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Reviews
Thriller: The Eyes Have It (1973)
The Eyes Have It
Inspired by movies such as Wait Until Dark and Blind Terror, the latter was also written by Brian Clemens.
This instalment of Thriller starts with a doctor giving some students a medical demonstration.
Later the doctor is killed by a group of men posing as plumbers. They want to use the top part of the building to launch a rocket to assassinate a visiting dignitary to Britain.
The rest of the students downstairs have no idea what is happening. They are blind.
Sally (Sinead Cusack) senses there is something wrong and tries to alert the others. At one point the police visit to check the building out and they do not notice anything out of the ordinary.
Once the others realise what happens. They band together to take on the terrorists. Even if they cannot see.
There is a good cast here. Peter Vaughn leads the terrorist group thinking the blind students would be docile and compliant.
The students include Dennis Waterman and Alun Armstrong, both are prepared to get physical despite their visual impairments.
The Eyes Have It is a neat thriller but flawed. The police seemed to be incompetent, not checking out a building with a high vantage point in advance.
Starve Acre (2023)
Starve Acre
Starve Acre is a moody 1970s set English folk horror. A kind of slow burn tragi-drama that pumps up to something frenetic but unsatisfying by the end.
Adapted from a novel by Andrew Michael Hurley. It has a sense of Don't Look Now about it. Without canals and a prolonged sex scene.
Richard (Matt Smith) an archaeologist has moved with his wife Juliette (Morfydd Clark) into his family home in rural Yorkshire. His father died and left Richard the house.
Their son Owen is a troubled child who might have an aggressive side. A horse got attacked in a country fair. Later Owen dies of an asthma attack.
Richard is angry at the neighbouring farmer who kept telling his son stories about a character called Jack Grey. Owen kept mentioning he could hear Jack.
Juliette now joined by her sister Harrie tries to find closure by getting in touch with a mystic, who is a friend of the farmer. It seems the mystic got into touch with something.
While Richard digs in his land where an old oak tree used to be. It had an unnerving reputation.
Both characters are fractured and lost. There are signs that Richard might have had dark childhood memories regarding his father. All connected to the land around them and there was no closure then.
Then Richard finds rabbit bones which slowly comes to life. Is this rabbit their son's spirit or something more sinister.
This low budget twisted folk horror film drifts through its cold bleakness. It certainly goes up a notch when the rabbit comes to life. Whatever it is, the rabbit brings the couple together. The audience though might be perplexed.
Dead Boy Detectives: The Case of the Devlin House (2024)
The Case of the Devlin House
It is a haunted house investigation for the Dead Detectives. Although Edwin is still counting cats.
In 1994 Brandon Devlin went berserk and killed his wife and two daughters and then killed himself.
The Devlin House murder is notorious but Edwin, Charles, Niko and Crystal know nothing about it. It seems Brandon was triggered that his wife might had been having an affair and was planning on leaving him.
Only the detectives find themselves in a constant loop. Charles gets dragged in because it brings memories of his own abusive father.
For something aimed at young adults. This was rather graphic slaughter wise. The humour at times was odd. The eventual solution, well I'll tape over that.
The Red King: Episode #1.6 (2024)
Episode 6
The Red King was a series that tries to have his cake and eat it. The previous episode ended with Lady Heather Nancarrow revealing herself as the head of the True Way cult.
She wants to deal with Father Douglas Carrisford, the True Way. Give Douglas their own kind of punishment, down the well. Not a fair trial where clever lawyers could weasel him out of a murder charge.
Grace is not for it but feels hopelessly outnumbered. There is a vote held where people place stones, it is a tie. It is for Grace to decide but she votes for Douglas to be executed.
That is not the end. Grace learns that a trap was set for her. She was meant to go to the church and confront Douglas not Gruffudd.
I found the whole thing messy. A debate on justice, the kind director Michael Winner used to have in those Charles Bronson Death Wish movies. Father Douglas was a child abuser.
Then it really did go all Wicker Man something that was hinted at throughout.
Maybe writer Toby Whithouse could had gone for something simple in narrative terms.
McDonald & Dodds: Jinxy Sings The Blues (2024)
Jinxy Sings The Blues
Whatever drugs the writer is on. Maybe I should have some of it.
There are times where you cannot reward mediocrity. The insult to your intelligence.
Lines such as we have put the barcode of this champagne bottle together. Now we have tracked where this bottle was purchased, at what time and day. More importantly who brought it.
Really give me a break. This is pure desperation.
It starts off all bluesy in some southern part of America. A blues singer called Robert Johnson meets with the devil and does a deal. All about mastering the guitar. I did watch as movie called Crossroads starring Ralph Macchio many years ago.
The Johnson stuff is pure filler for a poor episode. Mainly about a mythical map that suddenly turns up for auction.
Later there is more incredulity. The murderer garroting someone on the top deck of a bus, plunged in darkness while going under a bridge. The victim not struggling or screaming or someone even observing it.
Utter rubbish.
Lady in the Lake: It Has to Do With the Search for the Marvelous. (2024)
It Has to Do With the Search for the Marvelous
The second episode is still setting the scene between the two main characters. Maddie has made it away from her husband. Even if it is a crummy apartment in a sketchy part of town.
Maddie needs money from Milton. He is still angry that she has left him. A desperate Maddie stages an burglary for the insurance money.
Officer Platt arrives and seems sceptical about the burglary story and that Maddie has dirt in her hands, as she stashed the jewellery in the plant pot.
Still the cop seems to feel sorry for her. A guy in a pet shop could be the likely suspect, the one who bathes with the fishes in a gas mask.
There are no breaks for Cleo. She cannot work for Myrtle Summer's campaign as she does work for numbers game racketter Mr Gordon.
Now she has to go all in with Gordon and ends up in peril because of it too prove her loyalty to him.
There is no doubt the pacing is slow, there are some good visual imagery. The young man in the bath, the patrons dancing in the club. The opening flashback scene where Maddie sees a painting of a lady in the lake.
The Upper Hand: Welcome Home II (1990)
Welcome Home II
Charlie walks into a fancy old people's home for the well heeled. Looking for a job as a domestic supervisor.
Lady Rawcliffe asks Charlie why he is looking for a new job. He explains that he was let go by Caroline when she got back together with her husband Michael.
There was no room for another alpha male in the household.
While Charlie wows the residents and staff in the new home. Things are not going so well between Caroline and Michael. They really need a domestic to do the cooking and cleaning.
It is not long before Michael gets itchy feet. There is an offer for another nature documentary in Africa.
Well this one was amiable and predictable. Not that funny but it is clear that Charlie missed working for the Caroline household.
Shine on Harvey Moon: The Course of True Love (1982)
The Course of True Love
Now he is a councillor. Harvey Moon does not have enough time for his family. He is too busy organising a day outing for the local community.
Son Stanley wants his dad to coach the school football team. Half his classmates do not believe that his dad was a footballer. The other half do not believe Stanley has a dad.
Lou Lewis is out if jail and plans to join the police. The Palestine police even though he has a criminal record. Maggie thinks it is a horrible idea, they would be posted for 10 years.
While Nan's is visited by an old flame Wilf (Patrick Troughton.) He went to Africa and made a fortune in bananas.
During the day out to Southend. Stanley ends up in a part of a beach that is a minefield.
The Wild part of the story went nowhere. A waste of Patrick Troughton, I thought Wilf might turn out to be dodgy.
I felt sorry that Harvey wants a divorce from Rita. She plays hard to give even though they have been separated for ages.
Murder, She Wrote: Murder in the Electric Cathedral (1986)
Murder in the Electric Cathedral
Jessica Fletcher goes to Oklahoma to visit old friend Carrie McKittrick. She soon suffers a heart attack when her family berate her for leaving all her money to televangelist Reverend Willie John Fargo's Electrical Cathedral.
Carrie dies in hospital but it looks like cyanide poisoning. Jessica finds a syringe commonly used by diabetics.
Also at the hospital Carrie's will was changed again. This time leaving her estate to her family.
Jessica needs to persuade District Attorney Fred Whittaker to investigate Reverend Fargo, something he is reluctant to do. Only all the evidence seems to point at the Reverend being the culprit. Jessica wonders someone at the hospital like one of the nurses could had poisoned Carrie.
It is another starry cast of veteran actors. Richard Herd, Dick Van Patten, Steve Forrest and Mildred Natwick.
You do wonder how one of the family members could not forge Carrie's signature properly.
The show does portray Reverend Fargo as oily but also sincere about his beliefs and looking after the poor. As long as the donors pay up.
Butterflies: How About Lunch? (1978)
How About Lunch?
It is Leonard's birthday tomorrow and he is hoping he could invite Ria for lunch.
He has also got a chauffeur called Thomas now. Driving Leonard about and suddenly having to stop. When Leonard spots Ria's Union Jack painted Mini.
Only sons Russell and Adam have borrowed it. They even wonder if their mum is having an affair.
Poor Leonard he never manages to contact Ria in time.
She is hoping to do something spontaneous with Ben. Only Ben nowadays needs advance notice and some heating. He's not got over what happened last time they did something spontaneous when the kids were out.
It is noticeable to me that it is just not Ria having a mid life crisis of sorts. Both Leonard and Ben feel lost as well in middle age.
The Law and Mr. Jones: The Concert (1961)
The Concert
Abraham Lincoln Jones is dragged into a spat between a renowned international conductor Gustave Helmer (Eduard Franz) and a singer Carla Hayes (Paula Raymond.)
It is a clash between temperaments and Helmer threatens to quit the tour.
This leaves the concert promoter with a big headache. Abraham Lincoln Jones drew up the contract and tries to make peace. Only to end up getting fired.
Eventually all parties realise that the letter of the contract can be deemed to be unfair to all parties. If only Gustave and Carla just talked and listened to each other.
An amusing episode with some pathos for Gustave. An East European exiled from his own country. I wondered if he was modelled on the likes of Leonard Bernstein. It seems Jones sympathy was with the maestro rather than the singer.
The Dick Powell Show: A Time to Die (1962)
A Time to Die
Aaron Spelling has taken a leaf out of the book of Frank Capra or even Powell & Pressburger.
Burton Stevens (Dick Powell) is a gangster who is hown cohorts hate. After a car accident, he hovers between life and death.
Two sort of angels appear before him. They give him a choice, that before the deadline, he could choose someone else to take his place. The last person he touches will die.
Burton needs to visit three people. Just after the first one Leslie Clark (Tuesday Weld) a lovestruck woman who is suicidal. Burton thinks this will be a cinch.
The next two people is a little boy who is seriously ill and a wannabe gangster Nick Giller (John Saxon) who thinks someone is after him.
Burton manages to intertwine with all three people. As Nick is the one he plans to swap places with. He tries to improve the lives of Leslie and the little kid. Fate has a twist in store for Burton.
Slightly silly but a rather charming instalment with just the right amount of sentimentality.
A bit of a starry cast that includes singer Andy Williams as well as a family affair for Powell. It includes his wife June Allyson and their children.
Dixon of Dock Green: Everybody's Business (1976)
Everybody's Business
There are a couple of stars from Citizen Smith which started a year later.
Rita Batty (Cheryl Hall) is a tenant who likes to wind up the nosey Mrs Hooker (Queenie Watts) who lives in the same house. Mrs Hooker is known to the Dixon Green police as she keeps reporting suspicious activities.
Rita and another occupant make out they are planning some kid of robbery.
Soon Ron Fielding (Roger Lloyd Pack) turns up asking to rent the top flat with a view of the main road. It's occupied by Rita but Ron tells Mrs Hooker he would pay for Rita to move into a more expensive flat.
This does not trigger Mrs Hooker that Ron is up to no good.
The target is neighbour Mrs Collins who has a valuable painting which was featured in a newspaper article. George Dixon pops down to see the elderly Mrs Collins and is not happy that both her and the painting are vulnerable.
It is one of those episodes that takes a while to heat up. Poor Rita she is bound and gagged and then treated like a suspect.
It ends with a car chase although by now it seems rather obvious that the production crew were probably going to the same waste ground every other week.
Hammer House of Mystery and Suspense: Last Video and Testament (1984)
Last Video and Testament
Victor Frankham (David Langton) is the founder of a multinational electronics company. He is seen to be over the ill, his health is not so good.
Shareholders are concerned and wait to see who will be nominated to be his successor. The favourite is cocky Derek Tucker (Oliver Tobias) who does even turn up at a satellite board meeting on time.
Victor is married to a younger trophy wife Selena Frankham (Deborah Raffin) who gives him his medication and has to put up with his whinging of being too old for her.
So no surprise that Victor discovers from the CCTV in his house that Selena is not such a loving wife. She is having an affair with Derek and also planning to kill of Victor with some sudden shock like his claustrophobia.
Shocked Victor goes off to America for heart surgery but he dies. He does leave instructions to Selena via a videotape.
The story takes time to get going. It was obvious that Selena and Derek were getting it on. Why could they not just meet in a hotel when Victor is an electronics expert.
The final reveal turns it up a notch or two and is effective enough if far fetched.
It certainly brings a literal meaning to dancing on someone's grave.
Signora Volpe: An Anxious Aunt (2022)
An Anxious Aunt
There are a lot of detective shows set abroad as it is a chance to show off some gorgeous scenery.
Signora Volpe is mainly set in Umbria so there is wonderful scenery. Signora Volpe is Italian for Madam Fox and is played by Emilia Fox.
She is MI6 agent Sylvia Fox who has some issues at work. She sets off to Italy to attend her niece Alice wedding with Tommaso. On the wedding day Tomasso has disappeared.
Sylvia takes it upon herself to find out what happened. It looks like Tommaso was not who he claimed to be. Especially when she stumbles across another dead body.
The USP for Signora Volpe is that the main character is a spy turned detective. Sylvia can handle herself when set upon by gangsters. She can get information from colleagues at MI6. Be flippant with the Italian police.
The mystery itself just managed to unravel so easily. Sylvia manages to find all the right people and the right information, while everyone else flounders.
The Razor's Edge (1984)
The Razor's Edge
The Razor's Edge is a flawed adaptation of W Somerset Maugham's philosophical novel. The story of Larry Darrell (Bill Murray) an American ambulance driver traumatized by his harsh experiences in World War One.
On his return to America, instead of marrying his socialite fiance Isabel Bradley (Catherine Hicks) he sets off to gain some real experiences about life and himself.
He first goes off to Paris where he ends up being a coal miner. Then a spiritual quest in India.
By the time he returns some years later. Isabel has married his best friend Gray Maturin (James Keach) who has suffered financially after the Wall Street crash.
Another friend Sophie MacDonald (Theresa Russell) lost her husband and child in a car crash and her life is in turmoil.
The film looks sumptuous. Unfortunately director John Byrum cannot handle the material as director. At times it rises but mostly it is flat.
Bill Murray struggles with serious drama. Too many times he was impassive while Hicks was just all wrong for a character who was meant to be manipulative. Star Trek IV was her level in the cinema.
Bill's brother Brian Doyle-Murray has no such issues as Piedmont, the commanding officer in the war made an impactful appearance. Theresa Russell managed to convey her tragedy while Denholm Elliott was ever reliable as Isabel's wealthy uncle.
Ginger in the Morning (1974)
Ginger in the Morning
It looks like a television movie but it was released for the cinema. A very 1970s and dated view of a May to December romance.
Right at the beginning. Newly divorced Joe (Monte Markham) is getting badgered by Fred (David Doyle) a man he just met to sow his oats and make the most of his freedom.
While driving he picks up a young pretty hitchhiker Ginger (Sissy Spacek) and a car puncture. She is free spirited hippie and secretly pregnant.
They first stop at a hotel and later Joe takes Ginger to his place. Hoping for a good time with Ginger.
Only boorish friend Charlie (Mark Miller) turns up, followed by his estranged wife.
It leads to misunderstandings with Ginger. She was rather naively hoping that Joe could be a father figure.
The movie is a mixed bag. An early starring role for Spacek who gets to sing as well.
Mark Miller who also wrote the movie is unsure what kind of movie this is.
It could had been a tender romance between two mismatched people. When Charlie crashes into the movie. It detours into something else and the movie suffers.
Crime Story: Terrible Coldness: Graham Young (1993)
Terrible Coldness: Graham Young
Journalist Anthony Holden wrote a book about Graham Young also known as the Teacup Poisoner.
It was turned into the movie, The Young Poisoner's Handbook in 1995. A few years after this dramatisation.
Not explicitly stated here. Graham Young was arrested at the age of 14 for poisoning his father, sister and stepmother with thallium. The stepmother died and Young was sent to Broadmoor Hospital for the criminally insane.
He was released eight years later, the psychiatrist considered that Young was no longer a danger to others.
After eight years, Young was released from Broadmoor. The psychiatrist wrongly believed that he was no longer a danger to others.
Young obtained a job at at John Hadland Laboratories which made infra red lenses for the military. His employer were not aware that Young was a convicted poisoner.
Soon after his work colleagues started to fall ill. Young had slipped poison into their tea and coffee. Several of them had messy deaths.
Eventually a few of his colleagues became suspicious about him. He warranted attention because of his knowledge of poisons and its effects.
This dramatisation showed just how amoral and nasty Young was. The effects of his actions on his victims. The extreme pain they were in before some of them died.
It is just a shame that a lot of was left out regarding his past. Even things like his interest in Nazism. A thoroughly unrepentant man.
The Red King: Episode #1.5 (2024)
Episode 5
I did think Toby Whithouse has been trying himself in knots with his plotting.
Just who are the True Way?
A sinister cult? A relic of the past? Or something that the murderer could frame? All to give Grace the runaround.
The once constant has been the antagonism between Detective Grace Narayan and her predecessor Gruffudd Prosser.
She takes him down for questioning but an incident interrupts her. It is Prosser who comes across some information while he is at the police station.
Prosser follows it up and by chance there could be redemption for him over Cai's murder.
A bit of a shocker ending. Rather gruesome and I think Prosser got the point. It also led to the true face of the True Way.
Rebus: Episode #1.4 (2024)
Episode 4
A gritty crime series like Rebus is always going to have gruesome violence. It is cleverly implied but will still make you wince.
The loyalist paramilitary are not messing around. They want names and are prepared to put the heat on to find the people who stole their drugs and killed one of their own.
Ger Cafferty is just along for the ride and make wisecracks to those getting tortured.
Rebus has a confrontation with his brother Michael. Both are unaware just how much trouble Michael is in. He and his army colleagues have a barbecue, drink a lot with their respective families. Not realising that the loyalists are observing them.
To me the series does suffer with just the one story being stretched to a six part series. It is well acted, a bit gruesome but too slow at times.
Sorry!: Bells for Uncle Barstable (1986)
Bells for Uncle Barstable
Uncle Barstable has died. He was an Archdeacon and in his 90s. He had been Mrs Lumsden's uncle. His ashes have arrived at the house.
Now he has left the clergy. Mts Lumsden asks Timothy whether he would like to take holy orders. Timothy thinks he is not tall enough to put his head above the pulpit.
Timothy is more interested in Miss Clanger, the piano teacher. Maybe she could be interested in him as well.
He just has a puzzle to deal with. Uncle Barstable left a secret message for the disposal of his ashes. Timothy has problems deciphering until a sideboard arrives.
Amusing episode, even Mr Lumsden cracks a few jokes. Timothy tells a funny rambling story while sitting down on a kitchen table.
No way would Miss Clanger would be holding out for Timothy though.
The Red King: Episode #1.4 (2024)
Episode 4
Mihangel Pugh. He seems to be a devoted follower of the True Way and seems to have something to hide.
Is the self flagellation is because of some dark deed he did? When Grace visits him Mihangel Pugh becomes unhinged. He takes out a shotgun and points it at both Grace and Owen.
Grace tries to talk to him, calm Mihangel down. He blows his head off.
It leads to darkly humorous scene. Where Doctor Ian Prideaux examines the headless body of the man who might have killed his son and pronounce him dead.
The villagers think it is over. Dogged Grace comes across information that the True Way might have been framed.
As it was episode 4. I just knew that Mihangel could not possibly be the killer. There is more but I got the inkling. Despite one gruesome scene, a shouty match between Grace and Prosser. This was just going around in circles.
Rebus: Episode #1.3 (2024)
Episode 3
This new version of Rebus is simmering nicely. There has been several story strands but nothing too complex.
As Rebus talks to Kai, the lad who has his finger chopped off. A term that Kai later uses makes Rebus realise that his brother is involved. An army term about having a stag on was used.
Michael Rebus though is moving into the next stage of his plan. He has roped in his army pals. With information gleaned from drug dealer Darryl Christie. They raid a shipping warehouse for a big stash of drugs.
It leads to a death. Someone from an Irish paramilitary group.
It is clear now this is going to be a brother against brother rivalry. Michael Rebus might not have fathomed how deep he is in this. That he is in serious trouble with the paramilitary group.
Enterprise: Strange New World (2001)
Strange New World
Strange New World. What a title, there might be some mileage in that!
The long scans on the Enterprise might have been offline. All of s sudden, the crew notice a M class planet from the ship's window. Their first alien word.
Archer and the crew visit this earth like planet. Marvel at the wonders. T'Pol is not so excited, she has visited dozens of planets. She believes there are protocols to follow when engaging with a new planet.
Archer disregards her advice. I sense trouble. Later at night when a storm brews, the landing party takes refuge in a cave. The crew become paranoid, seeing rock people.
Tripp even believes that T'Pol ism planning something with the rock people. Is this all real or an hallucination?
I never liked how Jolene Blalock played T'Pol. I don't think both scripts and direction helped.
T'Pol though is a better character than Archer. How the hell did this reckless guy become captain. He is not fit for this mission.
The Rogues: Fringe Benefits (1964)
Fringe Benefits
It is hard to believe that Alec Fleming (David Niven) has never been inside Scotland Yard. Until Inspector Briscoe (John Williams) invites him.
Briscoe also shows Alec footage of the rogues gallery. He certainly has the goods on the various branches of the Flemings.
It could all go away if Alec does Inspector Briscoe a favour. It means going to Brazil to rope in some money launderers.
Briscoe is after a couple of embezzlers. One is a man called Cutler (James Doohan.) He and his associates wanted Alec to go to Brazil to pick up a package and bring it back to London. The embezzled money will be turned into a more portable form.
Briscoe wants Alec to go to Rio to rope in the money launderers. Bring the package home.
Alec sees an opportunity to make his own bit of money with cousin Timmy.
Only during the mayhem of the carnival, the package is stolen. Alec could be coming home empty handed.
There is plenty of library footage of the Rio carnival. I did think that Inspector Briscoe did not entirely trust Alec and made his own plan to get hold of the package.