Originally showcased in 2005 on the now defunct BBC 3 digital channel; Funland is a jaded tale of revenge, murder, greed and debauchery set over the course of a long weekend in a seedy English seaside town.
It is not difficult to see where the writers drew their inspiration from either. There are plenty of familiar nods to popular culture - the gritty realism of Get Carter, the macabre absurdities of The League of Gentleman, the earthy humour of a 1970s Confessions film. Even King Kong for Pete's sake!
But does it work? Well, yes and no.
Funland's strengths undoubtedly lie in it's solid and convincing cast - a veritable who's who of British acting talent. Worthy of mention is the late, Roy Barraclough as the grasping, machiavellian local politician Onan Van Kneck. His caustic one liners, coupled with his unconvincing toupee and peculiar physical deformities really was inspired casting. So too, Sarah Smart as the vulnerable but exploited Lola.
Blackpool's tacky "glamour" also provides the perfect backdrop for a story populated by sleazy, morally repulsive characters and unsettling subject matter. It is jarring, but strangely compelling viewing.
But, Funland is first and foremost a comedy. A very, very, very dark comedy. The bizarre spectacle of a stuffed dead gangster being trundled around the town on roller skates will stay with me for a very long time.
The series could have benefitted greatly from some sharper editing. This is easily the show's worst flaw. Characters and situations are introduced briefly but are not developed undermining the plot and stifling the pace of the action. There is too much unnecessary dialogue, and the much anticipated finale (after 10 episodes) seemed rushed and frustratingly inconsequential.
That said, Funland is a grim, humorous, often poignant, sometimes shocking journey through the grubby u bend of life in a seaside town that they forgot to close down.
Funland has some brilliant one-liners and succeeds in delivering some genuinely hilarious moments: the council meeting who's only topic on the agenda appears to be discussing the size of a stripper's thong; and the bizarre spectacle of a stuffed dead gangster being trundled around the town on roller skates; are easily two of the funniest scenes I've seen on TV in a long time.
