The fascinating miniseries “The Killer Code” traces the revolutionary discovery of genetic fingerprinting and its use to solve his first criminal investigation.
The nugget came from across the Channel and deserved to be broadcast in France. Arte has programmed the British mini-series The Killer Codefrom Thursday November 21 at 8:55 p.m. In just three 45-minute episodes, the program created by screenwriter Michael Crompton (known for Inspector Barnaby Or Unclassified cases) takes us into England in the 1980s, between thriller and major scientific advance.
The plot, full of twists and turns, begins in November 1983, when the lifeless body of Lynda Mann, a 15-year-old girl, was found near Leicester. The investigation stalls despite the efforts of Chief Inspector David Baker, remarkably played by David Threlfall. A few years later, in July 1986, another girl of the same age, Dawn Ashworth, was murdered in similar circumstances. The police quickly suspect that the same killer is at work.
In parallel, The Killer Code follows the work of geneticist Alec Jeffreys, brilliantly played by John Simm. This scientist from the University of Leicester is then developing a revolutionary technique: the genetic fingerprint test. His method makes it possible to identify an individual based on variations in their DNA. First used to prove family ties, this test will prove to be a valuable tool for confusing or exonerating suspects.
Because it is indeed a true story that is proposed here. When a 17-year-old becomes the number one suspect in a double murder, Alec Jeffreys is contacted by the police. This is the first time that his discovery has been used in a criminal case. The test will ultimately prove the suspect’s innocence. A vast campaign of taking genetic fingerprints from 5,000 men in the region would then follow, something unheard of at the time. A new kind of hunt to identify the culprit…
“Captivating thriller” for “a major scientific advance”
Critics are unanimous in praising the quality of The Killer Code and this dive into a true story that changed the pursuit of crime forever. For Télé Loisirs, it is a “captivating thriller which perfectly highlights a major scientific advance”. Télérama magazine, often one of the most severe, praises “a high-level plot, carried by remarkable actors”.
The strength of The Killer Code is in fact to skillfully mix the threads of the police investigation and those of the scientific quest. We are captivated by this gripping story which makes us vibrate to the rhythm of the hopes and disappointments of investigators and researchers alike. The careful production of James Strong (Broadchurch, Doctor Who) instills permanent tension and a heavy atmosphere, faithful to the spirit of British thrillers.
The performers are all impeccable. In addition to the already mentioned performances of David Threlfall and John Simm, we will remember that of Anna Madeley in the role of Sue Jeffreys, the scientist’s wife. Their united couple in the face of adversity brings a touching note of humanity to the whole.