'Red Riding Trilogy' is not quite a fairytale

"Red Riding Trilogy" was originally a British miniseries based on three of the four novels from David Peace's "Red Riding Quartet." Each entry has its own distinct storyline, but they all contribute to a larger, decade-long story.

"1974" revolves around Eddie Dunford (Andrew Garfield), a journalist who investigates the murder of several little girls. "1980" focuses on assistant chief constable Peter Hunter (Paddy Considine), who makes an inquiry into the Yorkshire Police's handling of the murder cases involving a serial killer named the Yorkshire Ripper. And "1983" is a melodrama about the redemption of a senior policeman, lawyer and male prostitute — all of whom have connections to the child killings that occurred in "1974."

While Toni Grisoni scripted all three films, each differs in terms of tone and direction. As a whole, however, the trilogy creates a memorable world full of grim, dark visuals, brutal violence and a large dose of cynicism — a  surreal, almost nihilistic universe where villains are far more successful than heroes. Each movie conjures haunting images, such as the burning aftermath of an attack on a gypsy van and a dead little girl with angel wings lying in water.

"1974" is a good, old-fashioned film noir in the vein of "Chinatown," complete with high-contrast cinematography, a femme fatale and a businessman who's above the law.

Trading the noir-ish approach for a more realistic one, "1980" is a police procedural thriller reminiscent of "Zodiac." It is more subtle and suspenseful than its predecessor, and the acting is tailored appropriately to the tone. A restroom confrontation between protagonist Peter Hunter (Considine) and returning antagonist Bob Craven (Sean Harris) is far more tense than any scene in "1974," simply because the performances have no reason to be cartoonish. Emphasizing character and story while moving at a vigorous pace, "1980" is the best and most exciting of the three.

The filmmakers saved the worst for last with "1983." While it sheds light on mysteries that the audience will want to see solved, the film lacks focus, pursuing at least three major plot lines and bringing them together in an unconvincing way. That isn't to say that "1983" is a total failure — certain sequences, such as a brutal torture scene, are full of suspense and shock value. But the film leaves a lot to be desired both on its own and as the conclusion to the trilogy.

Trilogies are a dime a dozen these days, but "Red Riding Trilogy" stands out for its dark subject matter, its visual inventiveness and its admirable ambition. I'd recommend at least two-thirds of it.