Ok, why is Netflix’s Ripley series shot in black and white?

We’ve barely recovered from The Gentlemen and already Netflix has hit us with another drama: Ripley. Based on the same story as the ’90s film The Talented Mr. Ripley starring Jude Law, Matt Damon and Gwyneth Paltrow, the series follows Tom Ripley along the Amalfi Coast as he’s tasked with convincing a millionaire’s son, Dickie Greenleaf, to return to New York after a Summer of loafing about— murder ensues.

But, as you’ll have noticed if you’ve already started streaming the new Netflix series starring Andrew Scott, Johnny Flynn and Dakota Fanning, the new adaptation of Patricia Highsmith’s high drama book is entirely shot in black and white. So, here’s the intriguing reason why the Netflix series is monochrome:

Ok, why is Netflix’s Ripley series shot in black and white?

Credit: Netflix

It turns out Ripley’s writer-director Steven Zaillian was directly inspired by Patricia Highsmith’s novel when he decided to shoot Ripley in black and white. “The edition of the Ripley book I had on my desk had an evocative black-and-white photograph on the cover,” he told Variety. “As I was writing, I held that image in my mind. Black and white fits this story — and it’s gorgeous.

“I also felt that this story — the one that she told, the one that I wanted to tell — was quite sinister and quite dark,” he added. “I just couldn’t imagine that taking place in a beautiful Italian setting with bright blue skies and colourful outfits and things like that.”

Credit: Netflix

Andrew Scott has also spoken about the black and white decision in interviews, telling IndieWire: “Knowing that the black and white nature of cinematography marries in some way with the pacing and the tone of the show, also means that it allows us as actors just to be.” Basically, big Gothic energy. Brace yourselves.

Ripley is available to watch on Netflix now. For more like this and all the latest Netflix drops and memes like The Holy Church of Netflix on Facebook.

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Featured image credit via Netflix