Cynthia Erivo’s Twist in ‘Luther: The Fallen Sun’

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Cynthia Erivo has earned her second Oscar nomination following the remarkable praise for her role as Elphaba in the film musical “Wicked.” Yet, prior to “Wicked,” Erivo showcased her versatility in a vastly different movie titled “Luther: The Fallen Sun.” This Netflix original blends several genres, such as action, crime, and psychological suspense.

In this movie, Cynthia Erivo shares the screen with Idris Elba, who assumes the lead character, reprising his role from a well-known BBC series. Throughout the film, Erivo often interacts with Elba, as she spends much of the story pursuing him before eventually teaming up with him. The movie takes a grim turn when the sinister intentions of the villainous serial killer are unveiled.

‘Luther: The Fallen Sun’ Is the Story of an Exceptional Detective

The movie titled “Luther: The Fallen Sun” centers around detective John Luther, portrayed by Idris Elba. Known for his knack for cracking cases, this film finds him tackling one of his most challenging yet. In the storyline, detective Luther is on the hunt for a ruthless serial killer named David Robey, skillfully played by Andy Serkis. This character is both tech-savvy and financially well-off. Throughout the movie, Robey uses various tactics such as kidnapping, arson, and mental torment to inflict pain on his victims.

In the movie, Cynthia Erivo assumes the role of Odette Raine, heading up a crime-fighting organization known as the Serious and Serial Crime Unit. During the storyline, she pursues the elusive Robey, encountering friction with Luther along the way, which results in several dramatic scenes. So, another major star in this film is Cynthia Erivo.

The Thrill of the Chase Makes ‘Luther: The Fallen Sun’ Exciting

In many crime dramas, the storyline often revolves around a detective pursuing a criminal, but what sets Luther: The Fallen Sun apart is that there’s a twist: Raine is not only chasing after the serial killer, but also Luther himself. This is reminiscent of The Fugitive, where Harrison Ford’s character is on the run from the law while simultaneously searching for the true culprit behind his wife’s murder.

Although Luther is an exceptional detective, his actions have earned him suspicion from authority figures like Raine. At the movie’s onset, Luther is pursuing David Robey. However, to evade Luther’s investigation, Robey discovers that Luther had broken the law during his time as a police officer and informs on him, ultimately leading to Luther being imprisoned.

For Luther, apprehending Robey is crucial for several significant reasons. His talent for unraveling mysteries compels him towards preventing Robey from abducting individuals, a pursuit that proves beneficial as it later transpires that Robey was broadcasting his victims and enabling viewers to decide who perishes. Initially, Luther took up the case out of a promise made to a victim’s mother to find her son. However, when the mother confronts him in prison, accusing him of failing, this sparks renewed determination within Luther to revisit the case.

Initially in the film, Luther escapes from prison in search of Robey, spending most of it evading capture. Later, Raine apprehends Luther, but he manages to persuade her to collaborate with him on capturing Robey instead. In the final scenes, a government agency arrives and doesn’t return Luther to jail; instead, it seems that he will receive a new assignment from them.

The Character Luther Originated in a TV Show

In the movie “Luther: The Fallen Sun,” there’s enough backstory for viewers to follow along, but it’s crucial to mention that this isn’t Luther’s initial appearance on screen. A full decade prior to the Netflix film, Luther was already the lead character in a BBC series.

The TV series Luther shares a resemblance with other detective shows such as Dexter and Psych. In essence, Luther is an exceptionally intelligent detective who frequently clashes with his colleagues due to his unorthodox investigative techniques. Each episode finds him tackling a fresh crime, but beyond the criminal cases, he’s navigating a complex romantic relationship with a murderer named Alice Morgan.

In the film “Luther: The Fallen Sun,” only Luther and his superior, Martin Schenk, are characters carried over from the series. Since each episode of the show tends to stand alone, you don’t need to watch every part of it prior to viewing the Netflix film. However, the arrest scene in the movie does reference events that occurred during the fifth season of the BBC series for those who prefer a complete backstory before watching the movie.

As a devoted movie enthusiast, let me say that even though it only ran for 20 episodes, “Luther” was a hugely popular show. Each of its five seasons garnered positive reviews on Rotten Tomatoes, and the series was a regular on various awards shows’ radar. The show amassed over 10 Emmy nominations throughout its run, but it was Idris Elba’s portrayal of the brilliant detective that truly captured everyone’s attention. Elba racked up numerous accolades during the time “Luther” was on air, including two NAACP Image Awards, one Golden Globe, a Critics’ Choice award, and a Screen Actors Guild Award. There’s a possibility that we might see Elba reprise his role as Luther again, as he hinted to Collider that the chances for “Luther: The Fallen Sun” sequel are good. For now, you can catch up with the original “Luther” series on Hulu, while its spin-off, “Luther: The Fallen Sun,” is available on Netflix.

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2025-02-01 05:32