Killer Net (1998) (TV)

Director:

Geoffrey Sax

Writers:

Lynda La Plante (creator)
Lynda La Plante (writer)

Release Date:

5 May 1998 (UK)

Genre:

Crime | Drama | Mystery | Thriller

Tagline:

When murder becomes a virtual reality...

Plot:

Students get involved in a violent Internet-based game, around the same time as a series of murders - is there a connection?.

Plot Keywords:

Student | Murder | Computer | Two Part TV Movie | Sex

Cast

Tam Williams	...	Scott Miller
Paul Bettany	...	Joe Hunter
Emily Woof	...	Susie
Kathy Brolly	...	Charlotte 'Charlie' Thorpe / Heather Ringwall (as Cathy Brolly)
Mark Tandy	...	Robin Butler-Cooke
Gareth Marks	...	John Dome
Simon Meacock	...	Tony 'Scruffy' O'Reilly
Zoe Lucker	...	Carol
Lee Ingleby	...	Gordon
Laura Heath	...	Jill
Debbie Chazen	...	Sandra
Joanna Griffiths	...	Randy
Simon Greiff	...	Brian
Mark Denham	...	Jarvis
Martin Turner	...	Alec Frogton
Bronwen Williams	...	Grace Soames
Duncan Holmes	...	Watchdog
Jason Orange	...	DJ Brent Moyer
Christopher Neame	...	DCI Collingwood
Richard McCabe	...	DI George Colby
Aneirin Hughes	...	DC Nathan (as Anerin Hughes)
Stephen Boxer	...	DS Hawkes
Raquel Cassidy	...	WPC Pamela Boxer
Gregory Cox	...	Greg
Barry Ewart	...	Taxi Driver
Geoffrey Freshwater	...	Duty Police Sergeant
Stephen Greif	...	Harvey Levin
Margot Leicester	...	Meryl Griffiths (as Margo Leicester)
Simon Williams	...	Mr. Miller
Bruce Purchase	...	Geoff Hearn
Sara Stephens	...	Tracy
Ilaria D'Elia	...	Judy
Natalie Loveridge	...	Sharon
Nicola Blackman	...	Porn - Black Sadie
Samantha Hudson	...	Coral
Stephanie Hudson	...	Carol
Ross O'Hennessey	...	Bouncer (as Ross O'Hennessy)
Oded Fehr	...	Victor
Orlando Wells	...	Roger
Mark Barton Hill	...	Jamie
Ian Sharrock	...	Father - Tunnel
Natalie Sharrock	...	Daughter - Tunnel
William Sharrock	...	Son - Tunnel
Simon Rossi	...	Italian Waiter
Cyd Hayman	...	Mrs. Miller
George Maguire	...	Tom Miller
Imogen Bain	...	Mavis
Ian East	...	Security Guard
Christopher Crooks	...	Griff (as Chris Crooks)
Michael Culkin	...	Justin Holloway
Grace Mitchell	...	Neighbour to Pam Boxer
Tim Faraday	...	Policeman - Player

Directed by
Geoffrey Sax

Writing credits (in alphabetical order)
Lynda La Plante		creator
Lynda La Plante		writer

Produced by
Steve Lanning	....	executive producer
Lynda La Plante	....	producer
Liz Thorburn	....	associate producer

Original Music by
Simon Boswell
Alex Heffes
Chris Whitten

Cinematography by
Peter Sinclair		(director of photography)

Film Editing by
Kristina Hetherington

Casting by
Gill Titchmarsh

Production Design by
Ian Fisher

Art Direction by
Sandie Shepherd

Costume Design by
Joanna Eatwell

Makeup Department
Madeleine Masters	....	chief hair stylist
Madeleine Masters	....	chief makeup artist
Felicity Wright	....	assistant hair stylist
Felicity Wright	....	assistant makeup artist

Production Management
Howard Lanning	....	post-production supervisor

Second Unit Director or Assistant Director
Terry Bedford	....	second unit director
Peter Bennett Jr.	....	assistant director
Marcus Catlin	....	second assistant director
Marios Hamboulides	....	assistant director: second unit
Sophie Sorensen	....	third assistant director

Art Department
David Ackrill	....	prop master
Caroline Harper	....	art department assistant
Michael Preece	....	production buyer
Paul Sansom	....	construction manager

Sound Department
Tim Blackham	....	sound recordist
Leo Casserly	....	digital sound editor (as Leo Casserley)
Steve Haynes	....	dubbing mixer
Chris Rayson	....	digital sound editor
John Samworth	....	boom operator

Special Effects by
Adrian Bleasdale	....	special effects editor

Camera and Electrical Department
Matthew Butler	....	electrician
Tristam Cones	....	clapper loader
George Martin	....	best boy
Barry Miller	....	chief electrician
Zac Nicholson	....	clapper loader (as Zachary Nicholson)
Sam Osborne	....	focus puller (as Sam Osbourne)
Malcolm Smith	....	grip
Marianne I. van Abbe	....	still photographer
Dion M. Casey	....	Steadicam operator (uncredited)

Casting Department
Gary Davy	....	casting assistant

Costume and Wardrobe Department
Joanna Macklin	....	costume assistant
Allison Wyldeck	....	costume supervisor (as Alison Wyldeck)

Editorial Department
Ian Mortimer	....	telecine colorist
Dominic Strevens	....	assistant editor

Transportation Department
Stanley Sirkin	....	unit driver (uncredited)

Other crew
Alice Asquith	....	researcher
Jill Benedict	....	story developer
Yvonne Eastmond	....	assistant accountant (as Eve Eastmond)
Christine Harmar-Brown	....	script editor
Mark Jordan	....	computer and video graphics playback operator
Jackie Malton	....	police advisor
Ciara McIlvenny	....	script editor
Terry Mellis	....	financial controller
Fidelis Morgan	....	story developer
Sian Prosser	....	script supervisor (as Siân Prosser)
Carol Regan	....	production coordinator
Victoria Sheerman	....	assistant to executive producer
Mark Somner	....	location manager

Production Companies

• Channel 4 Television Corporation
• La Plante Productions

Distributors

• Channel 4 Television Corporation (1998) (UK) (TV)
• Contender Entertainment Group (2005) (UK) (DVD)
• Video Collection International (1998) (UK) (VHS)

Other Companies

• Way Out West  animation
• JAC  unit publicity
• Universal Sound  foley recording
• Nine Network Australia  produced with the assistance of (as Channel Nine Network Australia)

Also Known As:

Lynda La Plante's Killer Net (Australia)

Runtime:

201 min (4 parts)

Country:

UK

Language:

English

Color:

Color

Sound Mix:

Stereo

Certification:

Australia:M | UK:18

Filming Locations:

Brighton, East Sussex, England, UK

Company:

Channel 4 Television Corporation

Trivia:

Many of the outdoor scenes are filmed in Islington (although set in Brighton)

Goofs:

Errors in geography: After a night of heavy drinking Scott orders a taxi to Kemptown (although he's standing on Marine parade, Kemptown 100yds from his flat) which drives him away towards Hove. It keeps driving west - when Scott throws up by the pier the car is driving east and stops on the spot where he entered it about half a mile east of the pier (but now "at home")

Remarkable and criminally neglected drama of mind-games andcomputer truths.

This is to me a masterpiece. It is brilliant plotted, as one would expect from this writer, yet shares little with her other work, particularly in the way the police are very much a background presence helpless in the invasion of newer more sophisticated menaces such as the internet, which even their own computer experts cannot keep up with. The acting is particularly noteworthy, from the naive but so believeable Tam Williams to his maternal flatmate Emily Woolf, but best of all is the amazing Paul Bettany as rugby playing, arrogant Joe, who delivers a scene in part four so well you cannot help but gasp as you watch. Another star of this is the music, which is superb, doomy yet very catchy. Of special mention is the inspired use of the Linoleum track "Twisted" at two key points in the story, the fusion of music and drama making them the two strongest moments in the series, they work so well. The series was poorly publicised in Britain and many perhaps just expected an ill informed cautionary tale about the internet; even worse was the video release which gave the entire plot away on the inside sleeve notes! The direction by Geoffrey Sax is what really lifts this drama into the level of masterpiece though. The performances he wrings from the cast is amazing, but the depiction of the game and the pacing (amazing for scenes of just Scott sitting playing a computer game) are breathtaking. The point of view shots of Scott drunk in part two are remarkable, and the whole production glistens with a flashy, gimmicky finesse and sophistication which matches the game itself. A true classic comparable with a Nigel Kneale or Dennis Potter drama. One interesting point to ponder however...the internet is so criticised because it is new, whereas books and plays are "respectable". Does the television not offer as much virtual reality violence in this production as the internet? And in that sense the internet is censor-friendly, since you have to request to view explicit materiall. If it was somehow restricted when young children are viewing it, it would surely be less criticised, because a game like Killer Net, believeable addictive and thrilling, is just as bloodthirsty as watching this!