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New Thriller Summerwater: Anxiety Through The Roof!
18 Nov
Summary
- The new Channel 4 thriller Summerwater explores interconnected holidaymaker stories.
- Viewers reported feeling anxious and lost watching the Scottish Highlands drama.
- The show is based on Sarah Moss's 2020 novel and features Shirley Henderson.

A new Channel 4 thriller, Summerwater, has generated significant viewer response, with many describing it as a "stressful" experience that left them feeling anxious. The six-part series unfolds over a single 24-hour period in the Scottish Highlands, presenting interconnected narratives from the perspectives of various holidaymakers. This unique storytelling approach has divided audiences, with some expressing confusion while others found it compelling.
The drama features a cast including Shirley Henderson, known for her role as Moaning Myrtle in Harry Potter, alongside Dougray Scott and Valene Kane. It is an adaptation of Sarah Moss's acclaimed 2020 novel of the same name. Critics have noted the show's experimental style, with director Robert McKillop using visual techniques to evoke the novel's sense of otherworldliness, mirroring its fragmented poetry chapter headings.
Summerwater airs on Sundays on Channel 4 and is also available for streaming. While some viewers found the show "too way out" and confusing, others lauded its intriguing premise and praised its artistic merit. The series has garnered a mixed reception, balancing descriptions of being "gripping" with "slightly-too-weird" and "very strange."




