*Fehinti Balogun brings a chilling yet compelling presence to the role of Amos in the acclaimed Apple TV thriller “Down Cemetery Road.”
Describing his character, Balogun said, “I would describe Amos as a ruthlessly efficient overachiever. His role in this is that he is a government cleanup man.” The series, which debuted on October 29 and concluded on December 10, follows private investigator Zoë Boehm (Emma Thompson) and neighbor Sarah Trafford (Ruth Wilson) as they uncover a complex conspiracy after a house explodes in a quiet Oxford suburb and a young girl goes missing.
Amos occupies a shadowy place within the series’ dark, twisting narrative. Balogun explained, “It’s interesting because we start with him trying to take on a different role to the role that he does, which is a more managerial role. He is in charge of a certain project, handling a certain asset. When that asset can no longer continue their job, he goes back to what he’s really good at, which is handling things himself.” His skills make him indispensable in the murky world Sarah stumbles into, blending calculated efficiency with glimpses of personal stakes.
While Amos is central to the conspiracy’s unraveling, his focus is singular. “It’s funny because Amos doesn’t really give a sh*t about the conspiracy. He was born with the ability to have very particular skills. And his particular skills make him ruthlessly efficient at cleaning up whatever the government asks him to do,” Balogun shared. Yet there is an emotional core to the character, tied to a romantic connection that Balogun describes as a rare vulnerability.
Scroll to continue reading
“He has this one thing, and that was taken away. And in his own words, now he has to take it away from someone else. It’s just that simple. You took from me, you took something I owned, something that was mine. Now I’m going to destroy you and move on with my life,” Balogun said.
He emphasized the human complexity behind Amos, avoiding the trap of portraying him as a one-dimensional villain. “I think it’s important that he’s human. He’s very good at what he does, which is killing people. But at the end of the day, he’s human, and he has human connections and experiences. Yes, there’s an absolute goal here. But there are also distractions in life.” This nuanced approach keeps viewers guessing, Balogun said, as they are unsure how Amos will react in any given moment.
Amos’ moral ambiguity adds another layer to the tension. Balogun noted, “He has loved and has a version of love, which is ownership. Because he does feel the consequence of loss, there is a want to have and connect. The difficulty with Amos is that he cannot feel empathy. There are certain circumstances where it is so far removed, especially with life and death. He finds taking life very easy.”
The character’s journey through season one, from the initial introduction to his eventual personal reckoning, provides both suspense and an unexpected emotional resonance. “I think at first you aren’t really sure what he is. And then you kind of get into his personal life. I think whenever you see someone’s humanity, you are directed to empathize with them.”
Following the season one finale, Apple TV has announced a second season of “Down Cemetery Road.” The new season reunites Zoë and Sarah as they navigate another twisted mystery involving a woman falling in front of a train, a black market antiquities network, and a brutal serial killer.
Emma Thompson said, “I’m so thrilled that Down Cemetery Road has been enjoyed enough to warrant a second season…We are go for the next one and it’s all down to you.”
Jay Hunt, creative director for Apple TV in Europe, added, “Audiences around the world fell in love with ‘Down Cemetery Road’ and I am glad the unlikely duo of Zoë and Sarah will be back with their unique form of acerbic wit.”
Produced by 60Forty Films and written by Morwenna Banks, Down Cemetery Road has been lauded as “one of the best thrillers of the decade,” earning a Certified Fresh rating on Rotten Tomatoes. With an “impeccable cast” led by Thompson and Wilson, and a complex character like Amos brought to life by Balogun, the series continues to captivate audiences worldwide. The full first season is now available on Apple TV.
MORE NEWS ON EURWEB.COM: Darren Boyd on Playing the Ruthless ‘C’ in Apple TV’s ‘Down Cemetery Road’ | EUR Exclusive
Sign up for our Free daily newsletter HERE.
