made by the same creator Mick Herron Down Cemetery Road is a separate standalone thriller based on his other work
Q What is the basic plot of Down Cemetery Road
A While specific plot details are often kept under wraps its a spy thriller that follows an ordinary woman who gets pulled into a dangerous conspiracy after a bomb explodes in her neighborhood
About the Cast and Performance
Q What role does Emma Thompson play
A Emma Thompson plays the lead role of Sarah Tucker a sharp and determined woman who starts investigating the mysterious explosion herself
Q Why are people saying her performance is stunning
A Critics and early reviews highlight her ability to portray a complex relatable and resilient everyday heroine bringing a unique blend of intelligence wit and vulnerability to the highstakes thriller genre
Q Is this a different kind of role for Emma Thompson
A Yes while shes known for dramas and comedies this role showcases her in a gritty suspensedriven thriller demonstrating her incredible range as an actress
Viewing and Availability
Q Where can I watch Down Cemetery Road
A The streaming service or network has not been officially announced yet Keep an eye on announcements from major platforms like Apple TV or others
Q Do I need to have seen Slow Horses to understand this movie
A Not at all Down Cemetery Road is a completely separate story and requires no prior knowledge of Slow Horses or any other Mick Herron work
Q Is the movie based on a book
A Yes it is based on the novel of the same name
