[18][19] Butler and the comedy critic Bruce Dessau suggested that the crossword answers may contain a hidden political message. [18] The plot offered "much to admire" for crossword fans,[23] but viewers' enjoyment, it was suggested, may depend on how much they enjoy crosswords. "The Devil of Christmas" (2016) season 3, episode 1. Battling the system. See you soonish. We watched one where someones taking a shower and you can almost see the prop man with the little hose.Shearsmith: Nigel Kneales [horror series] Beasts was a big influence, especially Jessica Raines character. Squires uses the name of the Sphinx because she would asphyxiate and consume those who failed to answer her riddle: she was, he says, "devious and deadly". All rights reserved. S teve Pemberton and Reece Shearsmith are back with a sixth season of TV's most devilishly imaginative comedy, Inside No 9 - a show that uses its anthology format not only to tell a different. Shearsmith, meanwhile, had never attempted a cryptic crossword before working on the episode, but has subsequently started completing them. Director Guillem Morales deftly navigates the constantly changing tones and judges each dramatic shift really well, from the fairly moving drama to the straight horror, ending with the darkly comic legal wrangling. Pemberton: [1970s anthology series] Thriller was the one, they always seemed to have the same storyline. However, I loved it. To do something where we can embrace the tradition of the ghost story of Christmas, which weve never really done before, was brilliant. "If you missed just one line of dialogue", he explained, "it would've left you scrambling to understand exactly what's going on between the three characters". 9], favouring attention to detail and narrative precision";[35] similarly, Mellor called it "the most complicated tale Inside No. Celia takes Toby to safety, leading Kathy to make a confession to Julian about her pregnancy. After a feature film,the three main actors have become main stays of British television and Dyson has becomea sort-after script editor. We hope it recaptures the spirit of some of the old anthology series likeThriller, Nigel KnealesBeastsor even Roald DahlsTales of The Unexpected. pic.twitter.com/g5SRZ1Wipu. Just cancelled @netflix. I wont pay more so we can watch stuff out of home. These cookies help provide information on metrics the number of visitors, bounce rate, traffic source, etc. Tyler reveals that he hates cryptic crosswords, and how his son entered the Cambridge Crossword Competition, attempting to beat his mother's new husband: Squires. Waterworld 4K UHD review: Dir. [18] Patrick Mulkern, writing for RadioTimes.com, also praised the "zingy funny lines" in the earlier part of the episode,[23] and Butler commended the "smart, gentle humour" offered by the contrast between Nina and Squires.[25]. YSC cookie is set by Youtube and is used to track the views of embedded videos on Youtube pages. The caretaker, Klaus, tells them about a local legend of Krampus, the Devil of Christmas. Pemberton dedicated the crossword, which was his first in print, to the late Kenny Ireland. 9] viewers".[22]. document.getElementById( "ak_js_1" ).setAttribute( "value", ( new Date() ).getTime() ); This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. You also have the option to opt-out of these cookies. Inside No. 9 Christmas special: The Bones of St Nicholas ending 9 'The Devil of Christmas' (2016) Honest Review - YouTube 0:00 / 7:06 #ReeceShearsmith #StevePemberton #InsideNo9 Inside No. About five minutes in though,director Denis Fulcher (played Derek Jacobi) then asks forthe film to be rewound slightly to point out a continuity error. 5) - Picture Shows: Webster (SIR DEREK JACOBI) - (C) BBC - Photographer: Sophie Mutevelian Fill in your details below or click an icon to log in: You are commenting using your WordPress.com account. Anthology series can have the occasional slightly duff episode, and I think many people might be disappointed with The Devil of Christmas, as the comedy is not laugh out loud stuff. Inside No.9 - Commentary of The Devil of Christmas - YouTube Simon Callow stars in Inside No. When is the Still Open All Hours Christmas special on BBC, whos in the cast and when does the new series start? The Devil of Christmas | Inside No.9 Wikia | Fandom From Ken Loach to Big Brother: the twisted minds behind Inside No 9 on TV: Inside No 9 - The Devil Of Christmas 9 is a British black comedy anthology television programme that first aired in . Seasonal special of Steve Pemberton and Reece Shearsmith's anthology of comedy dramas. I dont really get the devil of christmas : r/insideno9 - Reddit Roach's performance was praised, as was the direction of Morales. (LogOut/ 9with baited breath. @CapnNina If youre being chased, then you need to stop and face it head on. The family is soon menaced by the "half-goat, half-demon" Krampus character from Austro-Bavarian folklore. "The Riddle of the Sphinx" (episode commentary). Its ridiculous, but its womens lives in the balance.Pemberton: When you look at Witchfinder General, and the other film we love which is The Blood on Satans Claw, because of the period theres a dirtiness and a grimness and a coldness about it all. 9 (TV Series) The Devil of Christmas (2016) Full Cast & Crew. It first aired, on BBC Two, on 28 February 2017. 9,[24] and the freelance journalist Dan Owen described it as "undoubtedly the most complex and surprising instalment of [Inside No. However, you may visit "Cookie Settings" to provide a controlled consent. [19], In the DVD commentary for the episode, Shearsmith and Pemberton expressed a hope that Pemberton's crossword could be published before the episode's airing, so that viewers would be able to watch the episode having unknowingly already completed the crossword around which it revolves. The unfortunate inhabitants of chalet no. The cookie is set by the GDPR Cookie Consent plugin and is used to store whether or not user has consented to the use of cookies. Vimeo installs this cookie to collect tracking information by setting a unique ID to embed videos to the website. The crossword featured in "The Riddle of the Sphinx" was set by Pemberton, and was published in The Guardian on the day the episode aired, credited to "Sphinx". Inside No. 9 The Bones of St. Nicholas Review: A Perfect Christmas You want to make it different in its own way and a treat for the viewer. 9 6.6 review: Last Night of the Proms | critical popcorn. It first aired on 21 February 2017, on BBC Two. Why did he join the con gang? 9 is a Christmas-themed nightmare, dealing with the old legend of Krampus. Pemberton bellowing WEBSTER! and blasting the bedroom doors open is genuinely chilling its clear that while this version of the devil may enjoy all the legal trickery, he remains pure evil. Squires, to Nina's shock, is unharmed. With Squires, he works out MYSTERYGUEST. [9] Similarly, in his interview with Connor, Pemberton noted that "most people" think that the nina is political, but that it was an accidental introduction, and only woven into the plot once the crossword had been completed. Inside No. 9 'The Devil of Christmas' (2016) Honest Review Tandy continues, "The Devil of Christmas was shot alongside the soon-to-be-seen third season of Inside No. The story is based around Julian and his family staying in an Austrian ski chalet at Christmas. Even I was thinking how are people following this? [19] In an interview with Connor, published after "The Riddle of the Sphinx" had aired, Pemberton explored the ways in which writing for Inside No. [31][32][25] Dessau characterised it as the cleverest episode of Inside No. Shearsmith and Jacobi are brilliant, and I could quite happily have watched a full episode of the two of them exchanging barbed insults and doing puzzles together. Subsequently, he received a copy of Connor's book. [9] Roach said in an interview before the episode's airing that she is drawn to darker scripts; she said that she loves Inside No. [18], Nina, as well as being the name of a character in the episode, is a name given by cruciverbalistscrossword enthusiaststo hidden messages in crosswords, such as Squires's ISWAPPEDCUPS. Its that sadness, the pathos and the comedy, the farcical element. Its our northern version of David Mamet, I suppose. 9 episodes "The Harrowing" and "Sance Time", as well as the house of Oscar Lomax in the Shearsmith and Pemberton television series Psychoville. On the Third Night. 9", "Inside No 9: Keeley Hawes, Philip Glenister, and Morgana Robinson confirmed as Series 3 starts shooting", "When is the next series of Inside No. Set by the GDPR Cookie Consent plugin, this cookie is used to record the user consent for the cookies in the "Advertisement" category . 9 and The Guardian drew inspiration from the collaboration between The Simpsons and The New York Times for "Homer and Lisa Exchange Cross Words" in 2008. We tried to pull in a lot of different references there. Christian Hensons evocative score is especially creepy, and more than a little reminiscent of the eerie music he contributed to last seasons The Stakeout. 9. They turn to the clues for the next day, beginning to fill a large grid. And building on that idea, ahead of a third season coming in the spring, they have produced their first Christmas episode. Inside No. 9: "The Devil Of Christmas" Review A new series of Inside No 9 starts in early 2017 but as a brilliant curtain raiser here's a one-off episode with a Yuletide theme. The implication is that there is some connection between Posys experience and her mothers unexplainable premonition; perhaps that her mother unknowingly sent the warning through the sheer strength of her feeling. Instead the family spots a creepy picture on the wall and is told by their . [18][23][24] William Shakespeare's Titus Andronicus, the 1973 horror film Theatre of Blood, and the work of Anton Chekhov were also identified as possible influences. [1][2][3] The series began with the Christmas special "The Devil of Christmas" (December 2016) and continued with "The Bill" (February 2017), the latter of which was the first of a run of five episodes, of which "The Riddle of the Sphinx" was the second. [25] Morales received particular praise for his attention to detail and foreshadowing of future events in the episode,[18][35] with Mellor explaining that he and the writers, continually draw our attention to the key props of the gun and the teacups. By entering your details, you are agreeing to our terms and conditions and privacy policy. But theres a lot of humour in those films, as well as being desperately sad. Julian dismisses Klaus' warnings about the Krampus. Had them for over a decade. Change). As a new series of the dark comedy begins, creators Steve Pemberton and Reece Shearsmith reveal what inspired eight classic instalments. Inside No. Kevin Reynolds [ArrowVideo]. Click to share on Twitter (Opens in new window), Click to share on Facebook (Opens in new window), Click to share on Reddit (Opens in new window), Click to share on Tumblr (Opens in new window), View all posts by James is Outta Bubblegum. Published: Monday, 19th December 2022 at 12:01 am, Reece Shearsmith teases 'spine-tingling' Inside No. Tyler tells Squires that he cannot call the police, as the crossword displays premeditation: the KNOWITALL received a MYSTERYGUEST at number NEUN, resulting in ASPHYXIATION. Supergrog2 4 yr. ago It just feels like the episode was created around the twist rather than having any actual meat Eileen_Palglace The Referee's A. Squires places Ninafor whom paralysis is setting inon a chair, and goes back to the crossword, filling out UNDERSLIP; asking about the underwear young women wear, he slides his hand up Nina's skirt and kisses her on the mouth. The Riddle of the Sphinx (Inside No. 9) - Wikipedia Contact one of our specialists about how we can bring your show to life. [35] Mellor, similarly, praised the intelligence of the plot, provided one takes "on faith the unlikely notion that a mother and her new husband would have no contact with her children from a previous marriage, not even recognising them as adults". [4][5][6][7] The episode was first aired on 28 February 2017. Nina, though, suggests that it should be bogs, otherwise Squires would be cheating. Is it wrong that I laughed when the waitress got stabbed? December 27, 2016. The show's new Christmas special, The Bones of St Nicholas, is set to air this week. The story is of a family taking a winter vacation in an Austrian chalet. BBC Two confirmed there will be a third series back in October as the show continues to win over fans and critics alike with its dark sense of humour andinventive approach. I generally try to avoid spoilers when talking about Inside No.9. [The episode ends with the duo singing their signature song: Tears of Laughter, written by Shearsmith and Pemberton after Our Last Song Together by Neil Sedaka was deemed too pricey to license ]. Simon had reached a crosswording final only to be beaten by Squires after the latter challenged that a u looked more like a v. Depressed by the defeat, Simon had killed himself. This special follows the show's seventh season which aired earlier this year, with an eighth and a ninth both confirmed for the coming years. Disagree. 9. The Devil of Christmas Contains some strong language. Austria, Krampusnacht 1977. Who has been good and who has been bad this Christmas? I would like to know why you don't think it works as an episode? [With viewers initially fooled into thinking they were watching a real cock-up, the episode recalled BBC Ones notoriously convincing 1992 mockumentary Ghostwatch ]. There were elements of the play Road by Jim Cartwright: this woman brings a soldier home whos totally drunk, he cant say anything and shes imagining hes in love with her. The plot of "The Riddle of the Sphinx" revolves around the clues and answers to a particular crossword puzzle. When is the Strictly Come Dancing 2016 Christmas special, which celebrities are competing and what are the dances? The other thing we looked at was Paranormal Activity, for the scenes being captured on some kind of CCTV. Theres an episode called Baby - we sent her that. I looked back on the original Talking Heads: you watch Maggie Smith, and you dont need to be cutting round all the time, you just stick with her face, and her telling you that story. 18 years ago, just hours before a tragic accident, Posy had a premonition. [25], The character of Nina is reminiscent of Eliza Doolittle, with Squires acting as Henry Higgins. BBC Two - Inside No. 9, Series 3, The Devil of Christmas, On the Third Read about our approach to external linking. Jacobi previously joined the Inside No. They have rented the chaletfrom Klaus (Shearsmith) who warns them that it is the feast of St Nicolas, and that Krampus will visit if a child has been bad. Inside No 9 returns on BBC Two and iPlayer next month, The Guide: Staying In sign up for our home entertainment tips, Original reporting and incisive analysis, direct from the Guardian every morning, 2023 Guardian News & Media Limited or its affiliated companies. Behind this eclecticism is Pemberton and Shearsmiths deep fanboy knowledge of film, theatre, TV and pop culture, with many episodes constituting a festival of homages and references, often to the cult classics of the 1970s and 80s on which Inside No 9s creators were raised. These cookies will be stored in your browser only with your consent. 9, so it should really be no surprise that The Bones of St Nicholas is not an ordinary Christmas ghost story. Along with many of the crossword's answers, one nina is integral to the episode's plot. The Devil Of Christmas is a Christmas specialonly Pemberton and Shearsmith could come up with, and you will not see anything like it. 9", "Steve Pemberton and Reece Shearsmith Series 3 interview", "Inside No. Inside No 9is written by and stars Reece Shearsmith and Steve Pemberton, known for their cult BBC dark comediesA League of GentlemenandPsychoville. As they prepare backstage for a one-off gig, they bitterly rake over the past. [27][9] There is also a "second" hare; though it is not visible in the partially completed crossword shown at the end of the episode, the crossword published in The Guardian contains a nina spelling ONELEPUS, Lepus being the generic name for hares. 'Inside No. 9' Christmas special review: 'The Devil Of Christmas' Pemberton: We went with the concept of eavesdropping and characters knowing things they ought not to know. is the way we cut to the chase as soon as the central premise is revealed. Oscars Best Picture Winners Best Picture Winners Emmys STARmeter Awards San Diego Comic-Con New York Comic-Con Sundance Film Festival Toronto Int'l Film Festival Awards Central Festival Central All Events 9's darkest and most bizarre. The other thing that was a big influence was This Is England, one of the best dramas this century. Inside No. The BBC permitted the final version to be a little longer than the half hour typical of Inside No. Check it out by clicking the link below! 9 isnt like Black Mirror or Tales Of The Unexpected, comparisons with other anthology shows have always been inevitable (Ive been guilty of this before). Related: American Horror Story: 1984 Cast & Character Guide And Inside No. [11], "The Riddle of the Sphinx" was characterised by Pemberton as a thriller in the style of Anthony Shaffer's 1970 play Sleuth,[12] while Shearsmith identified the episode as particularly theatrical, in the style of Sleuth and Ira Levin's 1978 play Deathtrap. Mark Gatiss guest starred in an episode that took place with only three characters and in one room, which inspired Pemberton and Shearsmith to create the anthology seriesInside No. To see all content on The Sun, please use the Site Map. Local guide Klaus tells them the legend of the Krampus, a malevolent demon who punishes bad children and rewards the good and soon it looks as if the demon is stalking the family. The Trial of Elizabeth Gadge. A film director screens a drama he made in 1977 in which actors play Julian Devonshire, his little son Toby, pregnant second wife Kathy and his mother Celia who are spending Christmas at a ski lodge in Austria. Which is witch? Substituting their modern counterparts, vintage tube-based studio broadcast cameras and period lamps gave the studio an authentic late-70s feel. This play, like "The Riddle of Sphinx", features a character named Nina and a gunshot suicide. "Every story is a labour of love, so we will do our best to ensure the viewers are once again moved to tears of laughter and terror. Inside No.9 - BBC Studioworks See agents for this cast & crew on IMDbPro Directed by . Jacobi is always a treat and here he shines as an initially cantankerous old man, until his darker side is revealed. Plot The Devil of Christmas Season 3 Episode Number 1 Airdate 27 December 2016 Next Episode The Bill Writer Steve Pemberton Reece Shearsmith Director Graeme Harper Produced By Adam Tandy (producer) Jon Plowman (executive producer) 9, but included "an extra layer for [Inside No. Inside No 9: The Devil of Christmas INSIDE No 9 is one of the best comedies - nay, programmes - that the BBC have produced in recent memory, so thankfully the off-kilter anthology show from . 9. 9 Horrors From INSIDE NO.9 - Fangoria [9] BBC executives, according to Shearsmith, saw the episode as a cross between Sleuth and Willy Russell's 1980 play Educating Rita that read as if it had been authored by psychopaths. There will be plenty of Christmas chills when the Inside No 9 Christmas special airs over the festive period. A low budget horror serial called The Devil of Christmas, that has recently been recovered, about a family on vacation in Austria only to then come under threat by the dreaded Krampus (the anti-Santa that punishes bad children). To inquire about a licence to reproduce material, visit our Syndication site. 9 like "The Riddle of the Sphinx" and the expectations of viewers for television comedies. 9, but the production team still needed to lose several minutes in the edit. "Inside No. 9" The Devil of Christmas (TV Episode 2016) - IMDb Shearsmith: Live episodes are 10 a penny now, they all do them: Holby City, EastEnders. The puzzle worked independently of any references to Inside No. 9 The Bones of St. Nicholas Review: A Perfect Christmas Episode Simon Callow and Shobna Gulati co-star in a flawless ghost-ish story for Christmas from Reece Shearsmith and. "The Riddle of the Sphinx" is less comedic than many episodes of Inside No. The _ga cookie, installed by Google Analytics, calculates visitor, session and campaign data and also keeps track of site usage for the site's analytics report. It's insane. (LogOut/ [27][29] This was entirely accidental, according to the writers. Inside No. 9 on TV? The camera follows Squires' gun to his desk drawer and we're kept aware of its presence thanks to Nina and Squires' "If Id shot you, here in the dark/With an empty gun? We wanted to embrace the vicious side of Alan Ayckbourn: his play Absent Friends is a particularly nasty one.Pemberton: The initial idea was a box on the table, and the whole tension of the episode was going to be: Oh my god, youre imagining a head in the box, like Seven., [Instead, Pembertons character hides under a table, using a fake birthday cake as cover.]. A lot of it was based on real cases, people actually putting beetles and mice on trial, trying to get them to talk. [9], Shearsmith identified "The Riddle of the Sphinx" as one of his two favourite episodes of the series, along with "The Devil of Christmas". We learn early in the episode that his wife had booked the overnight stay in the church, but sadly passed away from illness before they could enjoy it together. As Nina induces vomiting, Squires makes a phone call. This then plays into the finale, with a great throw away line from Fulcher. Sphinx's completed crossword as it appeared on. "Were not saying its over for good. E1 All episodes Cast & crew User reviews Trivia IMDbPro All topics The Devil of Christmas Episode aired Dec 27, 2016 TV-MA 29m IMDb RATING 7.6 /10 1.8K YOUR RATING Rate Comedy Crime Drama A director talks about his old horror film. The ingenious thing about Inside no9 is its ability to be about absolutely anything and still fit the mold of the show. [9] The final run-time for the episode is 31 minutes and 35 seconds. This cookie is used to store the language preferences of a user to serve up content in that stored language the next time user visit the website. Shearsmith: Its a very [Barefoot in the Park playwright] Neil Simon scenario. "The Riddle of the Sphinx", which is set in Cambridge, stars Alexandra Roach as Nina, a young woman seeking answers to the Varsity cryptic crossword, Pemberton as Professor Nigel Squires, who pseudonymously sets the crossword using the name Sphinx, and Shearsmith as Dr Jacob Tyler, another Cambridge academic. Inside No.9 Reactions | THE DEVIL OF CHRISTMAS - YouTube While good children get gifts from Saint Nicholaush, bad ones are punished by a demonic presenter. The attention to detail is great, with a different ratio, lights leaving a streak across the screen, and the makeup visible on the actors face.