Red Riding: In the Year of Our Lord 1974 (2009)
12-month trend
12-month trend
Monthly article views
2025-09 to 2026-08
The story
In 1974, Eddie Dunford, a cocky and naïve cub reporter for The Yorkshire Post, attends a press conference regarding the disappearance of ten-year-old Clare Kemplay. Upon learning of two earlier child disappearances, Dunford suspects a connection and decides to investigate. His inquiries lead him to an unscrupulous local real estate developer, John Dawson, who is using bribery and blackmail to secure land for a shopping centre. As Dunford digs deeper, he faces threats from corrupt police officers and discovers a violent underworld of organized crime and systemic corruption within the West Yorkshire Metropolitan Police.
Full plot (contains spoilers)
In 1974, Eddie Dunford, a cub reporter, investigates the disappearance of Clare Kemplay. He discovers she was murdered by John Dawson, a developer who uses the West Yorkshire Metropolitan Police (WYMP) to facilitate a shopping centre project. Dunford learns that Clare was tortured and her killer stitched swan wings to her body. He meets Paula Garland, the mother of a previous missing girl, and becomes romantically involved with her. Dunford is beaten by corrupt officers Tommy Douglas and Bob Craven, who are working for Dawson. A local man, Michael Myshkin, is arrested and confesses to the murders, though Dunford knows he is innocent. Dawson admits to ordering Gannon's murder and the arson of a Roma camp. After Dunford refuses a bribe, Dawson becomes aggressive. Dunford discovers Paula is sexually involved with Dawson. After being tortured by the police, Dunford is given a gun and storms Dawson's headquarters. He pistol-whips Craven, shoots Douglas and Dawson's bodyguard, and shoots Dawson dead. He then flees and dies in a collision with police cars.
- First release year
- 2009
- Runtime (minutes)
- 102
- Production countries
- United Kingdom
- Original languages
- English
- Directors
- Julian Jarrold
- Writers
- Tony Grisoni · writer
- Cast and characters
- Andrew Garfield · Eddie Dunford; David Morrissey · D.Supt Maurice Jobson; Sean Bean · John Dawson; Warren Clarke · DCS Bill Molloy; Rebecca Hall · Paula; Robert Sheehan · B. J.; Daniel Mays · Michael Myshkin; Sean Harris · Bob Craven
- Genres
- Crime thriller; Drama
- Themes
- Police corruption; Organized crime; Child abuse; Redemption
- Tone and mood
- Bleak; Violent; Noir
- Premise and plot tags
- Crime Drama; Historical Fiction; Mystery
- Source material / true-story basis
- Book series by David Peace
- Franchise connections
- Red Riding trilogy
- Content notes
- Torture; Rape; Murder
- Reception
- The series was nominated for Best Drama Serial at the 2010 British Academy Television Awards.
- Awards and nominations
- The TV Dagger · Crime Thriller Awards · 2009 · win; Best Drama Serial · British Academy Television Awards · 2010 · nomination; Best Supporting Actress · British Academy Television Awards · 2010 · win
- Production trivia
- The name of the series is a reference to the murders and to their location, the historic county of Yorkshire being traditionally divided into three areas known as ridings.
Film metadata comes from the open sources listed in Credits & Contact. Catalogue details may be incomplete.
Your lists
Loading your lists…