"The Second Coming" (2003) TV mini-series

User Rating:

7.6/10   

Director:

Adrian Shergold

Writer:

Russell T. Davies (writer)

Release Date:

9 February 2003 (UK)

Genre:

Drama | Fantasy | Romance | Thriller

Tagline:

Are you ready for judgment day?

Plot:

Steven Baxter is the Son of God, and can produce the miracles to prove it. How does the world react when he announces it has to produce a Third Testament within five days, or else it's Judgment Day?

Plot Keywords:

God | Second Coming | Miracle | Devil | Male Female Relationship

Awards:

1 win & 7 nominations

Cast

Christopher Eccleston	...	Stephen Baxter
William Travis	...	Dave Morris
Ace Bhatti	...	Peter Gupta (as Ahsen Bhatti)
Lesley Sharp	...	Judith Roach
Annabelle Apsion	...	Fiona Morris
Peter Wright	...	Chief Superintendant Lennard Chadwick
John Henshaw	...	Clive Saxon
Judith Barker	...	Eileen Saxon
Ray Emmet Brown	...	Charge Nurse
Peter Armitage	...	Frank Baxter
Rory Kinnear	...	Father Dillane
Mark Benton	...	Johnny Tyler
Jazmine Franks	...	Jane Morris
Chrissi-Jo Hyde	...	Hospital Administrator
Phil Clegg	...	Hospital Policeman

Runtime:

144 min (2 parts)

Country:

UK

Language:

English

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

1.78 : 1

Sound Mix:

Stereo

Certification:

Australia:M | UK:15

Filming Locations:

Manchester, Greater Manchester, England, UK

Company:

Red Production Company

Trivia:

The directions that Judith (Lesley Sharp) finds on the street, having been earlier dropped by a possessed woman asking her for directions, lead her to a laboratory. The room number, R153, is the word 'rise', obviously connecting to the subject of the serial.

Quotes:

Johnny Tyler: When judgement day comes; the Lord our God in heaven will find Stephen Baxter the man, and judge him a sinner.
[laughs]
Johnny Tyler: The Son of God will be sent to reign over hell. He's almost with us now. Just one more push; thanks to you.
Judith Roach: What have I done?
Johnny Tyler: Lust.
Judith Roach: It's more than that. It's better then that.
Johnny Tyler: Does he love you? Sweet. Do you love him?
Judith Roach: Yes.
Johnny Tyler: That's when the devil gets thee in.

Movie Connections:

References "Big Brother" (2000/III)

Things that make you go "mmmmmm"

I rented the dvd (appropriately enough) over the Easter weekend and it made for a very interesting diversion from the usual sappy, soppy, silly "resurrection" of religious movies we get bombarded with at this time of year. The acting was very good and the premise even better. Episode one was excellent and I wondered how the director was going to bring this to a resolution in episode two. Well, I loved the ending but I am, like other viewers, foxed as to how it came about. The peculiar logic of the film was compromised by a sudden revelation I'm not convinced the character would have(or could have) had. Nevertheless, I recommend this to anyone who has had their fill of the Mel Gibson/right wing/heaven- forbid-we-have-an-original-thought treatments of spiritual subjects.