Thursday 17 November 2011

TRAILER: Black Mirror (Channel 4)

Thursday 17 November 2011

Charlie Brooker's dark comedy-drama Black Mirror is looming, and the British Comedy Guide have a great interview with the man himself. I'm a sucker for anthologies like Twilight Zone or Tales Of The Unexpected, and after a shaky start I really enjoyed Brooker's Dead Set a few years ago (foreshadowing the TV success of The Walking Dead). I hope this is at least up to the standard of Mark Gatiss' brilliant Crooked House.

Black Mirror's very intriguing trailer is embedded above, which doesn't really give anything away about the show's content. But we know this about the three episodes: "The National Anthem" (pictured below) concerns the kidnapping of a member of the Royal Family, seen from the perspective of the Prime Minister; "15 Million Merits" is a satirical drama set in a future where the only escape from a life of drudgery is via a TV talent show; and "In Memoriam" (working title) takes place in an alternate universe where everyone's implanted with a chip that helps them remember everything in their life.

There's an impressive array of acting talent here, too: Rory Kinnear, Daniel Kaluuya (The Fades), Lindsay Duncan, Donald Sumpter (Being Human), Rupert Everett, Julia Davis (Nighty Night), Toby Kebbell and Jodie Whittacker (Attack The Block).

Incidentally, have you noticed how British trailers prefer to give audiences a feeling of style and tone? I much prefer that to the American style of just showing all the best moments very quickly.

What are your hopes for this three-part series?

Black Mirror premieres 4 December on Channel 4.