“His most underrated performance”: Flatliners is James Norton’s “brilliant” drama with a “haunting” premise

If you’ve worked your way through James Norton’s brilliant back catalogue, from Grantchester to House Of Guinness and need something new to sink your teeth into – we’ve unearthed his most underrated performance in the thriller Flatliners. The brilliant drama sees Norton take on a much darker role as a medical student Jamie, and its haunting premise makes for beyond gripping viewing.

The film follows the dark experiment of five medical students who become obsessed with one question: what happens when you die? Led by the troubled Courtney (Elliot Page) to a dingy disused hospital basement, they start stopping each other’s hearts before resuscitating each other – but their experiment comes with sinister consequences none of them could have imagined.

With the series available to stream now, here’s everything you need to know about Flatliners, including the plot, cast and how to watch it.

What is Flatliners about?

The remake of the 1990s sci-fi thriller of the same name follows five medical students who create near-death experiences that put their lives in danger. The film, which was first released in 2017, follows Courtney (Elliot Page), who’s obsessed with the after-life, as she recruits her classmates Jamie (James Norton), Sophia (Kiersey Clemons) to conduct an experiment where they use defibrillation to stop her heart for a minute. When she wakes up euphoric, she wills the others, including Ray (Diego Luna) and Marlo (Nina Dobrev), to try it – however, the groups keep pushing the limits and extending the time period that they’re out for.

Suddenly, the experiment takes a dark turn – and they all face haunting visions revolving around trauma they’ve tried to suppress. Soon, Courtney makes a shock admission about her intention behind the experiment, and a series of shocking tragedies unfurl involving ghostly apparitions, guilt-induced hallucinations and a boat accident. But, will the group put a stop to their experiment before it’s too late?

Who’s in the cast of Flatliners?

The cast of Flatliners includes:

• Nina Dobrev (Love Hard, The Originals) as Marlo
• Elliot Page (Juno) as Courtney Holmes
• Diego Luna (Andor) as Ray
• James Norton (Grantchester, Little Women, The Trial Of Christine Keeler) as Jamie
• Kiersey Clemons (Dope) as Sophia Manning
• Kiefer Sutherland (The Lost Boys) as Dr. Barry Wolfson/Nelson Wright
• Beau Mirchoff (Hidden Gems) as Brad
• Madison Brydges (My Life With The Walter Boys) as Tessa Holmes

Is Flatliners any good?

Yes – James Norton’s performance, paired with the eerie supernatural element and startling repressed memories, make for a gripping watch. James Norton’s character undergoes a serious development arc, he starts out as an arrogant thrill seeker but when he goes under himself – he’s forced to confront something from his past and reveals a more vulnerable side.

Is there a trailer for Flatliners?

Yes – you can watch the trailer for Flatliners below.

View full post on YouTube

How can I watch Flatliners?

You can watch Flatliners now on Netflix.

What other James Norton dramas can I watch now?

For a lighter period drama, we’d suggest Life In Squares. The 2015 series stars James as a member of the renowned Bloomsbury group, a collection of friends and lovers who were pioneers of artistic and sexual freedom – over four decades. You can watch Life In Squares on Prime Video. For fans of crime dramas, we’d suggest McMafia. The series sees James’s character, Alex Godman, an English-raised son of Russian exiles with a mafia history, pulled into a criminal world he’s spent his entire life trying to avoid. McMafia is available to watch now on BBC iPlayer.