Sky Atlantic's latest drama The Death of Bunny Munro presents a devastating exploration of masculinity through the lens of Nick Cave's 2009 novel, adapted for screen by Pete Jackson. This six-part series retains all the bleak tenderness and unforgiving brutality of the original work, creating an unforgettable viewing experience.
A Tragic Road Trip
Matt Smith delivers what may be his career-best performance as Bunny Munro, a cosmetics salesman whose life spirals out of control following his wife's suicide. The story begins with Bunny pursuing his latest conquest while ignoring desperate calls from his wife Libby, brilliantly portrayed by Sarah Greene. When Bunny returns home, he discovers Libby has taken her own life, leaving their nine-year-old son Bunny Junior in his care.
Rafael Mathé gives an astonishing performance as Bunny Junior, capturing the delicate balance between childhood innocence and painful awareness of his father's destructive behaviour. After Libby's mother, played by Lindsay Duncan, refuses to take the boy following a harrowing funeral scene, Bunny's paternal instincts - or perhaps his pride - prompt him to flee with his son rather than let social services intervene.
Driving Towards Destruction
The father-son road trip along England's south coast becomes anything but the traditional bonding experience. Bunny continues his relentless pursuit of sexual conquests while selling cosmetics, with Junior watching in nervous awe. The young boy's attempts to process his mother's death are heartbreaking, particularly when he tells strangers "She must have wanted to die, that's why it's not so sad."
Flashbacks reveal Bunny's own childhood neglect at the hands of his womanising father, creating a powerful study of how misery passes between generations of men. The series expertly conveys the latent violence simmering beneath Bunny's interactions with women, with Smith's performance showing a man trapped by the lessons learned from his father before he was old enough to question them.
Technical Excellence
The Death of Bunny Munro demonstrates the advantages of modern broadcasting formats, with episodes varying between 30 and 50 minutes as the story requires. There's no padding or unnecessary compression - each narrative beat receives exactly the time it needs to land with maximum emotional impact.
The adaptation's contemporary relevance is striking, despite the source material being over a decade old. As Bunny and his son drive toward their inevitable doom, the series asks difficult questions about masculinity, inheritance, and whether Junior - a sensitive, intelligent boy with interests beyond his father's limited world - might escape the cycle of destruction.
Viewers should prepare for an emotionally draining experience that will linger long after the final credits. The series is available now on Sky Atlantic and streaming platform Now.
