Absolutely haunting. how a person can control other people. amazing acting. such a terribly toxic relationship, its kind if sick-making, yet so good portrayed. the end is rather disturbing, but i guess Micheal sheen's character just sort of lost in touch with the 'real' world.
7 Reviews
A strange, dark mystery with compelling characters
lexy_dupont27 January 2005
Based on a novel by Barbara Vine, this is a dark, complex mystery that probes the psyches of various desperate characters as they try to obtain the objects of their obsessions. The twisted, dependent relationship between the main characters, Joe and Sandor, is fascinating, and the actors, Michael Sheen and Paul Rhys, do excellent work. Rhys makes a snobbish yet charming sociopath, while Sheen manages to be both heartbreakingly vulnerable and slightly creepy. The plot has a few good twists, and the film makers manage to make the bright, wide open English countryside seem claustrophobic and ominous, which perfectly fits the mood of the story.
Misguided loyalty to an obsessed companion, British-style!
PATZILLA-29 August 1999
I saw this movie several years ago and visions of it are still haunting. The narrative style, picturesque cinematography and great acting come together seamlessly. The wrenching attempt to recapture a triste love-affair as only the UK can deliver, emotes empathy and aversion simultaneously.
The disturbing memory lingers on.
enys-morvoren6 March 2006
Warning: Spoilers
Details from 'Gallowglass' are vivid to this day and the next to the end revelations make it a dark shocker. Through one of the characters obsession with a lovely kidnap victim we learn that even though he believed himself passionately in love with her it never occurred to him to remove the shackle from her ankle when he made love to her.
Not a weak performance anywhere from Michael Sheen and Paul Rhys down, yet Michael Sheen's TV debut performance as the disturbed yet strangely innocent Gallowglass of the title, is what I mostly remember. Sheen has gone from strength to strength on TV and film. Mark my words, he's this century's Alec Guiness. Is it on DVD? I wish. 10 out of 10
Not a weak performance anywhere from Michael Sheen and Paul Rhys down, yet Michael Sheen's TV debut performance as the disturbed yet strangely innocent Gallowglass of the title, is what I mostly remember. Sheen has gone from strength to strength on TV and film. Mark my words, he's this century's Alec Guiness. Is it on DVD? I wish. 10 out of 10
Very Mysterious
pharrec6 March 2005
This is one of the finest mysteries I've ever seen. Edgy, anxiety-ridden from moment to moment, homo-erotic, heterosexual obsession, murder; it's got everything including sensational performances by all. A BBC production, the story reminded me so much of "The Servant", the film adaption of Harold Pinter's story/play where a creeping danger permeated the film throughout. "Gallowglass' however is much more sinister. A young man becomes 'servant' to the man who saved his life. From then on a dark world opens for him from which it's almost impossible to escape. Based on Ruth Rendell's(Barbara Vine) novel, this mystery will have you guessing until the last scene. Wear a coat because this one is going to give you chills.
Rendell's work deserves re-visiting.
Sleepin_Dragon11 January 2019
When I watched Gallowglass, I came away thinking, how bonkers it is, that Ruth Rendell's work isn't focused on more so, there are plenty of her titles that are just crying out to be adapted.
It's deep, that's for sure, not a show to put on for a casual evening's viewing, you need to fully engage, concentrate on events. The story is complex, the characters even more so, you could argue it takes time for events to get into motion, but it's worth sticking with, you'll find yourself rewarded for patience.
The acting is superb, and it's the Welsh duo of Michael Sheen and Paul Rhys that particularly stand out, Sheen is fantastic as the subservient Joe, Rhys arguably steals the show as the handsome, dangerous Sandor. There are some great scenes with Nerys Hughes.
Great production values, it's British drama at its very best. 9/10
It's deep, that's for sure, not a show to put on for a casual evening's viewing, you need to fully engage, concentrate on events. The story is complex, the characters even more so, you could argue it takes time for events to get into motion, but it's worth sticking with, you'll find yourself rewarded for patience.
The acting is superb, and it's the Welsh duo of Michael Sheen and Paul Rhys that particularly stand out, Sheen is fantastic as the subservient Joe, Rhys arguably steals the show as the handsome, dangerous Sandor. There are some great scenes with Nerys Hughes.
Great production values, it's British drama at its very best. 9/10
Another solid drama from Ruth Rendell
Tweekums10 April 2016
Warning: Spoilers
When the somewhat charismatic Shandor saves Joe, a troubled young man, from jumping under a tube train the latter becomes his gallowglass; one indebted to the point that he acts as a servant. It isn't long before Shandor is drawing Joe into a crime he is planning. Sometime before he had been involved in the kidnapping of Nina, a British woman in Italy, and now he is planning to kidnap her again. To this end Shandor and Joe move to Suffolk, where they are later joined by Joe's 'sister' Tilly. Meanwhile single father Paul Garnet has got a job as Nina's driver/bodyguard and Sandor decides that he is the way to get to Nina.
This three part series is gripping from start to finish; there is a constant sense that something bad is going to happen as we see Paul being interviewed by the police. These interviews don't actually give any indication as to what has happened or even who it happened to. As the story progresses there are plenty of twists; some of which are genuinely surprising without feeling forced. This all leads to a fairly shocking conclusion. The cast do a fine job; Paul Rhys is particularly good as the unlikable but Charismatic Shandor; Michael Sheen also impresses as Joe, it is not surprising that he has gone on to star in major films; Arkie Whiteley brings a suitable vulnerability to the role of Nina and John McArdle is good as Paul. Overall a really good drama that does not feel dated; I'd certainly recommend it to anybody looking for a drama that is a little different.
This three part series is gripping from start to finish; there is a constant sense that something bad is going to happen as we see Paul being interviewed by the police. These interviews don't actually give any indication as to what has happened or even who it happened to. As the story progresses there are plenty of twists; some of which are genuinely surprising without feeling forced. This all leads to a fairly shocking conclusion. The cast do a fine job; Paul Rhys is particularly good as the unlikable but Charismatic Shandor; Michael Sheen also impresses as Joe, it is not surprising that he has gone on to star in major films; Arkie Whiteley brings a suitable vulnerability to the role of Nina and John McArdle is good as Paul. Overall a really good drama that does not feel dated; I'd certainly recommend it to anybody looking for a drama that is a little different.
See also
Awards | FAQ | User Ratings | External Reviews | Metacritic Reviews
