This was top shelf at time of release. Now streaming on Prime.

Just watched this today. I had seen it back in 2008-9 over the three weeks it was first broadcast. The film had stuck with me to the extent I recognized it immediately, seeing its card added to recents on Amazon prime. Rewatching it was a mix of feelings and observations

The missing young person has been done so much in recent long form drama its no surprise this seems very derivative. Also the melancholy atmosphere of northern climes and cloudy skies. The aspect that still feels a bit fresh is the contemporary TV journalist and her tension with careerism, truth and emotional manipulation.

A case can be made this series laid down a template for subsequent shows like The Killing, Broad Church, et al. I think this is still pretty good drama. I like the slow pacing, the multitude of characters and the gloom pervading through everyone and everything. I am near exhaustion with the missing child premise but this sordid, tragic morbidity sets this tone that makes it work.

Period detail is sketchy. Action sequences are short and impressionistic serving to hide the skint budget. Altogether worth a look if you're a fan of this sub genre. Then you can ask yourself why you're watching these morbid entertainments and why do you still find them compelling?