PRODIGAL SON

WITH his wild curly hair and a glint in his eye, Michael Sheen is the serial killer we never knew we needed.

In this pacy US thriller, the top Welsh actor goes into full Hannibal Lecter mode, all but licking his lips from a prison cell as a scary psychopath. He plays Martin Whitly, otherwise known as The Surgeon, responsible for at least 23 murders during which he used his medical skills to kill people in the most agonising ways possible. It’s both a psychological drama and an action-packed cop show, beginning in 1998 when Whitly is arrested for his crimes. He tells his son Malcolm: “Listen to me. You’re my son and I love you. We’re the same.” Then he flashes a big, toothy, terrifying grin. It’s enough to make you shudder. In the present day, Malcolm is all grown up and understandably suffering from a smidge of post-traumatic stress disorder and a fair few daddy issues. In a neat twist, he’s working as a forensic profiler for the police. Malcolm, played by Tom Payne, knows a hell of a lot about psychopaths and, in “Benedict Cumberbatch does Sherlock” style, can solve a crime in minutes. It’s the cast, including Scandal’s brilliant Bellamy Young playing Malcolm’s mother, which elevates this from mundane cop show to sparkling thriller. Sheen’s scenes as the homicidal maniac are the standout moments, but they are not overplayed. Meanwhile, viewers will wonder if Malcolm has inherited more than just an intense mood. It all makes for enjoyably bonkers viewing.