Luther: The Fallen Sun is a continuation of the hit detective series, Luther, that fans have been eagerly waiting for. After years of hoping for it, Idris Elba finally delivers another thrilling installment that manages to give us the continued adventures of the character. In the film, Elba proves that he doesn’t need to play James Bond or Batman because he fully owns the character of Luther. He grounds the Luther movie in his trademark gruffness, maintaining his intense gaze while problem-solving out loud and sometimes violently.
For those who haven’t seen the show, there’s enough of a catch-up that you can watch and enjoy the movie without having watched the five seasons prior. However, some significant spoilers make themselves known in the opening minutes, which are necessary for series creator Neil Cross, who penned the script. The film picks up just before the end of Series 5 of Luther and is quick to set up Andy Serkis’ villain. It then immediately reminds the audience that Elba‘s character has been locked away in prison after his years of eccentric crime fighting have finally caught up with him.
Serkis plays a total freak in David Robey, who is retconned into having a connection with Luther prior to his arrest. It’s a change that might make fans of the show raise their eyebrows but is handled so deftly, like the rest of the movie’s narrative momentum, that you just accept it because things are moving that quickly. Serkis isn’t doing a bad job, especially when his character could be described as a human version of Gonzo the Great becoming a computer-savvy serial killer. It’s just a larger-than-life, banana-pants creation of a villain that only a quirky goofball could pull off.
Flanking Serkis and Elba in the film is Cynthia Erivo as DCI Odette Raine, appearing in a largely thankless role that doesn’t utilize her talents quite like audiences know she’s capable of. Director Jamie Payne is behind the camera for Luther: The Fallen Sun, having previously directed the entire fifth series of the show.
One of the best things that can be said about the film is that it’s not limited by a BBC television budget, thriving on the fact that it can film on rooftops in downtown London and visit gobs of locations. Payne also utilizes his camera in dynamic ways, never letting audiences get a chance to breathe in its bigger action scenes as he seamlessly pieces its haphazard plot together. He excels in this so well that in one scene alone, he might have created the best moment of chaos in Piccadilly Circus since An American Werewolf in London.
Despite the movie not establishing how much time has passed since the Luther TV series ended, subtle clues are provided regarding how other characters’ lives have gone in that time, and Elba gives no indication of being rusty in the role. He hits every beat as if he’s never left, and his chemistry with Serkis is magnetic.
All in all, Luther: The Fallen Sun is a thrilling, action-packed movie that fans of the series will undoubtedly love. For newcomers, it’s a performance that feels lived-in but welcoming. It’s no wonder the people demanded more.
