Reyka (TV series)
| Reyka | |
|---|---|
| Also known as | The Cane Field Killings |
| Created by | Rohan Dickson |
| Starring | |
| Country of origin | South Africa |
| Original language | English |
| No. of seasons | 1 |
| No. of episodes | 8 |
| Production | |
| Executive producers |
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| Producers |
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| Production companies |
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| Original release | |
| Network | M-Net |
| Release | 25 July 2021 |
Reyka, released as The Cane Field Killings in some countries, is a South African crime thriller television series created and written by Rohan Dickson. It is an M-Net original production co-produced by Quizzical Pictures and Serena Cullen Productions for subscription television channel M-Net, released in July 2021.[1][2] Reyka was also co-produced for international distribution by Fremantle.[3]
The series received eight nominations at the 2022 South African Film and Television Awards, winning four of them, including Best Actress in a TV Drama for Kim Engelbrecht. It also received two 2022 International Emmy Award nominations for Best Drama and Best Performance by an Actress.
Reyka was renewed for a second season by M-Net in November 2022.[4]
Overview
[edit]The series alternates between Reyka's past and present. In 1994, when apartheid was ending, a 12-year old Reyka was abducted by Angus Speelman, who sexually assaulted her for four years. Reyka managed to escape at age 16, with her abductor finally caught and sentenced to prison.
Now as an adult, Reyka (Kim Engelbrecht), is a criminal profiler investigating a string of brutal murders in Kwa-Zulu Natal by a serial killer. She deals with her traumatic childhood past, which somehow also helps her get into the minds of Africa's notorious criminals.[5]
Cast
[edit]- Kim Engelbrecht as Reyka Gama, an investigative psychologist and criminal profiler. She was abducted in her childhood.
- Gabrielle de Gama as Young Reyka
- Iain Glen as Angus Speelman, Scottish immigrant farmer. He and his wife abduct small children, on account of not being able to have their own. When the children reach a certain age, Speelman sees them as sexual beings.
- Nokuthula Ledwaba as Portia, Angus's wife. Mired in a complicated and dangerous relationship with him, her past is a mystery.
- Anna-Mart van der Merwe as Elsa Meyer, a journalist and adventure seeker. She is Reyka's mother. Reyka carries resentment, knowing that at some point, she gave up in searching for her, however they both work together to build a new relationship with each other.
- Hamilton Dlamini as Hector Zwane, a brigadier who is doggedly determined.
- Gerald Steyn as Tanner
- Mavuso Simelane as Samuel Zwane is a junior detective in the SAPS. He is proud, strong, and ambitious, a straight shooter determined to do everything by the book.
- Tamara Jozi as Bongi's granny
- Leeanda Reddy as Sewsunker, a forensic detective. She is the voice of reason in her team, always calm and methodical in her approach to her work.
- Thando Thabethe as Constable Nandi Cele. She is forthright and empathetic, acting as a moral compass for her colleagues.
- Desmond Dube as Pastor Ezekiel, a spiritual leader in his community. He is a showman and a seductive orator who uses his "gift of the gab" to attract people to his church.
- Kenneth Nkosi as Chief Msomi
Episodes
[edit]| No. | Title | Directed by | Written by | Original release date |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | "Episode 1" | Zee Ntuli | Rohan Dickson | 25 July 2021 |
| 2 | "Episode 2" | Unknown | Unknown | 1 August 2021 |
| 3 | "Episode 3" | Unknown | Unknown | 8 August 2021 |
| 4 | "Episode 4" | Unknown | Unknown | 15 August 2021 |
| 5 | "Episode 5" | Unknown | Unknown | 22 August 2021 |
| 6 | "Episode 6" | Unknown | Unknown | 29 August 2021 |
| 7 | "Episode 7" | Unknown | Unknown | 5 September 2021 |
| 8 | "Episode 8" | Unknown | Unknown | 12 September 2021 |
Production
[edit]It was announced in 2018, that M-Net and Fremantle would work together in creating the series. It was set to start production in early-2019.[6][7]
On 9 December 2020, Kim Engelbrecht posted pictures of behind-the-scenes footage on Instagram, expressing her excitement for working on the set alongside Iain Glen.[8]
In an interview with Independent Online, Managing director of Quizzical Pictures, Harriet Gavshon, says when she was approached by Rohan Dickson for the series, she was happy to share the production credits with Serena Cullen. She says “I read the outlines and loved it. Then we met the British producer, Serena Cullen, and we got on very well".[9]
On 15 December 2020, M-Net and Fremantle announced the lead cast for the series.[10]
Filming began on the taking place for 7 weeks, predominantly in the rural settlements of Stanger and Inanda, as well as in Johannesburg.[11]
Broadcast
[edit]The series premiered on 25 July 2021 on M-Net. The series had an international release via BritBox.
Reception
[edit]Critical response
[edit]The first episode of Reyka was shown at the 60th Monte-Carlo Television Festival and received rave reviews.[12]
South African reporter, Thinus Ferreira for News24, gave the series a rating of 3/5, comparing it to Prodigal Son and The Silence of the Lambs.[13] He says the script by Rohan Dickson may likely be inspired by South African serial killer Thozamile Taki, known as the Sugarcane Killer. Thozamile was convicted with 19 life sentences on 19 January 2011 for the murders of 13 young women, 10 of which were murdered in the sugarcane fields around Umzinto in 2007. He warns "some on-screen gruesomeness is par for the cause in a catch-the-killer crime drama. Reyka is possibly best watched with the lights on, and on bright, on a Sunday night".[14]
Awards and nominations
[edit]| Year | Award | Category | Nominee(s) | Result | Ref. |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2022 | South African Film and Television Awards | Best TV Drama | Reyka | Nominated | [15] |
| Best Actress in a TV Drama | Kim Engelbrecht | Won | |||
| Best Actor in a TV Drama | Hamilton Dlamini | Nominated | |||
| Best Achievement in Scriptwriting – TV Drama | Rohan Dickson | Won | |||
| Best Achievement in Directing – TV Drama | Catharine Cooke, Zwelesizwe Ntuli | Won | |||
| Best Achievement in Editing – TV Drama | Melanie Sara Golden, Matthew Dylan Swanepoel | Nominated | |||
| Best Achievement in Cinematography – TV Drama | Tom Marais | Won | |||
| Best Achievement in Make-up and Hairstyling – TV Drama | Theola Booyens | Nominated | |||
| International Emmy Awards | Best Drama Series | Reyka | Nominated | [16] | |
| Best Actress | Kim Engelbrecht | Nominated |
References
[edit]- ^ "Get ready for the premiere of Reyka – DStv". www.dstv.co.za. Retrieved 31 August 2021.
- ^ "Introducing, Reyka | Fremantle". fremantle.com. Retrieved 31 August 2021.
- ^ Vourlias, Christopher (30 November 2022). "South African Crime Drama 'Reyka' Renewed for Season 2 By Fremantle, M-Net (EXCLUSIVE)". Variety. Retrieved 5 April 2023.
- ^ Whittock, Jesse (30 November 2022). "M-Net Greenlights Season Two Of Fremantle Mystery Thriller 'Reyka'; David Thewlis, Thomas Brodie-Sangster Cast In Disney+'s 'The Artful Dodger' — Global Briefs". Deadline Hollywood. Retrieved 30 November 2022.
- ^ "The Man & his monster". Retrieved 25 August 2023 – via PressReader.
- ^ "Fremantle to develop South African drama with Multichoice". TBI Vision. 28 November 2018. Retrieved 31 August 2021.
- ^ "M-Net teams with Fremantle for crime thriller Reyka | Programming | News | Rapid TV News". www.rapidtvnews.com. Retrieved 31 August 2021.
- ^ "Kim Engelbrecht reveals projected premiere date of Reyka". JustNje. 10 December 2020. Retrieved 31 August 2021.
- ^ "'Reyka' producer Harriet Gavshon unpacks the other side of showbiz". www.iol.co.za. Retrieved 31 August 2021.
- ^ "M-Net and Fremantle announce lead cast for South African drama Reyka as production begins". QUIZZICAL PICTURES. Retrieved 31 August 2021.
- ^ "5 things you need to know about M-NET'S African Crime Drama "Reyka"". www.glamour.co.za. Retrieved 31 August 2021.
- ^ "New SA Crime Drama Reyka Featuring Game of Thrones Star Receives Rave International Reviews". SAPeople - Worldwide South African News. 21 July 2021. Retrieved 31 August 2021.
- ^ Ferreira, Thinus. "Reyka". Channel. Retrieved 31 August 2021.
- ^ "TV with Thinus: TV REVIEW. Put the light on bright for M-Net's shaky Reyka local crime drama series". TV with Thinus. 23 July 2021. Retrieved 31 August 2021.
- ^ Ferreira, Thinus (14 July 2022). "From The Wife to Tali's Baby Diary - All the 2022 Saftas nominations". Channel24. Retrieved 16 July 2022.
- ^ Yossman, K.J. (29 September 2022). "International Emmys 2022: The Complete Nominations List". Variety. Retrieved 30 September 2022.