There has been some debate within small circles as to whether The Confession should be classified as a mini-series or a short film. As it is Tuesday, and because of its episodic format, let’s go with mini-series. This show debuted in 2011, and though it features two of Hollywood’s most well-known commodities, it’s still stayed fairly under the viewership radar. This is something that should change. Better late than never, as it’s never really too late for a series to catch fire. The Confession tells a brief but powerful story with plenty of reveals along the way.
The Confession tells a brief but powerful story with plenty of reveals along the way.
Brad Mirman wrote and directed this short series, starring Kiefer Sutherland and the late great John Hurt. The title itself is revealing, following a ‘confession’ between a catholic priest and a mysterious stranger who has come into the church. Everything feels right until the stranger reveals that he is in fact a contract killer with the intent of speaking to this specific priest. It initially seems as though the hit man wishes to unburden himself, yet soon the truth is uncovered and his intentions are unveiled. What should have been a routine confession very quickly becomes a twisted game that explores good, evil, redemption, and retribution.
There are ten episodes, in total equalling to just over an hour of watch time with each picking up where the other left off. With the exception of the flashbacks as told by The Confessor, most of the action takes place in the church where the Priest and The Confessor continue their dark discussion. Mirman does the most, actually, by doing the least. The shooting style is basic but effective, with Sutherland and Hurt carrying most of the responsibility. To these two though, this is no burden to bare. Their onscreen chemistry is engrossing, a constant imbalance of power visibly apparent thanks to Mirman’s writing. Kiefer, no stranger to antagonistic roles, conducts himself as a character who at surface level seems evil, only later to show himself broken and traumatized from his past. Hurt is astonishingly present from start to finish. His strength is in his immediate reactions to Sutherland, strong armed into keeping his defences down the entire time. Brad Mirman’s script gives both actors room to play off one another, but it has enough structure to keep them from straying from the intended destination. In a short amount of time the trio accomplishes the task of delivering a top notch series that meets a conclusive end.
The Confession may be short by any metric but it has a fast start, a solid body, and strong finish. It’s almost random to see that a mini-series like this even happened, as Hurt was regularly sought out during his career and Sutherland was and is now still a hot ticket. This to say, there should be no doubt as to why this is deserving of a watch. As of now, the full series is available on YouTube for no charge. As always though, it’s uncertain for how long.
