Here’s the thing about small towns: Everyone knows everyone. The villagers of The Pale Blue Eye are no different; the military community of West Point is a hotbed of gossip and scandal, with friends and enemies alike snowbound together for months at a time. It’s no wonder someone turns up dead.
Enter renowned detective Augustus Landor, who finds himself on the trail of a killer with only the help of a young poet named Edgar Allan Poe. As the pair delve deeper into the dark tell-tale heart of the case, they find themselves face-to-face with a lineup of sinister suspects — but only one of them is guilty. Read on for a guide to the actors bringing this shady bunch to life.
The iconic Dark Knight star takes on the role of another great detective — this time, grizzled ex–New York cop Augustus Landor. This is Bale’s third collaboration with writer-director Scott Cooper, after Out of the Furnace and Hostiles. Bale won an Oscar for his supporting turn in The Fighter and has been nominated another three times, for The Big Short, Vice and American Hustle. Between Oscar ceremonies, he’s appeared in multiple Christopher Nolan films, including the Dark Knight trilogy and terrific dueling-magicians mind-bender The Prestige.
You may know his name, but the Edgar Allan Poe we meet in The Pale Blue Eye is a far cry from the Poe who would become one of the most famous writers in history. Here, he’s simply a young West Point cadet who finds himself drawn into Landor’s case. Many audiences may remember Melling’s scene-stealing performance as bullying cousin Dudley Dursley in the Harry Potter films, but in recent years he’s carved out an exciting place for himself in films like the Coen Brothers’ The Ballad of Buster Scruggs and Gina Prince-Bythewood’s The Old Guard. Of course, he was also Beth Harmon’s memorable frenemy in The Queen’s Gambit.
Daughter of the West Point doctor, Lea Marquis is a dangerous temptation for young Poe — a distraction from his studies and from the case. She’s played by Lucy Boynton, whom you might recognize from her luminous turn in John Carney’s Irish musical Sing Street or her performance as Freddie Mercury’s fiancée Mary Austin in Bohemian Rhapsody. You can also spot her in films like Apostle and shows like Gypsy and The Politician, where she played Payton’s rival Astrid Sloan.
You can follow Boynton on Instagram.
Renowned English performer Timothy Spall plays Colonel Thayer, the West Point official who enlists Landor to try to salvage the academy’s reputation. Of course, as bodies continue to turn up, he grows impatient. Spall is perhaps best known for his work with director Mike Leigh; their collaborations include Secrets & Lies, Topsy-Turvy and Mr. Turner (for the last, Spall won the best actor award at the Cannes Film Festival). You may also recognize him from his work in last year’s Princess Diana film Spencer, his portrayal of Peter Pettigrew in five Harry Potter films, or his delightful comedic turns in Enchanted and Sweeney Todd.
Thayer’s compatriot Captain Hitchcock has no love for Landor either. He’s played by Simon McBurney, the playwright and theatrical director who’s also found consistent work as a character actor in films like Jonathan Demme’s The Manchurian Candidate, The Last King of Scotland and Mission: Impossible — Rogue Nation. He also played Stephen Hawking’s father Frank in The Theory of Everything.
Lea’s father, Daniel, is the West Point doctor; Landor is immediately suspicious of him. He’s played by Toby Jones, star of films like Infamous, Captain America: The First Avenger and The Hunger Games. Jones is also known for his work in historical dramas like Tinker Tailor Soldier Spy, Frost/Nixon and My Week with Marilyn.
Shifty cadet Artemus is the doctor’s son and Lea’s brother — but he also runs in the same academy circles as the killer’s first victim. He’s played by Harry Lawtey, best known for his lead role as Robert Spearing in Industry. He’s also appeared in The Letter for the King on Netflix.
You can follow Lawtey on Twitter and Instagram.
Charlotte Gainsbourg plays Patsy, a local barmaid who falls into bed with Landor — and his secrets. Gainsbourg is known for her work alongside director Lars Von Trier; she appeared in his films Antichrist, Melancholia and Nymphomaniac Vol. II. She’s also directed (her docudrama Jane by Charlotte premiered at last year’s Cannes Film Festival) and released a large body of music, with albums including 5:55, IRM, Stage Whisper and Rest.
You can follow Gainsbourg on Instagram.
The Marquis family matriarch is played by Gillian Anderson, fresh off her Emmy-winning turn as Margaret Thatcher in The Crown. Anderson has played a wide variety of iconic parts over the course of her career, including beloved FBI special agent Dana Scully in cult favorite The X-Files and sex therapist Jean Milburn in Sex Education. She’s also appeared in films like The Last King of Scotland and The Spy Who Dumped Me and provided a voice in last year’s delightful Christmas special Robin Robin.
You can follow Anderson on Twitter and Instagram.
As the case deepens, Landor and Poe find themselves investigating the occult — leading them to the expert Pepe, played by legendary actor Robert Duvall. The Oscar-winning star has had an epic career, with roles in To Kill a Mockingbird, the Godfather films, Network, Apocalypse Now, Jack Reacher, Widows and this year’s Hustle, plus many more. Why not have a Robert Duvall movie night?
