Murder. Political corruption. Arson. Drugs.

Trial By Fire, a North of 60 made-for-TV movie that airs at 8 p.m. Sunday on CBC (Cable 4), focuses on the dark side.

Fans of the former television series will see the return of their favourite characters in the two-hour film that is heavier on character development and lighter on action than last year's inaugural TV movie.

"This is more character-driven," said director Francis Damberger (Heart of The Sun, Due South, Jake and the Kid and Solitaire), who lives on a Tofield-area acreage.

"I think this one holds you right to the end with trying to figure out who did it," said the University of Alberta grad who lives not far from his childhood home.

In this murder mystery, Cpl. Michelle Kenidi (Tina Keeper) faces a difficult challenge after a body is discovered in the ruins of a new lodge built to lure visitors to the fictitious Lynx River community.

When arson is determined as the cause, her partner James Harper (Peter Kelly Gaudreault) discovers evidence that paints Kenidi's brother Peter (Tom Jackson) as a suspect.

Keeper's character struggles as she realizes her brother has lied. But is the man who hopes to become the premier of the Northwest Territories capable of murder?

The complex web has Peter sacrificing political integrity in pursuit of achieving a greater good, an approach that leads to a costly outcome. The axiom that "power corrupts" is an important side-story to the movie, says Damberger.

"That's the larger thing that's going on in the background in this (movie), is the whole idea, if you're in politics what distance do you go to, to do what you believe in?" said the head of Damberger Film and Cattle Co. (He has no time to raise cows so the cattle reference serves as a tribute to his roots.)

Graham Greene (The Green Mile, Dances With Wolves) has a strong presence as Walter Pearce, a businessman and MLA who is helping Peter's bid for premier. Teevee Tenia, played by Edmonton's Dakota House, gets less time than usual on the screen.

The $3-million project was largely shot in Alberta's Bragg Creek area, but for the first time, North of 60 made good on its continuous Yellowknife references and filmed in the northern city for three days.

"I think it was really important," said Damberger, a married father of three kids. "It adds credibility."

The tight schedule in the Northwest Territories capital was unforgiving, especially when bad weather transformed Great Slave Lake's calm waters into a churning mess during filming of a boat chase.

"That was terrifying," recalled Damberger, 42, who was in a boat with the film crew. "By mid-morning the waves were already three or four feet high. We had to stop shooting that part."

A little editing-room magic helped piece the footage together. But viewers will have to allow for artistic licence when it comes to the concept a cop could investigate her brother.

"I guess that's one of the liberties of television, dramatic licence," said Damberger. "You'd hate to see it any other way. As interesting as the mystery in this show is, to me what's almost more interesting is the relationships between her and her brother and her partner. The dynamics of that triangle is what makes this captivating."

Damberger is no newcomer to North of 60. During its first two seasons, he had a recurring role as a government bureaucrat, which he gave up to direct Jake and the Kid.

And he hopes he's not done with the Lynx River crew. One day, he'd like to create a two-hour North of 60 comedy.