Brilliant but disgraced detective John Luther breaks out of prison to hunt down a sadistic serial killer who is terrorizing London.
Detective Chief Inspector John Luther (Idris Elba) is back again with a vengeance after the BBC television series, written by Neil Cross, debuting in 2010, ended in 2019 with fans craving more. For all practical purposes, in this latest version of “Who done it?”, it appears that Luther’s stint in Hope Moor Maximum Security Prison for inappropriate practices did nothing to derail him from wanting or being willing to reduce his desire to be intrinsically involved in the investigation of a psychopath who has been terrorizing seemingly random citizens of the UK.
When the film opens, a young man is desperate to run an errand at the command of a serious non-negotiator, David Robey (Andy Serko), who, over the phone, threatens to expose a secret if he doesn’t comply with his wishes. While running the errand, he discovers what appears to be a dead body on the road, and just as soon as he calls 999 to report the strange sighting, he immediately disappears, never to be found alive again. When DCI Luther shows up at the crime scene and promises his mother, Corinne Aldrich (Hattie Morahan), that he will find her son and whoever is responsible, he is immediately reminded by Detective Chief Inspector Odette Raine (Cynthia Erivo, his replacement), that he is out of order in her jurisdiction. From that point on, she does everything in her power to expose him, up to and including ensuring he is back in prison, powerless to do anything to get in her way.
When Corrine’s son’s body is found hanging with other victims after their loved ones are routed to the same destination to witness the grueling deaths, the stakes rise even higher. While David continues his psychopathic, cyber killing spree and no one on the current force can figure out why or how the killings are being carried out, Corrine visits the prison to call Luther a liar to his face. Luther, who in the past seemed not to have much of a conscience, takes it personally and realizes he must escape from the ratchet prisoners trying to do him in to solve the mystery of the killings. His best and most promising way out is to call in a few favors from his old buddies, which include his mentor, DSU Martin Schenk (Dermot Crowley). Soon, Luther starts to make headway by defining Andy’s mode of operation and begrudgingly gets DCI Raine to collaborate with him after her daughter becomes a victim of Andy’s malicious intent. At the end of the day, Luther’s path to destruction seems to be rewarded in only a way that a rogue officer of the law can appreciate.
Director Jamie Payne has made an excellent production of this award-winning television saga that focuses on not only high-profile criminals but also corrupt police departments and the loyalty among the police force despite their different approaches to crime. This emotional drama is filled with components of the good, the bad, and the ugly and highlights compassion and distrust within a community while its protectors’ unorthodox qualities are amongst those who are considered guilty by association.
In Theaters Friday, February 24th, and on Netflix Friday, March 10th
