Tony Ayres Turns Tasmania’s Gothic Landscape Into Emotional Backdrop for Netflix’s ‘The Survivors’: ‘Twisty Turny, Fun, Compelling Murder Mystery’

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Tony Ayres recognized he had an issue at hand. The mastermind behind Netflix successes “Clickbait” and “Stateless” was presented with a predicament: Jane Harper’s acclaimed novel “The Survivors” equated to approximately two hours of screen time, yet Netflix demanded six episodes. To resolve this dilemma, Ayres decided to intensify the emotional tension between a troubled son and his relentlessly unforgiving mother, making their strained relationship the pulsating core of a murder mystery unfolding against Tasmania’s most harsh and unforgiving backdrop.

The six-episode miniseries focuses on Kieran Elliott (played by Charlie Vickers), who returns to his small Tasmanian town of Evelyn Bay, which he left 15 years ago after a terrible storm took three lives, including his elder brother. When the corpse of a young woman is found on the shoreline, the event stirs up unresolved sorrow and hidden truths within the close-knit community, with Kieran’s father (Damien Garvey) – suffering from dementia – becoming the main suspect in the crime.

When reading Jane’s book, its unique two-part structure made me want to maintain that essence. The book was incredibly engaging, almost impossible to put down. Consequently, I felt it necessary to strive for a similar captivating quality in the TV adaptation,” Ayres explained to EbMaster.

Adapting the book proved to be difficult due to its limited content suitable for a six-episode series. Essentially, the entire book could only fill about one and a half to two hours of screen time. Consequently, there was a lot of creative work involved, but all ideas used were rooted in concepts from Jane’s original novel, as Ayres pointed out.

Translating the protagonist’s deep-seated feelings of guilt and sorrow into a visually engaging narrative proved to be one of the most critical creative hurdles. This task necessitated a delicate touch in adapting the material for TV, aiming to make it captivating.

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Expressing the protagonist’s inner turmoil of guilt and sorrow through visual storytelling was one of the biggest creative challenges we faced. It demanded careful adaptation to ensure our TV adaptation would be engaging.

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The challenge of conveying the protagonist’s internal struggle with guilt and loss in a visually compelling way was significant. This required a thoughtful approach when adapting for television, with the aim of creating something engaging.

As a cinephile, I recognized the necessity of externalizing Kieran’s internal struggle. To do this, I needed a formidable adversary – someone who would hinder his homecoming at every turn. It dawned on me that no one fit the bill better than his mother, Verity [Robyn Malcolm].

This creative choice makes the family interaction the heart of the series’ emotional experience. As he explains, “I increased the intensity in their connection, making it more complex and fraught.” The underlying theme of the show, in his viewpoint, revolves around a young man yearning for his mother’s forgiveness and love, while a mother who is struggling to stay afloat herself.

Verity’s struggle to grant Kieran forgiveness originates from her personal situation. “She’s holding onto her account of the past, her version of events, and that account implicates Kieran for what transpired,” Ayres clarifies. “I was trying to express his internal struggle in a more externalized manner.

Filming in Tasmania’s Eagle Hawk Neck region was a game-changer for the production’s style and message. As Ayres puts it, “Once we discovered Eagle Hawk Neck and its breathtaking scenery, it quickly became apparent that these locations would play a pivotal role not only in shaping the mood of the series, but also in exploring the show’s central ideas.

The Gothic environment doesn’t just act as a simple setting; instead, it embodies the scale and raw power of nature, evoking the sense that this is where a massive storm occurred, making Eagle Hawk Neck symbolize the traumatic event itself.

Ayres explains how the scenery is woven into the narrative: “We scattered images throughout the series that evoked a sense of impending doom, similar to what you feel when standing on cliff tops and viewing caves and the wild ocean. The power of the ocean represented the storm perfectly, yet also symbolized the broader themes of the series.

The story’s emotional depth necessitated such an expansive backdrop. “What captivated me most about the survivors was the magnitude of the mothers’ sorrow… not just theirs, but also the fathers’. It struck me as akin to a Greek tragedy, like ‘The Trojan Women’ or ‘Medea’, penned by Euripides, or other grand narratives. Yet, it unfolded in a modest setting, and the scenery seemed to resonate with those timeless themes.

As a film enthusiast, I appreciate visuals that contribute to the storyline rather than merely serving as eye candy. Ayres points out that sometimes these types of shots can feel superfluous or like mere landscapes for aesthetic pleasure, devoid of emotional depth. However, in our series, these landscapes are not just decorative; they mirror the emotional journey of the characters, making each scene more impactful and immersive.

In the casting process, overseen by Jane Norris, there was a strong emphasis on selecting actors capable of portraying intricate emotional terrains. As Ayres explained, the primary goal was to find performers who were incredibly genuine.

Charlie Vickers, recognized for his work on “The Lord of the Rings: The Rings of Power,” instantly resonated with the character. As soon as Charlie stepped through the door, Cherie [Cherie Nowlan, who co-directed the series with Ben C. Lucas] and I felt that he was Kieran. He effortlessly embodied the role.

Actress Yerin Ha, who is of Korean American descent, portrays Mia Chang in the series. The adaptation significantly expanded Mia’s character. As Ayres explains, “We aimed to maintain the sense of being an outsider or feeling distinct from this predominantly white town, while also providing her with a more intricate investigative storyline. This was done to elevate Mia’s role and truly make her a joint lead in the series.

In Ayres’ work, “The Survivors” signifies a thematic progression as he delves deeper into themes of loss and sorrow. What captivated him most in Jane’s book was the concept of someone seeking redemption for something they didn’t do wrong. Previous stories focused on coping with loss, whereas this book, and this series, go beyond just loss; it delves into the burden of surviving.

Though firmly grounded in Australian heritage, “The Survivors” seeks universal relevance by telling genuine stories. As Ayres notes, ‘The best approach seems to be making it the most authentic and truthful version of itself.’ In my experience, if the narrative feels real, if the characters seem genuine, then that sincerity is what resonates with audiences.

In reference to Netflix’s approach, Ayres points out: “We want to give viewers an engaging, intricate, captivating murder mystery wrapped up in a thrilling package.” He further adds, “The unique charm of Tasmania will likely boost our popularity as well, since I believe the stunning scenery might pique or excite people’s interest.

The show is created by Tony Ayres Productions, in partnership with Matchbox Pictures and Universal International Studios, which falls under the umbrella of Universal Studio Group. Furthermore, it receives additional assistance from VicScreen through the Victorian Production Fund and the Victorian Digital Screen Rebate, as well as production aid from Screen Tasmania.

“The Survivors” premieres globally on Netflix on June 6.

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2025-06-05 15:17