Marian, Again (ITV1 2005, Stephen Tompkinson, Kelly Harrison)

Thriller Marion Again begins with married man Chris Bevan taking his daughter to a school exam and seeing a woman he thought dead. Marian was his sunny, carefree girlfriend 15 years ago and after taking her home one night she simply vanished. Sure it is her he confronts her but she denies knowing him – but what Chris doesn’t know is that she was kidnapped that night 15 years ago and locked in a box for years until she broke to her captors will and became brainwashed into believing anything he tells her. Chris must find a way to get through to the woman she once was unaware that the kidnapper has now set his sights on Chris’ teenage daughter Olivia.

Very scary and tense, MA (which is based on actual events, albeit ones that happened in the states) is a superbly strong thriller, very gruesome and definitely with some imagery that would have been better left happening off screen.Kelly Harrison pretty much takes the acting plaudits, convincing in equal measure as the carefree Marian and the defeated Susie. Stephen Tompkinson, who normally is very reliable looks utterly unconvincing in the scenes set fifteen years earlier though.

cast
STEPHEN TOMPKINSON as Chris Bevan
KELLY HARRISON as Marian Walsh
OWEN TEALE as Bernie Sullivan
SAMANTHA BECKINSALE as Josie Bevan
KATIE ROSS as Olivia Bevan
STUART McQUARRIE as Jim
GRACE CASSIDY as Esme Bevan
AMY LYTHGOE as Tilly Bevan
NATALIE RICHARDS as Frances
JUNAID IQBAL-WAHID as Sonny
SHAHED ALI as Suraj
MARY SOBERS as Cashier
SIAN FOULKES as Fiona
PATRICK CONNOLLY as PC Quinn
PETER SLATER as PC Sanders
JACK COOPER as Brandon Brison

crew details
Writers: Ben Court, Caroline Ip
Music: Alan Parker
Production Design: Jacqueline Smith
Producer: Steve Lightfoot
Director: David Drury

production details
Country: UK
Network and Production Companies: ITV 1 Network – All3 Media International
Duration: 2×90 minute episodes
Aired From: 5 and 6 September 2005