An unnerving and suspenseful series about human nature

Ripley

Netflix
2024

It begins with a murder, framed in film noir style upon a set of stairs. The silhouette of a man in a fedora leans over a body, peering up the staircase with every thump of his victim on the steps. But before any explanation is provided, the story jumps back six months; the viewer must continue watching the series to learn the context of this mysterious opening scene. So begins  Netflix’s Ripley, an eight-part series adapted from Patricia Highsmith’s 1955 book The Talented Mr. Ripley. 

The story follows Tom Ripley (played by Andrew Scott) whose character weaves a web of deception that unfolds beneath the rest of the plot and in the shadow of his decisions. The viewer can easily see he is a psychopathic, con artist extraordinaire – and a murderer. Still, Tom gains the viewer’s empathy early on, even as he twists a web of deceit among people who trust him. Scott delivers the role with an uncanny savvy, performing through a cold, seemingly vacant stare that reveals Tom’s thoughts while leaving an air of mystery. 

Tom shows an aptitude for conning those around him and a weakness in planning for the consequences, a flaw perhaps born from his arrogance. It isn’t always clear whether he understands the full scope of his deception, or even if he is being conned by one of his victims. In his arrogance, he leaves oversights, making him appear more of an opportunist than a true conning genius. Tom fumbles often and his mistakes cause him to fall deeper into deceit – but he also proves to be strikingly intelligent. Such masterful writing and acting make him a deeply unnerving and complex character. He is seemingly superior to others while also pathetically helpless – and viewers root for him regardless. 

Throughout the series, the camera sweeps black-and-white shots across the 1960s Italian coastline in a slow and idyllic fashion. While the story progresses into a rapid conflict, the cinematography remains evenly paced, a rare phenomenon in our day of short, action-filled movie sequences designed to sate our short attention spans. The cinematography, paired with little to no background music, effectively maintains the viewer’s attention. Behind the beautiful facade of wind-swept Italian villages perched on the glistening ocean, scenes range from the mundane to the morbid.

If you are a viewer like me, you might be immediately swept up in the pleasing aesthetic imagery. By the time the credits rolled, though, I was reflecting on the brokenness beneath the smooth surface of this series. I thought about the importance of relationships, sin’s impact, and Christ’s ultimate sacrifice to heal our broken ways. 

Binge-worthy, thoughtful, and brimming with suspense, Ripley is a brilliant exposition of cinema and human nature. And if you don’t know Italian, don’t fret – there are frequent subtitles to ease your experience of this compelling series.