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Ultraviolet - Complete Series (2 Disc Set) [1998]


RRP: £24.99
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Editorial
Amazon.co.uk Review

In the six-part British "vampire-slaying" mini-series Ultraviolet we discover that UV light is used (both in surgery and via high-tech weaponry) to identify people who have been infected with a disease labelled "Code 5". It's transmitted via a bite to the neck, but at no point in the series is the word "vampire" used. Instead, in the second episode ("In Nomine Patris") the nickname "Leech" is introduced. We learn that it was this disease, these "Leeches", that were responsible for the Fire of London, and that one in 20 people are already infected. In the opening episode, policeman Michael Colefield (Jack Davenport) is recruited into the secretive CIB. He meets its introverted priest-chief Pearse (Philip Quast), the emotionally driven Dr Angela March (Susannah Harker) and the bullish heavyweight Vaughan (Idris Elba). Spinning around Mike's suddenly complicated life are his best friend's jilted fiancée Kirstie (Colette Brown) and old flame Frances (Fiona Dolman). In later hard-hitting episodes we see a 12-year-old boy stab his teacher priest to death ("Mea Culpa") and the capture of a "Leech" ("Persona Non Grata"). This intriguing series ends having tied together most of its threads, but dangles worrying implications at the viewer... not so much to suggest a sequel as to hammer home everything at stake. --Paul Tonks

Editorial
Video Description

DVD Special Features:

PC Screensaver
Weblinks
Trailers
Gallery of Stills
Cast and Writer-Director Biographies
Picture format: 4:3
Sound: Stereo

Editorial
Synopsis

ULTRAVIOLET is a six-hour miniseries that takes place in a world where vampires have lived with humans for centuries and have gone mostly undetected. However, this changes when detective Michael Colefield (Jack Davenport) investigates the strange disappearance of his partner and discovers a troubling alternate reality where vampires seem to control a number of important aspects of society. Because of this experience, Michael is recruited by the government's vampire squad, the CIB, an elite team of agents who are trying to hunt down this society of vampires. A dark, brooding programme that plays like a mix of X-FILES and PRIME SUSPECT, ULTRAVIOLET is one of the most engrossing series to appear on the small screen in years.

Excellent mini-series.
Review date: 2008-07-13 Rating: 10 out of 10

A brief note here: the Ultraviolet covered here is a mini-series that aired on Channel 4 in the UK and is absolutely no relation to the godawful Mila Jovovich move of the same name, and should not be confused with it.

Ultraviolet ran for six episodes at the tail end of 1998 and rapidly picked up enormous critical acclaim. Unfortunately, various factors combined to mean that a planned sequel series never went into production. The series was the brainchild of Joe Ahearne, who wrote and directed all the episodes (the exhaustion brought about by which, and C4's request he do the same for the second season, is apparently the key reason why it never happened). Ahearne had formally worked on the acclaimed BBC-2 series This Life and more recently has directed several episodes of the new Doctor Who.

Ultraviolet is a modern take on the vampire myth. As it was airing at the same time as Buffy the Vampire Slayer, the writer clearly wanted to take a different approach. Ultraviolet is more realistic than the American series, delving more into science of how vampires might work and showing in some cases greater fidelity to the myth (for example, vampires do not appear on camera as mirrors are part of the camera's focusing mechanism, whilst in Buffy they do) and taking it to new levels: these vampires cannot appear in any form of electronic recording, and cannot use phones either. Also, to avoid certain connotations of the word they never once use the term 'vampire' in the whole series, instead using the phrase 'Code 5' (which is rendered as 'Code V') or the nickname 'leech'. Ultraviolet does have a wry sense of humour, however, especially in the use of carbon bullets and ultraviolet-emitting detection gear (which replicates the effects of sunlight) to replicate more traditional vampire-killing weapons.

The story follows Detective Sergeant Michael Colefield of the London Metropolitan Police Force (played by Jack Davenport, better-known these days for his turn as Captain/Commodore Norrington in the Pirates of the Carribbean trilogy). When his best friend and fellow policeman vanishes without a trace on the eve of his wedding, Colefield discovers his friend was leading a shady double-life that was being investigated by a organisation that the government refuses to acknowledge exists. This organisation is soon, almost reluctantly, forced to recruit Colefield into their ranks once he uncovers evidence of the existence of the 'leeches'. He is integrated into a team led by Father Pearse Harman (the Catholic Church co-funds the war against the leeches alongside national governments; played by Philip Quast), Dr. Angela March (Susannah Harker) and Vaughn Rice (Idris Elba, best-known for his role as Stringer Bell in The Wire), but intriguingly he doesn't fully trust his new team-members and they remain wary of him until quite late in the series. This is mostly because Colefield has a hopeless crush on his friend's jilted fiancee, Kirsty and continues to have contact with her, which the rest of the team suspects is a weakness the leeches will employ against him. However, when it is discovered that Harman has cancer, the leeches also find that they have a temptation they can use against him...

Even though there was supposed to be a sequel, as a mini-series Ultraviolet works extremely well, with events starting at one point and coming full circle as the series proceeds. The notion of science versus faith is explored intelligently in the series: crucifixes and other symbols of faith are treated as placebos and only have an impact on those vampires who themselves are superstitious. The vampires themselves employ technology for their own ends, able to drive around with with use of UV-resistant glass and use vocoders to make phone calls, whilst the longer-lived specimens are able to manipulate the stock market over decades to make immense fortunes. The central theme of the series is also compelling: the vampires and those opposed to them have endured an uneasy truce over the centuries because the vampires want to protect their food supply and enjoy being the elite; they have no wish to turn the whole human race into vampires, for example. The truce is now over because humanity is getting perilously close to the point where it will destroy itself, and the vampires need to save us from ourselves...but whilst this may sound great the suggestion is that their preferred mode of existence for 'normals' is in immense battery farms. At the same time, the world governments are scared of going public for fear of causing a panic and the creation of a state of intolerance, surveillence and fear. As one character says, they walk the thin line between living on a Bernard Matthews farm or in Iran-writ-large. These themes, even more timely now than when the show was first transmitted, are explored intelligently and in-depth.

This is a great series and no mistake, well-written, excellently acted with moments of moral doubt, character drama and occasional moments of bad-ass action (Vaughn gets two of the most spectacular vampire kills in screen history), whilst the revelation of the vampire's final plan for humanity in the last episode is spine-chilling.

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Reviews


Over to Quickly
Review date: 2008-05-16 Rating: 10 out of 10

This is an excellent mini series at an excellent price!

The Vampires are very behind the scenes and you dont often see them in action - its mostly suggested - but it really works and builds up good suspence.

The weakness's of the vampires (or code 5's as they are called) are very few and how they die is a suprisingly refreshing use of FX. I can't believe no one has used it before (or since)

I also can't believe it only lasted for 6 episodes! They are very well acted and the action and drama are mingled very well so you wont get bored. It even ends fairly well with no real cliff hangers (like some series that are cut short) it is a shame that no more were made.

If you are looking for a few hours of british tv at its best this is a great example! enjoy

A little gem
Review date: 2007-12-06 Rating: 8 out of 10

Some good, solid acting and a strong attempt to do something new with an old (and tired in my opinion) concept and British to boot! With the Americans pulling off too many good tv series to mention 'Ultraviolet' can stand proud.

Let's face it unless you are prepared to entertain the idea of ghosts dead folks coming back to haunt us is too silly to be scary. Unless extraterrestrials seem remotely possible then alien movies will leave you unmoved. The problem I've had with the whole Nosferatu concept has mainly been the gothic castles, capes and the hint of Mills and Boon(ery) nonsense about the whole thing.

'Ultraviolet' does away with all of that. See it to remind yourself that in this age of 'reality' telly (much of it utterly asinine in my opinion) good drama is still possible. The only reason I didn't give it 5 stars is in protest at not enough money being thrown at it to 1. Polish up the production values and 2. Make another series but I'm just being picky.

Subs grievously missing
Review date: 2007-05-04 Rating: 6 out of 10

Great series and all. But: when will UK DVD manufacturers finally learn that, believe it or not, there ARE foreigners (and/or people hard of hearing) who buy and watch their product, and supply - at least - English subtitles? It can't be THAT expensive?!

Code V virus
Review date: 2007-04-27 Rating: 10 out of 10

Pitty that they use vampire on the cover of the box and in the promotion since they never use it in the shows. It is Code V Virus - V as in 5 or V as in Vampire.

Ultraviolet is the supreme production of the Vampire genere, for the thinking man. There is plenty of suspence, great character build up and plot. It starts with a man being led into a world he didn't know was there, recruited by an agency fighting their Code V menance with state of the art means. No silly Van Helsing gadgets but cleverly worked ideas based on the Vampire myth.

Excellent in every way.

Product Details/Specifications


Actor(s):
Idris Elba
Jack Davenport
Susannah Harker
Colette Brown
Philip Quast

Creators:
Jack Davenport (Primary Contributor)
Susannah Harker (Primary Contributor)

Director(s):

Recording label: Contender Entertainment Group
Manufacturer: Contender Entertainment Group
EAN: 5030305610012
Binding: DVD
Number of items: 2
Format: Full Screen, PAL,
Release date: 2001-02-05
Number of discs: 2
Aspect ratio: 1.33:1
Audience rating: Suitable for 15 years and over
Region code: 2
Running time: 300 minutes
Theatrical release date: 2000-07-31
Language: English (Original Language)

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