Carl Roberts 
James McArdle and Emun Elliott lead the cast in the prequel series, Sexy Beast on Paramount+. But is it top-notch or a poor knockoff?
Back in the year 2000, a small British film opened that was not only a box office success but is regarded as one of the best British Gangster films of all time. That film was Sexy Beast. Starring Ray Winstone as Gal Dove, a former criminal living in Spain and Ben Kingsley as his psychopathic former friend Don Logan, the film is a black comedy crime film. Kingsley is outstanding as Don, leading to him being nominated for an Oscar for Best Supporting Actor. It remains a favorite of audiences to this day.
Paramount+ has commissioned a prequel series for the film. Also titled Sexy Beast, it stars James McArdle as Gal and Emun Elliott as Don. With a supporting cast which includes Sarah Greene, Tamsin Greig, Paul Kaye, and Stephen Moyer, the series is currently streaming on the service. It is dropping on a weekly basis. We, however, have been lucky enough to see the whole series. So, fans of the film will be asking, is the series a top-notch prequel to the classic movie? Or is it a poor knockoff that doesn’t deserve to exist?
THE PREMISE
It traces the relationship between best friends and thieves Gal Dove and Don Logan, who together become involved in London’s criminal world during the 1990s. Gal begins a romance with the seductively alluring adult film star Deedee, which proves to be a dangerous endeavour.
THOUGHTS
YES! YES! YES! YES! YES! Fans of the film will understand what I mean. The series is something that is a complete joy from start to finish. Fans will smile and laugh appreciatively at some of what they will see and hear during the series. Some of the classic lines from the film are once again used here to tremendous effect. Adding to the fun is the seeds the series sows that we know will come to fruition later on in the movie. The traits of all the characters are all there and make for an enjoyable adult series.
And I do mean adult. As could be expected, this is not suitable for children, at all. This is the kind of series that parents will put on and watch when the kids are in bed or are at school during the day. It most certainly isn’t suitable for your granny, she will keel over at what the show contains. Violence, gore, sexual scenes, and really strong, foul language make this unsuitable for those with less than a strong stomach. Some of what is on show here will shock the viewer to their core. If you’re easily offended, stay away, this isn’t the series for you. Don’t say I didn’t warn you. But for everyone else, buckle up. You’re in for one hell of a ride.
JAMES MCARDLE
The series will either rise or fall, depending on its casting. But they haven’t gone wrong by casting James McArdle as Gal Dove. He is, quite simply, sublime as the lovable rogue. Comparisons will be made between McArdle and Ray Winstone. They both play the same character after all. But to do so would be doing James McArdle a real injustice. This isn’t the Gal from the 2000 film, this is a younger Gal, one who is yet to really make his mark.
And McArdle excels in the role. He takes the character and completely owns it, making him his own. And although he does have some moments where we feel ill towards him, Gal just can’t help but be a brilliantly lovable character. We can forgive him his mistakes, we can feel for him. And we can’t help but fall in love with him over the series. It also helps that James McArdle is a top man off-screen too.
SARAH GREENE
Sarah Greene as Deedee Harrison also plays her role extremely well. Fans will notice her surname here as Harrison. That’s because she is at the start of her journey to becoming the character we know from the film, played by Amanda Redman. Here, Deedee is appearing in porn films, instead of being the ex-porn star she becomes later on when she marries Gal. Sarah Greene is excellent as Deedee, easily holding her own against her male co-stars. She has a likeable quality that has us in awe as she plots her way through the minefields she finds herself in with London’s underworld. And Sarah Greene makes the character her own on her way to becoming the person we know and love.
PAUL KAYE AND STEPHEN MOYER
Paul Kaye as Stan gives a top performance once again, as only he can do. From the start, Kaye portrays the fix-it man and planner for boss Teddy Bass as a charming, easygoing man who will listen and help anyone. And in certain places, he does. But despite appearances, we make sure we never trust him as far as we can throw him. Paul Kaye is a brilliant actor, one who we know will turn in great performances time and again. And despite the character’s traits and underhandedness, we can’t help but like him. He does make fleeting appearances throughout the series but once he is on screen, we pay even more attention.
Stephen Moyer as Teddy Bass is also brilliant as the crime boss. Don’t let the good looks and charm fool you. Teddy is a complete snake, a person who will smile to your face while plunging a knife into your back. At no time do we feel comfortable in his presence, we can’t afford ourselves that luxury. In the second episode, Teddy commits a crime so heinous, that the audience will want to look away. But we force ourselves to watch. Stephen Moyer, taking over the role from Ian McShane’s film version, gives his all in a performance that is chilling as well as lulling us into a false sense of security. And deep down, despite what we know of him, we can’t tear our eyes from him.
Back to camera – l-r: James McArdle as Gal Dove, Emun Elliot as Don Logan
OTHER PERFORMANCES
Kudos has to go to Eliza Bennett as Marjorie Kern, John Dagleish as Aitch, and Clea Martin as Ann Marie Dove. All three have vital parts to play during the series. As Marjorie, Gal’s fiancee, Eliza Bennett starts by giving us a kind and innocent persona, only to show us her violent side when she is betrayed by Gal. Eliza Bennett gives a great performance as the wronged Majorie.
John Dagleish as Aitch is equally as good. We know the character from the movie as an older associate of Gal’s. Here, he is a young man, part of Gal’s circle of criminal friends, and a character that we also can’t help but love along the way. Dagleish also gives a great performance, becoming a stand-out among the supporting characters.
Clea Martin as Gal’s sister Ann Marie is the kind of person you hate from the start. Ann Marie is heavily into substance abuse and we never know in what mood or state she is in. One minute, nice and friendly, the next cold, demeaning, and bitchy. But as with all things, she does come good eventually. Clea Martin is an equally vital part of the supporting cast and impresses here.
EMUN ELLIOTT
But nothing or no one can come close to topping Emun Elliott and Tamsin Grieg as Don Logan and his sister Cecilia Logan. Fans will be asking if Emun Elliot can come close to matching Ben Kingsley’s portrayal of Don. The answer is yes. And then some. If you thought Don scared you before, you ain’t seen nothing yet. Emun Elliott gives the performance of a lifetime as the psychologically deranged, damaged Don. Everything you liked or hated about the character before is amplified here. We do finally get the answers as to why Don is the way he is during the film. And it is a mixture of things, from abuse to his own sister’s behaviour towards him.
You can’t say that Don is off the chain here. He wasn’t even on the chain to begin with. His demented, deranged, violent behaviour is laid bare here for the world to see. And despite some times, we find ourselves laughing at his ways, some of them childlike, we tremble when Don’s anger sets him off on a path of destruction. Emun Elliott has delivered a performance that is deserving of awards success. Whether he will get it is another matter. But by god, he deserves it. He earns it with a powerhouse portrayal.
TAMSIN GRIEG
Tamsin Grieg is a fine actress, one who is classically trained and is an award winner. You would never expect her to even say boo to a goose. he says that and much more besides here. And fans of the actress will be shocked. Cecilia is a female equivalent of her younger brother, behind the smile lies a psychopath with zero empathy. And she too swears like a trooper. It is this that shocks us all. If one Logan wasn’t bad enough, two is enough to have us running for the hills. One scene where she encourages her brother to commit an act of wanton violence and revenge upon someone who made a mistake is chilling. You’ll never look at Tamsin Grieg the same way again.
Cecelia runs an amusement arcade, a place she runs with a fist of iron. She is someone you certainly don’t cross and walk away from clean. Several people find this out to their cost. She is also the one that tipped off Stan as to Gal and Don’s prowess and use to Teddy Bass. But she soon finds herself turning against Gal, telling her brother he isn’t his friend and dropping poison in his ear at every opportunity. We find out a possible reason for this during proceedings, one that surprises us. And in one scene, we see her talking to herself in the mirror, in exactly the same vein as her brother. It is chilling. And proves that Tamsin Grieg is a true national treasure.
VERDICT
This is the kind of show that can only be seen on streaming. You won’t ever see something like this on terrestrial television, that’s for sure. It is too dark, violent, gory and full of sexual scenes and strong language to appear to regular TV watchers. They’d be an uproar. Family-friendly, this ain’t. What it is, is a series that honours the legacy of the film as well as forging a path of its own. Memorable characters, some superbly brilliant writing, and acting performances that will astound the viewer.
GREAT ENTERTAINMENT
It is the kind of show that adults can sit down with, holding an alcoholic drink, having snacks at hand, with the phone unplugged and in peace. The male viewers can relate to the characters, and the way they speak and act at times, while female viewers will get their teeth into female empowerment, the sense of revenge against a cheating partner, and brilliant representation.
This is what streaming television was made for. This is the kind of entertainment that is and will become a guilty pleasure. It is something that needs to be seen to be believed, to be experienced in full. Violent, foul-mouthed, and with some shocking scenes, it is also extremely funny in places. It hits all the right notes from the start, taking the premise of the original film on which it’s based and expanding it out to become a brilliant prequel series. I hope that a second season is greenlit very swiftly, the series deserves it. The perfect evening entertainment, this Paramount+ UK original series is what we’ve been crying out for. The perfect showcase for British drama, I’m up for another go-around with Gal, Don and the rest. I loved it from start to finish. As will you.
Sexy Beast is currently streaming on Paramount+ UK and Ireland. The original film is also available on the service.
Trailer Source: Paramount+
Future of the Force News Editor, Liverpool F.C fan, Halloween Movie Fan, Friday The 13th movies fan, Star Wars Fan, Star Trek Fan.
