Category Archives: Gritty

2009, British Mystery Series, Child Molestation, Conspiracy, Detective, DO NOT MISS, Drama, Gritty, Mystery Film, Plot Twist, Revenge, Suspense

Place of Execution (2009)

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From NetFlix:

Journalist Catherine Heathcote (Juliet Stevenson) solicits the help of investigator George Bennett (Lee Ingleby) for her documentary about the 1963 disappearance of a 13-year-old girl. But when Bennett abruptly stops cooperating, Heathcote begins to unravel some surprising truths. Now Heathcote may have to reevaluate her deep-rooted beliefs about justice. Based on the book by Val McDermid, this “Masterpiece” special co-stars Greg Wise.

2016 ADDENDUM: You can now stream this two-part film from Amazon Prime. You may be shocked when part one abruptly ends and shows screen credits. Just sit tight, because part two begins immediately after that.

Given the combination of BBC Masterpiece Contemporary and Juliet Stevenson you cannot go wrong with this intriguing, well-written, well-acted mystery. All the episodes are on the disk you get from NetFlix, comprising about 2.5 hours.

Never once did I suspect the truth of what really happened. Indeed the surprise ending really caught me off guard. You will have to decide about the moral ambiguity of the ending.

But I guarantee you, you will not be bored.

2010, British Mystery Series, Could Be Hard To Watch, Crime, Dark, Detective, Grim, Gritty, Kidnapping, Nudity, Occasional gore, Sadism, Serial Killer, Suspense, Torture, TV Series, Violent

Luther (2010)

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From NetFlix:

Idris Elba (“The Wire”) stars in this powerful television drama as Det. John Luther, whose personal demons complicate the chase as he searches for the evidence to convict mass murderer Alice Morgan (Ruth Wilson), who is also his closest confidante. Luther’s marriage to the long-suffering Zoe (Indira Varma) is equally complicated, and after she leaves him, he pours even more frenetic energy into the pursuit of London’s most nefarious criminals.

So grim at times that wife Kathy left the room during certain scenes, this well-done detective series will hold your attention. Each episode is self-contained although throughout the entire series the super intelligent and equally psychotic Alice meddles with every plot. We almost did not get past the initial episode because Luther is seemingly so out of control it was messy to watch. However, we did continue and it did pay off.

It seems to me that TV series such as “Law and Order: Special Victims”, “Criminal Minds”, and the other wannabees are competing to be every more gory and explicit. In this respect “Luther” is no exception. In one episode the sadist kidnaps a mother, stores her alive in a freezer, drains her blood, and freezes her to death (which is where Kathy fled from the TV screen). Is this entertainment? At least NOT FOR CHILDREN !

And to think I enjoyed the series !

2000, British Mystery Series, Bullying, Child Molestation, Conspiracy, Crime, Cynical, DO NOT MISS, Gritty, Occasional gore, Serial Killer, Violent

Waking The Dead (2000)

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From NetFlix:

A British version of CSI, this International Emmy-winning series follows the cold case unit, a team of top police investigators who use modern techniques to solve old murder cases. Led by Det. Peter Boyd (Trevor Eve), the group includes cops and scientists. They all combine forensics, psychology and old-fashioned police work to get results, but their jobs are on the lin, as they’ve been given only one year to prove their worth.

AUGUST 2019 UPDATE:

From Amazon Prime you can now stream 9 seasons.  Each season has between 8 and 12 episodes. Each self-contained story consists of 2 episodes.

Because many of the stories are quite GRIM, Kathy stopped watching.  But the plots are so gripping that I could not stop watching. Finally Boyd is forced to retire and the series ends.

In contrast with most British crime series, the crime solving team of characters remained constant except for one notable staff death and her replacement.

ORIGINAL REVIEW:

So far on DVD you can watch 4 seasons of this wonderful British detective series. In my opinion, this British version is better than the American CSI. You get to know and enjoy all the personalities. There are many seasons not yet available from NetFlix. If you go to Wikipedia, you can get a rundown of ALL the episodes from all the years. You will discover there that over the long series the characters change (some die, etc). The one charater that is constant is Det. Peter Boyd whose personality is one of an impetuous almost bullying man who after a while goes through psychoanalysis to improve his relations with his subordinates.

Kathy and I could not wait to see each episode. Enjoy!

2007, British Mystery Series, Gay theme, Gritty, Suspense, Torture, Violent

George Gently (2007)

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From NetFlix:

After the hit-and-run murder of his wife, London police officer George (Martin Shaw) moves to England’s North Country to find the killer. Feared by criminals and corrupt cops, George works closely with his partner, John (Lee Ingleby), to stop lawbreakers of all types. Set in 1960s Britain, this drama is based on Alan Hunter’s novels and features guest stars such as Richard Armitage, Phillip Davis and John Kavanagh.

After watching , Waking The Dead (2000) we yearned for a British detective series that offered attractive and memorable personalities. Red Riding Trilogy (2009) was grim in the extreme. The “George Gently” stories (series 1 offers 3 CDs, series 2 offers 4 CDs) are a good compromise. Martin Shaw’s character is mature, thoughtful, and great at sarcasm. His foil Lee Ingleby is perfect as a brash and impetuous young policeman who is usually nonplussed at George’s retorts. Be aware, however, that there are some ugly spots. For example, the very first CD does have instances (NOT explicit) of torture.

2009, British Mystery Series, Child Molestation, Conspiracy, Could Be Hard To Watch, Cynical, Dark, DO NOT MISS, Drama, Grim, Gritty, Serial Killer, Sex Scenes, Torture, TV Series, Violent

Red Riding Trilogy (2009)

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Those of you with weak hearts or stomachs should not watch this three part British crime series. The three parts are:

  • Part 1: 1974

    • Loosely based on the facts surrounding Britain’s notorious Yorkshire Ripper case, this grim thriller, Part 1 in the television adaptation of David Peace’s novels, uncovers rampant police and civil corruption in mid-1970s Northern England. Girls are disappearing, the Yorkshire community is abuzz with gossip and fear, and a young reporter (Andrew Garfield) is suspicious when a mentally handicapped immigrant is fingered for the heinous crimes

  • Part 2: 1980

    • After six years of vicious unsolved murders, Manchester policeman Peter Hunter (Paddy Considine) arrives in West Yorkshire to supervise the Yorkshire Ripper investigation, along with a copycat killer case, in this second installment of the Red Riding trilogy. Meanwhile, he must also deal with local police corruption and his struggle to remain faithful to his wife while working closely with his ex, fellow investigator Helen Marshall (Maxine Peake).

  • Part 3: 1983

    • When the current case of a missing 10-year-old becomes linked to the abduction and murder of Clare Kemplay in 1974, investigators torture the man who found Clare’s body in an effort to learn more in this final installment of the Red Riding trilogy. Meanwhile, solicitor John Piggott’s (Mark Addy) conversations with the man found guilty of the old abduction points to a wrongful conviction and a search for the real murderer.

Each part is self-contained. Cynical in the extreme, these hopeless portraits deal with insurmountable official corruption at every level: police, journalists, politicians, businessmen, etc. At times the violence is difficult to watch.

Two items of interest: One reader has supplied an interesting bit of Yorkshire history that may explain the title. Also, because the plots are somewhat complicated, there is a Wikipedia article.

So why would you ever watch such a difficult theme ? Because these three gems are just about perfect in every way, provided you can stand to watch.

1999, British Mystery Series, Crime, Detective, Gritty, Nudity, TV Series

Second Sight (1999)

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From NetFlix:

In this absorbing BBC crime drama, Clive Owen stars as Det. Chief Inspector Ross Tanner, a no-nonsense cop who disdains anything but cold, hard evidence — until a rare eye disease forces him to reassess his sleuthing methods. As he tracks down a ruthless killer, Tanner makes a deal with his ambitious partner, Catherine Tully (Claire Skinner), to advance her career in exchange for helping him hide his deteriorating vision

Acorn TV streams two seasons of this tense and well-done TV series. Season two has to be the last because Det. Chief Inspector Ross Tanner can no longer function because of his failing eyesight.

Clive Owen is his usual aggressively driven self. His acting is riveting as he expresses his helpless anger at going blind (including the fact that he may soon not be able to see his young son who lives with the divorced mother).

Claire Skinner has been in a huge number of TV series. In fact, if you are looking for some TV series to watch, just look her up in IMDB.  She appears only in season one. She abruptly quits in season two and Tanner must rely on his best friend in the police force.

 

2006, British Mystery Series, Car Chase, Complicated, Conspiracy, Drama, Gay theme, Gritty, Love Story, Suspense, TV Series, Violent

The State Within (2006)

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From NetFlix:

Jason Isaacs stars in this Golden Globe-nominated political thriller as Mark Brydon, a British ambassador to the United States who finds himself caught up in a complex conspiracy that could prompt a dangerous shift in political power. After a plane explodes over Washington, D.C., under suspicious circumstances, Brydon must scramble to uncover the truth before war breaks out. Sharon Gless, Ben Daniels and Lennie James also star.

Of the two discs, disc 2 is the better, so please persist. The story just gets better and more tense as it progresses. Just about all the actors in this British TV series (6 episodes on 2 discs) are excellent. Jason Isaacs is the perfect tower of strength in this involved conspiracy to start another war in the fictional former Soviet republic of Tyrgyzstan. Sharon Gless, the Secretary of Defense who is trying to start another war for personal gain, played Coleen Rose in 5 episodes of ‘Nip/Tuck”. Perhaps the Wikipedia article will help you remember who plays what government position.

There is violence. One scene involves a gruesome execution.

Often I can interrupt a film and return later (a benefit of NetFlix). But in this case the conspiracy was so compelling that I was glued to my seat. As is so often true, these British TV series are dynamite. Don’t miss this one!

1986, British Mystery Series, Conspiracy, DO NOT MISS, Drama, Gritty, Made For TV, Suspense, TV Series, Violent

Edge of Darkness (1986)

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From NetFlix:

When police detective Ron Craven (Bob Peck) witnesses the murder of his environmental activist daughter (Joanne Whalley), he vows to track down her killer. Little does he know, however, that the trail will lead straight to the heart of Britain’s nuclear power industry. The suspense ratchets ever upward in this award-winning BBC miniseries, as Craven finds himself smack in the middle of a top secret government project. Joe Don Baker co-stars.

This “Edge of Darkness” is the original 6-episode British TV series as opposed to the 2010 Mel Gibson remake. As such it proceeds at an unhurried calm pace. Alongside the conspiracy plot there are the psychological after effects of Craven’s having seen his daughter gunned down. There is some violence, but no gore. And of course the villains are cool and calculating.

According to the Wikipedia article, this series as been acclaimed as one of the best and most influential pieces of British television drama ever made. Be prepared for pessimism and a bit of magical realism.

As an extra, the very appropriate “Edge of Darkness” electric guitar theme that runs throughout is by Eric Clapton.

2008, British Mystery Series, Detective, DO NOT MISS, Drama, Gritty, Made For TV, MHz Choice, Mystery Film, Occasional gore, Suspense

Wallander (2008)

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June 2020 Update:

Wallander has moved to MHz Choice. There are two Wallander series in MHz Choice.

————————– NEW REVIEW ————————————-

From Netflix:

By now (August 2016) you can stream from Netflix 3 seasons of the British Wallander with Kenneth Branagh.  Each episode lasts about an hour and a half.  Each of the 3 seasons offers 3 independent stories. However, you should start from the beginning and watch in sequence because running through the entire 9 stories is the theme of Wallander’s personal life: loneliness, struggles with his eccentric father, relation with his daughter, etc.

One advantage of streaming is that there are captions.

More than ever, I consider these somewhat “noir” stories a DO NOT MISS!

————— OLD REVIEW ———————————————

From NetFlix:

Kenneth Branagh delivers a bravura performance as Swedish sleuth Kurt Wallender in three stories drawn from Henning Mankell’s best-sellers. With violence on the rise in once-peaceful Ystad, the dour detective battles crime as well as personal demons. This trio of TV mysteries finds Wallander connecting a woman’s suicide with government corruption, pursuing a cabbie’s killer and coping with the murder of a colleague during a tough investigation.

There is already a review for “Before the Frost (2002)” which was an excellent Wallander story. The present review is for a two-disk series (two separate NetFlix disks) from 2008. Kenneth Branagh again does an outstanding job portraying a dedicated detective whose personal life is in shambles. As such, the three stories (the second disk contains two stories) are dark. Kenneth Branagh is shabby and haggard throughout.

One caveat: there are NO subtitles available for those of us who are hard of hearing.

Also remember that everything takes place in Sweden despite the actors being British.

2003, British Mystery Series, Conspiracy, Detective, DO NOT MISS, Drama, Gritty, Suspense, TV Series

State of Play (2003)

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From NetFlix:

Powerful politico Stephen Collins (David Morrissey) is embroiled in a scandal when his
research assistant dies in a freak accident and his former campaign manager Cal McAffrey
(John Simm), now a reporter, realizes the incident may be linked to the death of a drug
dealer. As McAffrey digs deeper, he uncovers a dangerous connection between government
and big business in this exciting conspiracy thriller from the BBC.

This version is a 2-disc, 6-episode British TV series that predates the Hollywood film. Reviews for the film have been lukewarm, but they recommended this TV series that I got from NetFlix. Kathy and I could not wait to see each exciting installment. Acting is excellent. Details are well worked out. But pay attention in this conspiracy thriller. From time to time we would pause the DVD player and confer on whether we really understood what was happening. Even toward the end when things seem to be settling down you should hang on for more surprise.

I cannot recommend this British TV series highly enough.