Film Review: "Luther: The Fallen Sun"

Audiences have rallied behind the idea of Idris Elba becoming the next James Bond. While he would fit in the role, Elba has carved a niche as another popular British Broadcasting Corporation (BBC) character. His portrayal as DCI John Luther has run for 5 seasons on the BBC.  Luther: The Fallen Sun picks up where the series left off with John Luther, a disgraced detective, behind bars.  When a sadistic serial killer (Andy Serkis) begins haunting the streets of London, Luther breaks out of prison to hunt him down.  Chased by old friends (Dermot Crowley) and potential new ones (Cynthia Erivo), Luther is on the prowl to protect his city. 

Luther The Fallen Sun does take liberties with how John was sent to prison. Fans of the original series will find these liberties leave them with more questions than answers. Those just dipping into the world of Luther will find this a perfect example of what worked best about the series. For non-fans or hardcore fans, the reason to see the film is Elba’s commanding and nuanced lead performance.

The success of the Luther series was the morally gray area that John Luther existed in. In Fallen Sun, Elba is able to expand upon those elements in very exciting ways. His character is so unpredictable that you can never look away from the screen.  The way in which Luther carries himself fits perfectly in a cinematic setting. Elba is magnetic as this damaged character, who audiences can connect to emotionally. While accused of a crime he did not commit, he perfectly conveys Luther’s continued quest for righteousness no matter the cost. It is a needed character trait going up against the terror that is Andy Serkis.

Serkis’s character David Robey is a very menacing and quite frightening presence on screen. His sadistic tendencies are a perfect moral match for Luther’s twisted version of heroism. The problem is that it takes a while for the characters to face off. Written by the television screenwriter Neil Cross, the film focuses more on character over plot.  Certain characters like Robey and Luther are given more shading than others. Capable actors like Erivo and Crowley are given less range, focused primarily on talking into phones or computer screens.  While a disservice to those characters, it follows the same patterns of the television series.

Luther was entirely about the psychology of its titular damaged character. Running for 5 seasons kept the focus on John. In The Fallen Sun, many will deem the focus on John as a slight to the supporting actors. Thankfully with Idris Elba more than capable in the role, I was able to forgive the sidestepping of the talented supporting cast. Watching him interact with Serkis is quite compelling and rather scary.  The film primarily focuses on creating a tense atmosphere rather than a violent mystery. Audiences looking for a straightforward mystery might consider the film narratively dull.

Luther: The Fallen Sun is a solid continuation of the journey of John Luther. Idris Elba once again commands the screen as the detective. Elba has the difficult job of making the character accessible to those who have never seen the show, and die-hard fans. He succeeds in giving Luther range in very tense action sequences.  Watching him clash with Andy Serkis will be exciting for any audience member.  Viewers looking for a fast-paced story will be sorely disappointed with the results. As a fan of the television series, I was quite pleased with this brutal mystery and character piece.  Others may be disappointed with the time the story takes to get going. You can make the decision yourself when the film drops on Netflix on March 10th!