Penny Dreadful
Penny Dreadful *
TODAY, 4.30PM, SHOWCASE
Set in Victorian London and inspired by the 19th century serial horror fiction of the same name, this gothic drama is full of gritty appeal. After a brief hiatus from acting, former rom-com hunk Josh Hartnett returns as charming American gunslinger Ethan Chandler who is coaxed by the mysteriously beautiful Vanessa Ives (Eva Green) into a dark underworld overrun by supernatural forces. Ethan joins Vanessa on a mission to rescue the kidnapped daughter of the great explorer Sir Malcolm Murray (Timothy Dalton), during which they encounter the same violent creatures responsible for a spate of gruesome murders thought to be the work of Jack the Ripper. Although not for the faint of heart, this John Logan-created series combines compelling storytelling (which includes references to Frankenstein and Dracula) with an amazing visual feast of special effects.
