Empathy (2007) (TV)

Director:

David Richards

Writer:

Steve Lightfoot (writer)

Release Date:

4 August 2007 (UK)

Genre:

Horror | Thriller

Plot:

On the same day Jimmy Collins is released from prison, he discovers that he has a remarkable psychic-ability...

Plot Keywords:

Prison | Vision | Premonition | Cemetery | Magnetic Resonance Imaging

Cast

Simon Armstrong	...	Kennedy
Nick Bartlett	...	Lester Strick
Amber Beattie	...	Amy
Brian Cowan	...	Alan Turner
Amanda Douge	...	Sarah
Sally Edwards	...	Doctor Cairns
Amanda Fairbank-Hynes	...	Lisa Turner
Serena Harris	...	Woman at the Station
Cornelius Macarthy	...	PC Jarvis
Stephen Moyer	...	Jimmy Collins
Joan Oliver	...	Brief
Heather Peace	...	DS Jo Cavanagh
Peter Polycarpou	...	DCI Petrides
Gary Raymond	...	Walt
Paul Richards	...	Darren
Justin Salinger	...	Jack
Nicholas Sidi	...	Robert Evans
Carol Starks	...	Gail Evans
Laila Vakil	...	Doctor Krishnan
Noel White	...	Dan
Phillippa Wilson	...	Maddy
Mark Womack	...	DI Will Benson

Runtime:

UK:90 min

Country:

UK

Language:

English

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

1.78 : 1

Sound Mix:

Stereo

Certification:

Norway:15 (TV rating)

Company:

Carnival Films

Shame that it's only a one off!

I really enjoyed this drama and was just getting in to it when it ended.

After getting out of prison for manslaughter, Jimmy (played by the charming Stephen Moyer) starts to see briefly into people's lives by merely touching them, seeing their inner most secrets. At first he thinks the prolonged stay in prison has made him unable to cope with life on the outside, especially because he has just started to pick up life where he left off with his daughter, who he hasn't seen in over 9 years and his wife Sarah has moved on with life and is happily married to someone else.

However, when he accidentally bumps into a young guy on a station platform, Jimmy begins to have flashes of a very violent murder of a young girl in the woods. He starts to see a psychologist and has a MRI scan; hoping to find a reason for these impromptu flashes. But really starts to worry when a body of a young girl is found in the woods.

Jimmy has two options. Follow his friend's advice and tell no one, or do the opposite and go to the police hoping they'll listen and use these flashes to stop the next murder….

Though Empathy was slightly predictable (I must admit I pointed out within seconds who the real killer was) Stephen Moyer played a convincing role as a man who was totally freaked out by the prospect of seeing into people's most inner thoughts. The other characters were all well played and given bit more time, they could have developed well.

It was fast paced (sometimes a bit too fast, my boyfriend had a hard time keeping up with all the flash backs) and nicely wrapped up in drama of an hour and a half. It even left on a cliff hanger, I'm guessing leaving it open for a series but I must admit to being rather disappointed that there weren't a few more episodes more. I for one would have tuned in to it!

I agree with a few of the recent reviews on the web that if they were to carry this through to a 'Touching Evil' type drama series, they are going to have to dig a little deeper when it comes to their story lines. Perhaps reading some Agatha Christie might help :O)