WALLS OF SILENCE
A GIRL GOES MISSING FROM A BEAUTIFUL GATED COMMUNITY IN THIS TAUT SUBURBAN THRILLER…
This twisty-turny crime drama – from the twisty-turny brain of mystery writer Harlan Coben – is set in a bland English town, but packs Hollywood punch, thanks to the presence of Michael C Hall, better known for his roles in US hits Six Feet Under and Dexter. Once you get used to Hall’s rather quirky English accent, he adds some real star value to this eight-part serial, which will be ‘dropping’ all in one go on Netflix this week.
Hall plays surgeon Tom Delaney, a single dad of teenage girls who is struggling to move on after his wife’s recent death. They live in a beautiful gated community, and believe they’re safe from the violence and trauma of life on the other side of their wall – but their luxury “village” has sordid secrets.
The drama kicks off when Tom’s eldest daughter Jenny goes missing – along with her older boyfriend – after a wild house party. Beside himself with worry, Tom soon finds everyone has something to hide – not least his best friend Pete Mayfield, and even the police investigating the case.
We sat down with possible suspects Marc Warren, who plays Pete, and Hannah Arterton (DC Emma Castle) in order to find out more…
What was it that attracted you to the story?
Hannah Well, I’ve worked with Harlan before, on a series called The Five, so to work with him again was a no-brainer. He tells such amazing stories. Every time you get a script you forget you’re an actor – you just race through the script to find out what happens next in the plot! Marc The disappearance of your child is the worst thing a parent can imagine, so it’s a rich seam for drama. It’s also a great story, really well made, with a fantastic script and a great cast. And Michael C
Hall is incredibly watchable – so it’s all there!
Hannah I’m really looking forward to seeing it myself!
What are your characters’ connections to Tom and his family?
Marc When we meet my character, Pete, and Tom, they are working in an operating theatre, where Tom is a surgeon and I’m his anaesthetist.
But when Tom’s daughter goes missing, the mystery begins. Who has done this? Is it someone from the gated community? My character helps along the way, but there are red herrings – and people you think are good turn out not to be. Hannah Even the police have their secrets. It’s also indicated early on that my character has been moved to the force in this town for a reason. She has an agenda of her own… And that’s all I’m going to say,
or I’ll get in trouble!
The show is set in a gated community – what do you think that adds to the story?
Hannah
You see the beautiful houses and maybe feel a bit jealous – ‘how the
other half live’ and all that. Whereas, behind the walls, is anyone really happy?
Marc With a gated community you keep people out – but what are you keeping in? People look at that luxury lifestyle with envy, but as with everything in life, when something looks too good to be true, there’s a lie in there somewhere.
You filmed in Manchester – we assume Michael C Hall wasn’t familiar with the area. Did you act as guides?
Marc I took him to Blackpool to see the Golden Mile. We walked to the Pleasure Beach, which was shut, and then we walked back again. This was on a wet Sunday in November. I’m sure you can picture it!