The Death of Bunny Munro: Matt Smith’s Bold Turn Illuminates Nick Cave’s Bleak Tale

Sky’s new series, “The Death of Bunny Munro,” is a bold and unsettling drama. The show stars Matt Smith as a self-destructive salesman on a bleak road trip with his young son. This adaptation of Nick Cave’s 2009 novel explores grief and toxic masculinity with unflinching honesty.

The story is set in a garish, early-2000s England. Bunny Munro’s life spirals after his wife’s suicide, forcing him and his son to flee from authorities.

A Portrait of a Man in Freefall

Matt Smith fully embodies the troubled Bunny Munro. His performance is both magnetic and deeply uncomfortable to watch. Bunny is a womanizing salesman whose life is built on a foundation of lies and addiction.

He travels the south coast of England, selling cheap cosmetics. His attempts at seduction are often pathetic and sometimes dangerous. According to The Guardian, Smith’s portrayal captures the raw, pathetic core of the character.

The narrative follows Bunny and his nine-year-old son, Bunny Jr., played by Rafael Mathé. Their journey is a harrowing look at inherited trauma. The boy is forced to witness his father’s escalating collapse.

Adapting a Troubling Literary Work for Television

Scriptwriter Pete Jackson faced the challenge of translating Cave’s dark novel. The book is known for its disturbing interior monologues and graphic content. The television adaptation necessarily sanitizes some of the source material’s most extreme elements.

Bunny’s crazed fantasies are rendered more symbolically on screen. The sexual content is often framed as quasi-comical rather than purely menacing. This makes the character more pitiable than monstrous.

The series retains the novel’s central themes. It examines how pain is passed from father to son. The show questions whether cycles of self-destruction can ever be broken.

Critical Reception and Cultural Context

Early reviews have praised Smith’s fearless commitment to the role. Critics note the series is difficult to watch but impossible to ignore. Its exploration of flawed masculinity feels particularly relevant in 2025.

The show joins other recent works interrogating male identity. It refuses to offer easy redemption for its protagonist. The finale provides a moment of reckoning, but no simple answers.

The Death of Bunny Munro is a challenging yet compelling watch, anchored by Matt Smith’s transformative performance and its timely examination of inherited pain.

Info at your fingertips

What is “The Death of Bunny Munro” about?

It is a Sky series based on Nick Cave’s novel. It follows a troubled salesman and his son on a road trip after a family tragedy. The story deals with grief, addiction, and masculinity.

Who stars in the series?

Matt Smith plays the lead role of Bunny Munro. He is joined by young actor Rafael Mathé, who plays his son. The cast also includes Sarah Greene.

Is the show faithful to the book?

The adaptation captures the novel’s core themes and emotional tone. However, it softens some of the book’s more graphic and disturbing content for television.

What is the tone of the series?

The tone is bleak and often uncomfortable. It mixes dark humor with tragic drama. The series does not shy away from difficult subject matter.

How has the series been received?

Reviews highlight Matt Smith’s powerful performance as a standout. The show has been described as challenging and uncompromising. Its exploration of masculinity has been widely discussed.

Where can I watch the series?

“The Death of Bunny Munro” is available on Sky and its streaming service, Now. The series is also expected to be available on other international platforms.