Lake Of Darkness, The (ITV 1999, Jerome Flynn, Sadie Frost)

Thriller The Lake of Darkness was shown as part of the Ruth Rendell Mysteries series. Staid accountant Martin Urban wins 1.8 million pounds on the lottery, being of a generous disposition he decides that he would like to help people in need by giving large chunks of it away, along the way he meets the beautiful Francesca and falls head first for her setting in motion a chain of events of murderous proportions. Meanwhile an old friend of Martin’s mother has reason to believe her son Finn has evil in his heart.

There’s a major sting in the tale as the story progresses and you start to realise where it is headed, especially when the highly sinister Finn’s role in the story is made plain.

As is befitting a script from Sapphire and Steel creator P.J. Hammond there was quite a spooky atmosphere here. Rendell’s novel was published in 1980 and Hammond carries over much of the flavour of it in his adaptation.

production details
UK / ITV Network – Meridian – Blue Heaven – United / 1×120 minute episode / 1999 1 May – Monday 9.00pm

Writer: Peter J. Hammond / Novel: Ruth Rendell / Director of Photography: Ken Westbury BSC / Music: Amber Music / Costumes: Frances Tempest / Producer: Neil Zeiger / Executive Producer: Graham Benson / Director: Bruce McDonald

cast
JEROME FLYNN as Martin Urban
SADIE FROST as Francesca
CAL MACANINCH as Finn
NICK REDING as Tim Sage
LIZ SMITH as Lena Finn
ERIC FLYNN as Mr Urban
MARTHA COPE as Caroline
JOHN BOSWELL as Mr Beard
JEAN RIMMER as Miss Watson
RENU SETNA as Dr Ghopal
ERIC FLYNN as Mr Urban
OMID DJALKI as Mr Kaiafas
JEAN CHALLIS as Mrs Gogarty
GILLIAN BARGE as Mrs Urban
HOLLY EARL as Lindsey
CAROLINE DEVLIN as Solicitor
KIEREN BHATT as Mrs Bhavnani
SOO DROUET as Woman at Door
FLAMINIA CINQUE as Kate

• The Riff Raff Element (BBC Drama, Ronald Pickup, Celia Imrie)

• Warriors (BBC Drama, Matthew MacFadyen, Damian Lewis)

• Rockface (BBC One Drama Series, Clive Russell, Brendan Coyle)

• Woodlanders, The (1997, Emily Woof, Rufus Sewell)

• Lost Son, The (1999, Daniel Auteuil, Nastassja Kinski)

• Best of Both Worlds (BBC-1 2001, Alice Evans, Cal Macaninch)

• Sorted (BBC-1 2006, Hugo Speer, Neil Dudgeon)

• The Galactic Garden

• The Sentimental Agent (ATV 1963)

• The Dark Island (BBC 1962 TV Series)

• The Restless Gun (NBC – ABC 1957-1960 TV Series)

• The Deputy (NBC 1959-1960 TV Series)

• Delvecchio (NBC 1976 TV Series)

• Messiah (BBC One 2001-2004 TV Series)