See No Evil: The Moors Murders

Sean Harris and Maxine Peake really bring the monsters that were the Moors Murderers to life. Harris is fantastically disturbing,chilling and creepy as the ultimate manipulator and chief instigator of the most infamous series of murders in the last century. George Costigan as the policeman is also seen performing at the top of his game. I was worried about the way this extremely sensitive subject was going to be handled but it was perfectly done. Still shocking but not graphic apart from one scene of the murder of Eric Evans. That shocked me and I thought I was unshockable after a lifetime of watching all genres of movie. I never imagined that anyone would tackle this gruesome story for many more years but it is a story crying out to be dramatised. We never learn about why the couple did what they did but we do see the devastating effect it had on the people surrounding them. I do not think I will see anything which will stay with me for so long as this will.

The thing that struck me most after watching this was how eerily normal it all was. Not Ian Brady (Sean Harris) His behaviour screamed dangerous individual. But everything else. This drama depicts so well the minute details of everyday, boring life. The conversations, the slang, the setting just reminded me of people i knew and places I've been. It made the eventual reveal of the crimes all the more effective.

It reminds you this can happen anywhere and be anyone you know. The show has great attention to detail and 1960s Working class England is brought to life amazingly well. You feel like you are actually there. The houses and streets are grim and so are the people and their life's: Teenagers married with babies, young men struck on the dole, violent men ignored and semi accepted by everyone. It doesn't strike me as a time of innocence shattered by the Moor Murders but a time full of narrow-mindedness with a simmering undercurrent of brutality.

The cast all play their roles fantastically and the script is excellent. No character is completely sympathetic and no character (with the exception of Brady) is one dimensional . Even Hindley, in a controversial move is portrayed as someone who loves her sister fiercely and is capable of compassion for her niece and dogs. All in all, an excellent sensitive, realistic portrayal of the banality of evil and the extraordinary aspects of normality .

It's odd how dated historical dramas can become. It's just shy of twenty years since this was aired and at the time I remember how brave it was for daring to show the story of her sister and brother-in-law.

I still think it's brave, but I think a more updated telling would give more time to the victims and the obvious nonsense with the various police forces' investigations.

This was a quality drama at the time and I still think it holds weight. Maxine Peake is always phenomenal. The fella who plays Brady though, I knew I always had him pinned for a baddie. Was it because of this? Did he do it too well? I know full well I've seen him in all the wrong 'un roles since.

Anyway, RIP their victims and may the two awful creatures responsible be damned for eternity.

STAR RATING: ***** The Works **** Just Misses the Mark *** That Little Bit In Between ** Lagging Behind * The Pits

To mark the 40th anniversary of Ian Brady and Myra Hindley's convictions for the horrific 'Moors Murders', ITV1 has produced this dramatization of their hunt, capture and conviction, charting their friendship with Dave Smith (Michael McNulty), boyfriend of Hindley's sister, whom Brady tried to warp into his twisted little world. It was only when he saw Brady butchering 17 year old Edward Evans to death that it all came out and the pair were caught.

People reacted to this production with the expected mixed emotions. It was always going to be one of the most controversial productions the station had ever green-lighted, and there was understandable out-rage, offense and shock from some when it went ahead. But the families of the victims were okay with it and this drama does manage to be as realistic yet sensitive as it could possibly be.

This can hardly be described as 'entertaining', but by telling the dark true story that it is, it does play out with the required haunting gusto, with some dark camera shots and a few quiet, reflective scenes.

Performances wise, Sean Harris and Maxine Peake as the two main characters are highly effective, as are some of the supporting cast including George Costigan as the detective who lead the investigation that brought the pair to justice. Some of the others might need to brush up on their craft a bit, but they do not stop what is generally a well made and very effective timely re-telling of events nobody wanted to know but had to hear. ****

Maxine Peake and Sean Harris both have wonderful performances as the infamous Moors Murderers Myra Hindley and Ian Brady. Such a powerful programme, yet there was hardly any gore. The silence just before it cut to adverts was creepy and surreal and let the events really sink in. After watching countless two part dramas on television I can safely say this is the best yet. The acting was second to none; you generally believed that Maxine and Sean were the people they portrayed. The devastation of the families was so well shown, your heart went out to the families of the murdered. A wonderful dramatisation of a relatively touchy subject. Very well done.