The Other Side Of Control

starring: COCO TAYLOR & NEIL BISHOP

On her wedding day a bride Ellie is kidnapped by a tough stranger, who says her fiance lost her to him in a card game. Held at a remote farmhouse, she must fight for her freedom whilst learning the dangerous truth about the man she was going to marry.

REVIEW

⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

This is a great, tight, atmospheric romantic thriller on @mydrama.excitingseries

We have some iconic shots of bride Ellie in her wedding dress running through a field or desperately trying to escape in the woods. Kidnapped Ellie has a brain - she fights for her freedom, and desperately tries to work out which man is telling her the truth. @cocotaylor__ makes her intelligent and likeable, she has agency throughout the whole story.

Neil Bishop is super as strong silent Cole who turns out not to be in control as we think

And @benrobertcunningham proves he is one of the most interesting actors out there - Ryan is at turns charming, pathetic, terrifying, and powerful. It is a master class in manipulation, just watch how his eyes change in a single scene

And because this is well written nothing is straight forward here

Tina @emmycoates_acting is justified in being furious with Cole and Ellie. Tina is flawed but likeable, and I want her to have a spin off

And we have a police officer who is more than a cipher, @david_ogundare is not easily dissuaded from the initial call pit, and Ellie's attempts to persuade him things are ok are hilarious. Plus a bit of a cheer when he gets to come back at the end and make the arrest.

It all looks super, set on a slightly bleak isolated farmhouse, and Misty (played by Hector) nearly steals the whole thing and saves the day at the end.

It's smart and original - more like this please.

💖 Top swoonworthy moment:

Instant chemistry here with Cole and Ellie. Plus some great motorbike moments. More motorbikes in verts please (evidently v hard to film this in LA which is yet another reason we need to make more in the UK). It's very well done and grown up, Ellie is aware of that she shouldn't fall for her kidnapper, and there are a few messy bits like Tina that need to be dealt with. But you have no doubt these two need to be together.

🦹🏼‍♂️ Top villain award:

Ryan is brilliant, because he can be charming. For once you can see why our female lead was with him - this is someone who has successfully hidden his nasty side from her. And in wonderful originality in a vertical, HE DOESN' T CHEAT ON HER. OR HIT HER. He is nasty in other ways. It is so well done, and he is the master of manipulation.

😂 Comedy gold:

I do feel for Tina, who gets wine in the face, and punched by Ellie. Tina was involved with Cole first! She has a point. Tina you are an icon in that duster - you can do better than Cole. We need you to have your own spin off vertical, where we see more of your private detective career.

🎺 Unsung hero:

The highly competent Police Officer (David Ogundare) who is not easily dismissed when Ellie calls him, and then gets to make the arrest and save the day at the end. Again new for a vertical.

✍🏼 DETAILS

Director: Syd Heather | 2026

Available on My Drama