It's not surprising the combination of director Jean-Marc Vallée (Big Little Lies) and writer Gillian Flynn (Gone Girl) tempted Amy Adams back to TV. Adams takes the lead in this dark thriller, as reporter Camille Preaker is sent on assignment to her home town of Wind Gap, Missouri, to investigate a series of child murders. It's a chance to make a name for herself but it comes at a cost, as she must confront her dysfunctional relationship with her cold and brittle mother (Patricia Clarkson) who has seemingly wiped Camille from her life after remarrying. Camille's precocious half-sister Amma (Eliza Scanlen) is now the apple of her eye.

Camille is a (barely) functioning alcoholic, and repressed memories flood her mind unbidden like hallucinogenic day dreams. She's a mess, in search of answers not just to the unfolding murders, but to the wreckage of her life. She finds solace and a kind of friendship with fellow outsider, Kansas City detective Richard Willis (Chris Messina). However, it's Camille's relationship with her mother and little sister that cuts like a knife.

Clarkson is not only the ruling matriarch of their Southern gothic mansion, she's also the town's main employer, owning the local slaughterhouse. She turns a role that could easily drift into caricature into a passive-aggressive monster who craves an impossible picture-perfect ideal. Scanlen deftly switches between Amma's dual personalities, from a spoiled princess when in her momma's company to teenage delinquent as soon as she crosses the threshold. Sophia Lillis looks scarily like Adams, as a young Camille in flashback, subtly capturing her likeness and mannerisms. Even with such a strong cast it's still Adams who holds your attention. She's such a personable and sincere performer that even when playing such a raw, broken character that you can't help but warm to her.

Sharp Objects emphasises the suffocating nature of small town life, especially when laced with fear and suspicion. Touching on self-harm, disease, mental and physical abuse, it goes to some dark places. However, Vallée's direction even makes even the most repulsive aspects look lush, glossy and strangely enticing. The story doesn't quite justify eight episodes; the source novel runs at just over 250 pages and feels stretched to fill the run time, but Adams, Clarkson and Scanlan keep you captivated.

Episodes watched: One—four of eight.

Sharp Objects is on Sky Atlantic from Mon 9 Jul, 9pm.