Category Archives: Suspense

2012, 2014, Abduction, Acorn TV, Adultery, Bloody scenes, British, Clever Plot, Corruption, Detective, Drug Dealers, Extramarital Affair, Police Politics, Police Story, Possibly depressing, Prison, Sadism, Sex With Minors, Suspense, Torture, Violent

Line of Duty (2012)

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From Acorn TV:

Like other police units, AC-12 investigates criminals–but the lawbreakers it catches are police officers working in the line of duty. Martin Compston (Monarch of the Glen), Lennie James (The Walking Dead), and Keeley Hawes (The Casual Vacancy) star in this critically adored series called unmissible by The Times (UK).

Another lucky find!  This really taut British TV series economically keeps the tension mounting from the first police screw-up, through the ever deepening web of corruption and the corresponding undercover investigations. “Cat and Mouse” would be another good title for the series.

Series One from 2012 has 5 episodes. Series Two from 2014 has 6 episodes. There is a 6 episode Series Three from 2016 that Acorn does not yet offer.

For three episodes of Series One I was pleased to recognize Gina McKee in the role of Jackie Laverty.  Long ago in 2002 she played Irene Forsyte in “The Forsyte Saga” which was presented on public television.

NOT QUITE A SPOILER: Just remember that sometimes criminals escape justice.  And just because you watch two seasons, that does not mean that the bad guys are caught.

Today police misbehavior in the USA is a current hot topic. Hopefully this portrait of British police will not make us more cynical.

WARNING: Despite being on the edge of my seat for 11 episodes of a  DO NOT MISS series, I was not happy afterwards.

 

2014, Abduction, Acorn TV, Asperger's Syndrome, Autism, Bloody scenes, British Mystery Series, Child abuse, Detective, Eccentric Detective, Mildly Violent, Mother-daughter relations, Nudity, Police Politics, Serial Killer, Suspense, TV Series

Chasing Shadows (2014)

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From Acorn TV:

Reece Shearsmith stars as DS Sean Stone, who has an uncanny ability to identify and predict patterns of human behavior. He knows how people work, but he doesn’t understand them.

Welcome to another “Eccentric Detective” TV Series. Most certainly DS Sean Stone must lie somewhere on the Asbergers-Autism spectrum.  In fact autism in a person often exhibits as extreme ability with patterns coupled with a corresponding inability to understand human emotions.  Needles to say his lone wolf behavior and air of infallibility drive his colleagues to puzzlement,  anger, and exasperation whereas his pattern recognition abilities earn respect.  His superiors want to get rid of him while some colleagues defend him.

Good plots, good acting, and an unusual detective make for compelling entertainment (as long as you don’t mind a nasty serial killer or two).

 

2002, Assisted Suicide, Contract Killing, Detective, Forensics, Murder Investigation, Plot Twist, Serial Killer, Suspense, Terminal Disease

Killing Emmett Young (2002)

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From Amazon Prime:

Detective Emmett Young (Scott Wolf) is determined to rid Philadelphia of a psychotic serial killer.

One hour and 44 minutes of twists, turns, and near misses that will keep you pinned to your seat. Streams from Amazon Prime.

Scott Wolf plays the young detective. Although I can find no mention of Scott Wolf in association with “The Good Wife”,  I am convinced he played the young lawyer that kept jumping law firms.  Nonetheless he has an impressive resume.

Originally this film was called “Emmett’s Mark” whose IMDB writeup states:

In order to avoid the debilitating effects of a terminal illness, a young detective orders a hit on himself.

At any rate the entire film is a series of chagrining twists of fate that are maddening to watch but compelling.

One of the villains in this story is none other than Gabriel Byrne a con man who takes out Emmett’s own contract to kill himself, i.e. Emmett, so that he does not have to linger in a fatal disease.

Highly recommended suspenseful detective story.

 

2014, Acorn TV, Action Film, Australian, Bullying, Crime, Detective, Ethical struggles, Gay theme, Plot Twist, Prison, Psychological Drama, Sex Scenes, Sexual Tension, Suspense, Violent

Cut Snake (2014)

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From Wikipedia:

Merv (Alex Russell) is an ex-convict who is trying to make a new life for himself in 1970s Melbourne. He has found honest work and even becomes engaged to Paula (Jessica De Gouw), but the prospect of his new life is challenged when his foreboding and charismatic former cellmate James (Sullivan Stapleton) arrives in town and pressures Merv into going back to his old ways.

According to the Wikipedia article, the title comes from the Australian idiom “mad as a cut snake” which describes either insanity or anger so extreme you don’t want to get near it.

Before seeing this film, I had more or less dismissed Sullivan Stapelton as a limited one-tune film actor who usually plays the role of a sexy tough guy.  In this regard, “Cut Snake” was an unexpected discovery. Because I refuse to give away the suprise part of the plot, I will only say that the film starts out with Stapleton seeming to be once again nothing but a mean tough guy determined to drag his former cellmate back into a life of crime. And that part of the plot was indeed tense enough to hold my attention. For some reason good versus evil just keeps me interested. But then all of a sudden there is another complication in the plot that I never expected. After seeing the film, think back to some of Stapleton’s behavior that initially did not make sense, for example his reactions in the night club.  From this point on Stapleton comes through with some very successful emotional acting. He is indeed a “cut snake”.

Lately so many Australian films really hit home. And don’t forget to subscribe to Acorn TV to see lots of British, Australian, and New Zealand films, although I streamed “Cut Snake” from Amazon Prime.

2015, Acceptable for children, Airline pilot, Based on true facts, CIA, Cold War, Communists, DO NOT MISS, Feel Good For All, German History, International thriler, KGB, Lawyers, Military, Prison, Spy Theme, Steven Spielberg, Suspense, Thought provoking, True Story

Bridge of Spies (2015)

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From NetFlix:

At the height of the Cold War in 1960, the downing of an American spy plane and the pilot’s subsequent capture by the Soviets draws Brooklyn attorney James Donovan into the middle of an intense effort to secure the aviator’s release.

Steven Spielberg’s films tell stories in a straight forward manner often including quite a bit of schmalz (the German word for “lard”). In this excellent and true Cold War portrayal, Spielberg’s style is unmistakable with a minimum of schmalz.

After watching the 142 minutes continue to stay for the credits because the follow-up explanations are as meaningful as the story itself. Probably because you have accompanied these characters through a very difficult spy exchange negotiation,  you will want to know what happened to them after the film story ended.

Not all young film stars mature into fine older actors. Clearly Tom Hanks is a standout.

Throughout the film there are many subtle facial expressions and gestures. As one example, at the very end the East German high official concludes a swap and extends his hand for a handshake because above all else the East Germans wanted recognition as something other than Russian lackeys. But the American agent refuses the handshake and whisks the swapped prisoner away to American safety.

James Donovan’s insistence on due process as part of what defines the United States, even for a foreign spy, was a thought-provoking and essential point of the story.

Bravo Steven Spielberg! DO NOT MISS!

 

 

 

 

2015, Acceptable Sci-Fi, Acceptable Science, Astronauts, Could be boring, Ethical struggles, Human spirit, NASA, Suspense

The Martian (2015)

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From IMDB:

During a manned mission to Mars, Astronaut Mark Watney is presumed dead after a fierce storm and left behind by his crew. But Watney has survived and finds himself stranded and alone on the hostile planet. With only meager supplies, he must draw upon his ingenuity, wit and spirit to subsist and find a way to signal to Earth that he is alive.

Nerds with a scientific bent will love this long (2 hours, 21 minutes) film. However, others may find this long film boring and indeed I have heard that complaint from friends. Personally I was compelled by the film, but am somewhat embarrassed to admit that I had to watch in pieces, interrupted by some lesser form of entertainment.

What takes so long? As you might expect, things do always go smoothly. During most of the film, after NASA has learned that Mark Watney is still alive and kicking, there are various schemes and efforts to rescue Mark. Each scheme involves politics such as: who tells whom what, who pays the expenses, what should the public learn, when does someone tell Mark’s former crew members? Mark is a botanist as well as a scientist of all trades who never gives up trying.

“Martian” just has to be Matt Damon’s best film, better in my opinion than “Good Will Hunting”. He has matured.

So if you enjoy scientific mumbo-jumbo, are thrilled by space travel, are a survivalist interested in growing potatoes on Mars, or any of the above, then you will enjoy this adventure.

2015, Action Film, AIDS, Alcoholism, Bloody scenes, Cold War, Communists, Drama, Father-son relations, Gay theme, German, German History, Marital Infidelity, Murder, Nudity, Political Suspense, Sex Scenes, Spy Theme, Suicide, Suspense, Violent

Deutschland 83 (2015)

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From NetFlix:

After U.S. President Ronald Reagan describes the Soviet Union as an “evil empire” in 1983, rising suspicion between the two superpowers prompts a bold move to plant a communist spy in the midst of NATO’s military leadership.

If you want to see this excellent TV series, you can get Season 1 in three DVDs. Discs 1 and 2 contain 3 episodes each, whereas disc 3 contains 2 episodes.

Dialog is in German with English subtitles.

Martin Rauch (played by Jonas Nay) is the center of the plot. He is a young East German whom the East German communists convinced to spy for them as a soldier in West Germany. As he is manipulated by his handlers, he is forced to make moral decisions, something that would never occur to ardent communists. In this series we see unconscionable acts perpetrated by the East, although I would assume both sides got their hands dirty (CIA anyone?).

Suspense is constant as this young, clever, inventive spy does his work. Will he at any moment be caught? Will his masquerades be discovered?

Usually I try not to rave, but this series is a DO NOT MISS!

2015, Acorn TV, Adultery, British Mystery Series, Conspiracy, Corruption, Detective, Gangs, Mother-daughter relations, Mother-son relations, Murder Investigation, Police Corruption, Suspense

Black Work (2015)

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From Acorn:

Hailed as tight and intriguing (Guardian, UK) this powerful crime thriller created and written by Matt Charman (Bridge of Spies) dives into the murky depths of undercover police work and tells the story of a woman willing to risk everything to protect her family. Sheridan Smith (Jonathan Creek, Accused) delivers a powerhouse performance as Jo Gillespie, a police constable who embarks on a dangerous investigation of her husband’s death.

Recently my audiologist introduced me to Acorn TV. At the present time Acorn TV costs a mere $5.00 per month while offering a large selection of attractive programs. Most of the shows come from Britain, Australia, or New Zealand.

From Acorn I streamed the three episodes of “Black Work”. Every detective procedural involves the usual routine investigations, personal problems of detectives, possible corrupt policemen, plot twists, and occasional violence.

Some of these detective shows are worth watching, but sometimes explaining what is special about a particular show can amount to a “spoiler” in the review. In this case let us just say that in investigating her husband’s death, Joe Gillespie runs up against some very surprising twists and turns.

Because we watch so much British TV we were pleased to recognize old faces such as Geraldine James as CC Carolyn Jarecki, the Scotsman Douglas Henshall as DCS Hepburn (don’t miss him in the wonderful series “Shetland”), and the ever-present Philip Davis as Tom Piper (don’t miss him in “Poldark” and “Silk”).

Enjoy “Black Work” and stay tuned for more reviews for Acorn TV offerings.

2015, Adultery, Alcoholism, Depression, Drama, Flirting, Love Story, Marital Infidelity, Murder, Nothing special, Philosophic Discussions, Self-Deception, Sex Scenes, Suspense, Thought provoking, Unusual

Irrational Man (2015)

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From NetFlix:

A middle-aged professor at a small Rhode Island college edges close to his breaking point, until he finds renewed purpose in his life after embarking on an unusual relationship with one of his students.

When Joaquin Phoenix is in a film, I will at least start to watch the film. For awhile his character Abe spends a fair amount of time whining about his despairing life even after meeting his student Jill, played by Emma Stone. Indeed the “talking heads” do ramble on about philosophic theories until one day in a restaurant — oops!, no spoilers allowed. “Irrational Man” is somewhat ordinary but good enough that I had to see what happens next, especially after that day in the restaurant — oops!

Eventually you will see that the film is well named. Meantime keep the faith.

2014, Acceptable Sci-Fi, Artificial Intelligence, Clever Plot, Explicit sexual discussion, Love Story, Netflix Streaming, Plot Twist, Psychological Thriller, Sex Scenes, Strange Ending, Suspense, Thought provoking, Unusual, Young Adults

Uncanny (2014)

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From NetFlix:

For ten years, inventor David Kressen has lived in seclusion with his inventions, including Adam, a robot with incredible lifelike human qualities. When reporter Joy Andrews is given access to their unconventional facility, she is alternately repelled and attracted to the scientist and his creation.

From NetFlix you can watch instantly or get a DVD for this film.

In this clever low-budget sci-fi yarn I did not recognize a single actor. Probably that is because the three main actors are very young. Do not assume this is just some ordinary AI humanoid android robot story. Despite much “talking heads”, there is a growing tension that leads to an incredible plot twist that I certainly never expected. Never mind the likelihood of the circumstances, the conclusion is clever.

Sex is involved in a dry scientific manner, which is part of the cleverness. There is some minimal violence.

Worked for me, while still leaving some intriguing unanswered questions.