Inside No. 9 Series 9 continues to roll on, as episode three takes us into the scariest of all realms…curtain twitching suburbia!
A Hitchcockian air filled the chimes of that doorbell in this week’s Inside No. 9 “Mulberry Close”, which tapped into that voyeuristic thrill of Rear Window, while also revelling in the vibes of zany sinister suburbia stories like Joe Dante’s The Burbs, though in the most British of ways of course!
The story concerns a couple that have just moved into a close knit (read overbearing and pretentious) neighbourhood watch community. Well, these neighbours have much to pry into it may seem, when all of a sudden one of the couple seems to disappear.
A technical marvel, filmed almost entirely from the perspective of the static video doorbell camera, this episode reminds somewhat of series 2’s underrated chiller “Cold Comfort”. It is remarkable how this was shot, framed and constructed, and it all adds to the episode’s comments on the rampant paranoia, snobbery and nimbyism of such communities.
The performances are great, with standouts by guest stars Dorothy Atkinson as nosy neighbour Sheila and Adrian Scarborough as local Larry, as well as show stealing doggie ‘popcorn’!
While the twist itself (while nastily believable) may not shake your foundations when compared to others Shearsmith and Pemberton have unleashed, the story escalates very well in getting to its ending, eventually erupting into almost inevitable violent chaos after so many hilarious Fright Night style antics of “what is going on in that house” and neighbourly discontent that makes Hyacinth Bucket look restrained. And there is a superb closing cameo, that further adds to the dark fun. As we go from tupperware trouble and decoration disagreements to a living Netflix crime docuseries.
Incredibly shot, realistic and constantly funny, this week instead of spirits, psychos and secret societies, we were warned of neighbours bearing cauliflower quiches, residents giving recycling tips, and people desperately seeking peugeot small talk! Now that is scary!
Inside No. 9 Series Nine is showing now on BBC Two, every Wednesday at 10pm. Episode One – Three are available on iPlayer Now.
