Category Archives: Suspense

British Mystery Series, Medical Theme, Nothing special, Scottish, Serial Killer, Stalker, Suspense

Taggart (2003)

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From Netflix:

“There’s been a murder!” And with those words, the detectives of Glasgow’s Maryhill CID unit spin into action in this collection of episodes from the long-running U.K. television drama.

Somewhat ordinary long-running Scottish murder detective series. Each episode is complicated enough to be interesting. There is no gore , but rather plain old greed, lust, jealousy, drugs and all the rest of the motives in the motive catalog. Often, instead of serial killers, there are multiple murders that are related. In fact (murder aside) there is not a lot of violence in the series.

Nothing special, but watchable.

2013, Alcoholism, Car Chase, Complicated, Crime, Crude Talk, Detective, Gay theme, Political Suspense, Politicians, Revenge, Suspense, Thriller, Violent

Broken City (2013)

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From NetFlix:

After private detective Billy Taggart informs the mayor of New York that his wife is having an affair, the woman’s lover turns up dead. In short order, the PI learns that his mayor boss is at the center of some very shady real estate dealings.

Once you start watching you will be glued to the screen. Russel Crowe is the perfect smooth talking corrupt mayor of New York. He makes such a good villain that you can’t wait for Mark Wahlberg to render Crowe his just desserts.

And just when you think Mark has him it turns out to be not that easy, which makes the final 10 minutes really interesting. But if you were “Billy” (Mark Wahlberg), what would you do ?

Hold on tight!

2012, Adventure, Animal story, Based on a Book, Human spirit, Sea Rescue, Suspense, Wonderful photography

Life of Pi (2012)

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From NetFlix:

Based on Yann Martel’s best-selling novel, this coming-of-age tale recounts the adventures of Pi, an Indian boy who is the sole survivor of a shipwreck. Pi finds himself on a lifeboat with only some zoo animals for company.

Based beautifully on the book, the photography alone is worth the price of admission. From the very first shot of unusual zoo animals, through a wild storm at sea, and accompanying Pi on his journey in a lifeboat with a Bengal tiger, the scenes are exciting and memorable.

Additionally the story is one of determined and remarkable survival. Pi finds a book amoung the lifeboat supplies a book that teaches him to survive shipwreck. He also learns to effectively train the tiger (or at least try to train the tiger).

There are some comic moments but certainly never a dull moment. Hang onto your oars!

2007, Canadian Mystery Series, Clever Plot, Crime thriller, Crude Talk, Detective, DO NOT MISS, Dysfunctional Lives, Gritty, Made For TV, Marital Infidelity, Mental Illness, Murder Investigation, Psychological Thriller, Revenge, Serial Killer, Suspense, Thriller, TV Series, Violent

Durham County (2007)

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From NetFlix:

Eager for a new beginning, Detective Mike Sweeney (Hugh Dillon) transfers to Durham County with his wife, Audrey (Helene Joy) — in recovery from breast cancer — and two daughters. But there’s trouble in suburban paradise. In particular, a serial killer is on the loose. As Sweeney gets sucked into the ugly case, his suspicions turn to his neighbor Ray (Justin Louis), a man he has known since high school, in this disturbing crime drama series.

As far as I can tell “Durham County” is available from NetFlix only via streaming. There are three seasons beginning with 2007. Each season consists of 6 episodes. After I finished watching Season One I was shaking with excitement. And it gets better.

Each season features a (serial) killer who lives among the investigators as an accepted or even highly admired member of society while cleverly disguising his or her proclivities. You may learn who the killer is immediately or it may take some time to discover. But you will know who that killer is a long time before the police.

You can find a season of all the summaries in the Wikipedia article.

“Gritty” is a category of film that implies the following:

  • Violent and often creepy or gruesome murders
  • involving most often a serial killer
  • who may or may not get away with the crime or crimes
  • and possibly causing the wrong person to be convicted.
  • Only very intelligent killers may apply for the role.

Most British TV detective series are “gritty”. “Durham County” is almost British in that it was produced in Canada. Hence there are no British accents.

Season One is so suspenseful and the serial killer so clever and dissimulates so well that he fools almost everyone that I could hardly wait to see each of the 6 episodes. From the very beginning we know who the killer is: he is a plumber and the former best friend of the detective. Both men’s lives are troubled: violent mental illnes plagues the killer; the detective’s wife almost died of cancer. For both men their marriage is in trouble. Both men have one or more children whose lives are difficult. No one believes that the plumber could be guilty because he is the town’s athletic hero.

If you like “gritty” then this is a DO NOT MISS!!!

2007, Chase film, Computer geeks, Conspiracy, Crude Talk, FBI, Frenetic, Mayhem, Suspense, Thriller, Violent, Vulgar

Live Free or Die Hard(2007)

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From NetFlix:

John McClane (Bruce Willis) is back and badder than ever, and this time he’s working for Homeland Security. He calls on the services of a young hacker (Justin Long) in his bid to stop a ring of Internet terrorists intent on taking control of America’s computer infrastructure. Fear not, the information-age plot still boasts plenty of good old-fashioned gunfights, smash-ups and explosions.

Just a short review:

  • Die Hard (1988)
  • Die Harder (1990)
  • Die Hard with a Vengeance (1995)
  • Live Free or Die Hard (2007)
  • A Good Day to Die Hard (2013)

So why bother since they are all more or less the same ? Well, the car wrecks and car chases and exploding buildings and gun fights sometimes are all my aging immature mind can handle.

Let’s just hope that the movie is just fiction and it is not all that easy to take the country down using computer hacking. Maybe I’ll just keep my money in my mattress.

2012, Based on true facts, CIA, DO NOT MISS, Docudrama, Iran, Suspense, Thriller, True Story

Argo (2012)

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From NetFlix:

In 1979, when Iranian militants seize the American embassy, six Americans slip into the Canadian embassy for protection, prompting the CIA to concoct an elaborate plot to rescue them by pretending that they are filmmakers rather than diplomats.

From the Wikipedia article we learn:

Upon release, Argo received widespread acclaim and also received seven nominations for the 85th Academy Awards and won three, for Best Film Editing,[7] Best Adapted Screenplay, and Best Picture. The film also earned five Golden Globe nominations, winning Best Picture – Drama and Best Director, while being nominated for Best Supporting Actor for Arkin.

From that same article you can read about reactions of the Iranians, reactions of New Zealand, and historical inaccuracies. Initial subtitles put that historical period into perspective, telling us just how we got into such a mess. From one point of view it is no wonder the Iranians hate us.

Tony Mendez, the real-life CIA agent, must have been an amazing person. For 120 minutes you will be sitting on the edge of your chair hoping he can help the six Americans escape. Scenes were contrived to heighten that suspense. For example at the very end of their ordeal, as the 6 Americans and Tony Mendez have just gotten into the plane and that plane is slowly maneuvering to take off into the air, there are truckloads of angry Iranians racing down the runway trying to stop the takeoff.

If you can stand the excitment, DO NOT MISS THIS FILM!

Based on true facts, CIA, Suspense, Terrorist Attack, Torture, True Story, Violent

Zero Dark Thirty (2012)

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From NetFlix:

For a decade, an elite team of intelligence and military operatives, working in secret across the globe, devoted themselves to a single goal: to find and eliminate Osama bin Laden. ZERO DARK THIRTY reunites the Oscar-winning team of director-producer Kathryn Bigelow and writer-producer Mark Boal (2009, Best Picture, THE HURT LOCKER) for the story of history’s greatest manhunt for the world’s most dangerous man.

Two and one-half hours is quite a bit of time to spend watching a CIA procedural. If there is one theme that runs throughout the film (in addition to the quest for Osama bin Laden) it is that Jessica Chastain as a CIA agent named Maya is doggedly determined to achieve her goal of killing Osama. She plays a very intellignt and capable agent who bucks no opposition from the CIA hierarchy. Indeed the film makes clear that the job is made more difficult due to conflicts, doubts, differences of opinion, and the need to maintain an appearance of success by each careerist. “Careerist” is not really fair: the agents were sincerely seeking to eliminate the terrorist. Of all the many fine actors involved, who do you suppose plays the C.I.A. directory: none other than the godfather himself, James Gandolfini.

“Zero Dark Thirty” is a phrase used by the military in designating an unspecified time after midnight but before sunrise.

In the beginning of the film there are several torture scenes taking place in a CIA black house. Once those torture scenes are finished, there are no more such scenes for the rest of the film. This is another way of saying that you could easily skip he torture scenes.

For the last hour or so you get to see the young bucks who actually raid the house of OBL (as Osama bin Laden is lovingly referred to in the dialog). And the raid makes all the procedurals worth the wait.

Get a good night’s sleep and then watch this film.

Based on a Book, International thriler, Military, Nuclear weapons, Suspense, Violent

The Sum of all Fears (2002)

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From NetFlix:

Why are three missing Russian nuclear scientists holed up in the Ukraine, communicating with neo-Nazis? CIA agent Jack Ryan (Ben Affleck) digs up more information than the U.S. government is willing to accept. As bombs kill thousands in Chechnya and the U.S., Ryan races against time to prevent all-out nuclear war. Based on the novel by Tom Clancy, this high-intensity technothriller co-stars Morgan Freeman.

Apologies to Tom Clancy, but “ho hum, yawn yawn” – we have seen such a film many times before. Still, a plot to deceive the U.S. and Russia to engage each other in nuclear war has possibilities. What is amazing is that Jack Ryan (Ben Affleck) walks on water: he speaks Russian and Ukrainian; he is a Soviet expert; he is personal friends with the current head of Russia; and to top it all he is young and handsome. Darn!

And what fun planting a nuclear bomb in a full football stadium! Seeing a photo enactment of a nuclear bomb explosion and the resulting shock wave is impressive. Needless to say our superhero survives what the shock wave does to the helicopter he is flying (Oh, did I forget to mention he knows how to fly a helicopter?)

Except for the exciting fact that the wonderful city of Baltimore is mentioned often, I will say no more. Either watch this film or take a healthy walk outside.

2012, Clever Plot, Conspiracy, Crime, Detective, DO NOT MISS, Gay theme, Lawyers, Love Story, Marital Infidelity, Murder Investigation, Plot Twist, Political Suspense, Religious Theme, Revenge, Sex Scenes, Suspense, TV Series, Wonderful acting

Scandal (2012)

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From NetFlix:

Olivia Pope leads a team of Washington, D.C., lawyers who specialize in making scandals disappear. As they secretly handle crises at the highest levels of government, the dysfunctional team must also cope with problems closer to home.

Another TV series that can be streamed with NetFlix, “Scandal” is a fast-paced, well-written, well-acted page-turner that reminds me of the excellent House of Cards but in my opinion is better. Kevin Spacey and Robin Wright carried “House of Cards” just as Tony Goldwyn (President Fitz Grant) and Kerry Washington (Olivia Pope) carry “Scandal”. Both series involve the politics in Washington D.C.

Season one is a series of episodes all related to one another. In addition to individual clients there is an ongoing story line involving Olivia Pope and President Fitz Grant. Along the way there are many plot twists that keep the story fresh and insistent. As you finish one episode you will be sorely tempted to immediately watch the next episode.

Emphasis throughout is on the interaction of personalities rather than details such as police procedurals. In fact, the acting is good and there are some very tender moments between people who love each other.

Season one ends satisfactorily with justice meted out to almost all the bad guys, but the ending also is a cliff hanger just crying for season two.

If you enjoyed “House of Cards” you will like “Scandal” even more. DO NOT MISS!

2013, Clever Plot, Complicated, Crude Talk, DO NOT MISS, Political Suspense, Politicians, Suspense, TV Series, Unscrupulous drive to power, Wonderful acting

House of Cards (2013)

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From NetFlix:

A ruthless Congressman, Francis Underwood, and his ambitious wife Claire, will stop at nothing to conquer everything. This wicked political drama slithers through the back halls of greed, sex, love and corruption in modern D.C.

March 13, 2015: Having earlier streamed season Two, I have just finished streaming season Three from NetFlix. You MUST watch the series in order. Anything I would say might be a spoiler. At the very least, the plot and acting are worth the price of admission. Question: Do you think this political series is too cynical? Are our politics really that dirty? In fact, season Three rings true in light of events in 2015. Look out for the Russian president who is a dead ringer for Putin.

Kevin Spacey is perfect for this political page-turner. No one plays a smarmy corrupt personality better than Kevin Spacey.

To be more beautiful than Robin Wright (who plays Kevin’s wife) would be a tall order. That she is 47 years old during the filming seems hard to believe. Come to think of it, Kevin Spacey is doing OK at age 54 – just the right age to be Vice President.

Pay attention, the plot is a bit complicated but worth the trouble. Each of the three seasons ends leaving you scratching your head and possibly feeling somewhat disappointed (or should I say, apprehensive?).

For a political melodrama, I would call this series a DO NOT MISS!