Obsession (2023 TV series) explained

Genre:Erotic thriller
Screenplay:
  • Benji Walters
Director:
Language:English
Num Series:1
Num Episodes:4
Producer:Gina Carter
Runtime:33–43 minutes
Network:Netflix

Obsession is a British erotic thriller television miniseries co-written by Morgan Lloyd Malcolm and Benji Walters, based on the novel Damage (1991) by Josephine Hart. Starring Charlie Murphy, Richard Armitage, Indira Varma and Sonera Angel, the series was released on Netflix on 13 April 2023.

Synopsis

William is a surgeon who begins an affair with his son Jay's fiancée Anna. William soon becomes obsessed with Anna, which threatens his career and life.[1]

Cast

Production

The series is produced by Gaumont Film Company and Moonage Productions. Gina Carter is producer with Moonage’s Matthew Read and Frith Triplady, and Gaumont’s Alison Jackson as executive producers. Armitage, Varma, Murphy and Shah were cast in spring 2022 when the production had the working title Damage.[2]

It was co-written by Morgan Lloyd Malcolm and Benji Walters and based on the book Damage by Josephine Hart. The novel was adapted into the 1992 film Damage starring Juliette Binoche, Miranda Richardson and Jeremy Irons. Richardson's performance garnered her the BAFTA Award for Best Actress in a Supporting Role.[3] Glenn Leyburn and Lisa Barros D'Sa were directors on the series. Filming locations included a set at Twickenham Film Studios.[4]

The four-part series has been described as an ‘erotic thriller’.[5] Discussing the sex scenes within the project Lloyd Malcolm told Zoe Williams of The Guardian that “The book is so particular about the kind of sex they’re having and the way they do it and how that feeds into their relationship.” She added that “it has to be quite a vanilla version of kink, because it’s mainstream TV” but it “was really important to me to not be saying anything like: ‘BDSM sex is bad sex,’”[6]

Broadcast

The series began streaming on Netflix on Thursday April 13, 2023.[7]

Reception

The series was met with negative reviews from TV critics and audiences.[8]

Notes and References

  1. Web site: Obsession star Charlie Murphy: 'You have to have a really happy set to go to those dark places —Love/Hate was one of the happiest'. April 8, 2023. Paul. Whittington. Independent.ie. April 10, 2023.
  2. Web site: Richard Armitage, Indira Varma Cast in Netflix Adaptation of Erotic Thriller 'Damage'. Hollywood Reporter. April 10, 2023. Alex. Ritman. March 17, 2022.
  3. Web site: Collider. Britta. Devore. March 29, 2023. Richard Armitage and Charlie Murphy Get Hot and Heavy in a Trailer for Netflix's 'Obsession'. April 10, 2023.
  4. Web site: Obsession: Everything you need to know about the Richard Armitage and Charlie Murphy erotic thriller. bt.com. Alex. Fletcher. March 30, 2023. April 10, 2023.
  5. Web site: Hello. Happy Valley star joins Richard Armitage in Netflix's racy new thriller. April 10, 2023. Francesca. Shillcock. March 30, 2023.
  6. Web site: Zoe. Williams. The Guardian. March 31, 2023. April 10, 2023. 'The all-consuming orgasm': how erotic thriller Obsession takes sex to the next level.
  7. Web site: James. Hibbs. Richard Armitage and Charlie Murphy in trailer for "seductive" Obsession. Radio Times. April 10, 2023. March 29, 2023.
  8. Web site: Obsession . 2023-04-15 . Rotten Tomatoes . en.