We live in a world where our fears are encouraged
Netflix thriller Safe is set in an idyllic gated community. But danger emerges from within this enclave. GEORGIA HUMPHREYS hears from stars Michael C Hall and Amanda Abbington, how the show’s themes are likely to resonate with its viewers
ONE way to guarantee a premise.TV drama is full of twists and turns? Get a renowned crime writer to come up with the New Netflix eight-parter Safe – which follows a widower whose teenage daughter disappears in mysterious circumstances – was created by American thriller author Harlan Coben, who has 30 novels to his name.
It’s written by Danny Brocklehurst (the man behind dramas such as Shameless and, more recently, BBC1’s Come Home), and US star Michael C Hall, 47, says it was the surprises in the script that had him hooked from the start.
“Reading the first episode, there were three moments that my jaw dropped,” says Michael, who plays Tom Delaney, the man at the centre of the story.
The star of hit US series Dexter and Six Feet Under adds: “Every time I finished an episode, I was surprised by how much happened. I think this is just a testament to the machinery that Harlan is able to construct... so much story, so many relationships, so many characters introduced that you get to know quite well.”
Throughout Safe, viewers will learn some truths about the night Tom’s wife died – with questions raised about whether anyone really knows the people they love.
“There is a lot of back and forth on the timeline throughout the series,” reveals Sherlock star Amanda Abbington, 44, who plays Sophie Mason, a police officer who aids Tom in the search for his missing teenager.
“So, keeping on top of where I was dramatically, and trying to remember what happened before... it was like, ‘I really need to think about this!’.”
There’s no denying there are plenty of binge-worthy crime shows around, but what makes Safe different is its setting.
Paediatric surgeon Tom, who is also an ex-military man, is bringing up his two daughters, Jenny, 16, and 12-year-old Carrie, in a gated community, which may look idyllic and calm from the outside, but has dark secrets lurking within.
Are we too obsessed with safety these days?
“I think we are manipulated to feel a bit like that by the media,” muses London-born Amanda. “I think we are safer than we think we are.”
“We live in a world where our fears are encouraged, exploited – there is a fear-mongering element to the media and that probably encourages people to believe in the necessity of living behind a gate,” agrees Michael.
“What’s interesting about the show is that the danger that emerges, emerges from within this enclave.”
He continues: “I do think the theme of safety and trying to cultivate it, and the illusion of having it, is probably something that will resonate more broadly.”
As Tom tries to look for ways to help solve the mystery of Jenny’s disappearance, the show raises the question of how far would you go to protect your family – something Michael seems to have found interesting to explore.
“I think if you are desperate to find something to do, and have no idea what that is, it may well result in you doing things you’d never imagine yourself doing,” he says.
Amanda, meanwhile, loved delving into her role as “family orientated” Sophie, who is
juggling looking after her two children – one of whom has chronic kidney disease – while also dealing with an ex-husband who’s living in the front garden. Meanwhile, her friendship with Tom is developing into something more...
“Sophie’s brilliant,” Amanda gushes. “She’s really interesting and she’s multi-faceted and there was nothing in the script that made me go, ‘Oh no!’”
The actress reveals her own two children, with actor ex-husband Martin Freeman, are extras in the opening scenes of episode one, in which the residents of the community are having a BBQ and playing football.
“We filmed it over the summer holidays, which is a long time for the kids to have off, and they were going a bit stir-crazy, so they came up and stayed with me and they would come on set and cause havoc.
“I just said, ‘Would it be OK if they joined in and were just in the background?’
“There are a couple of really good shots of them actually,” Amanda continues proudly.
“They were thrilled that they were in it. They told all their friends, ‘We are in this Netflix series!’.”
With the show set in the English suburbs (it was filmed here too), North Carolina-born Michael worked hard to perfect the accent.
“I was living in London for some time and knew about the job, so had some time to walk around and mumble and try and get my mouth around it,” he says.
With success in shows both here and across the pond, it’s interesting to hear the pair’s thoughts on how the TV industry has grown in recent years.
“Obviously, there are phenomenal films out there, but I hear people pitching their film ideas and people will say, what if it were a TV show?” says Michael. “That seems to be where it’s at in terms of the opportunity.”
“People binge-watch stuff on Netflix and Amazon (Prime), and they are making programmes and allowing us to have a freer rein – we don’t have to go to a producer and have to fill in a specific criteria,” Amanda adds.
“The way we make TV is changing, and I think it is for the better.”
Safe will be available on Netflix from Thursday.