Category Archives: Could Be Hard To Watch

2009, British Mystery Series, Could Be Hard To Watch, Dark, Detective, Disturbing Image, Drama, Grim, Gritty, Made For TV, Occasional gore, Police Story, Sadism, Serial Killer, Suspense

Whitechapel (2009)

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From NetFlix:

Historic horror meets modern investigative methods in this atmospheric crime series set in 2008. When a killer mimics the murders of Jack the Ripper, a team of detectives and a tour guide join forces to bring the copycat to justice.

UPDATE IN DEC 2014:

You may now stream all three seasons (3 episodes per season) from Amazon provided you purchased Amazon Prime (which has many benefits). Each season solves one crime. Each season is gory and you should read the following which is an old review just to be fully warned.

OLD REVIEW:

As an ardent fan of MI-5 (having watched 38 episodes), I first saw Rupert Penry-Jones as the character Adam. Using IMDB I found that he also appeared in a British TV series “Whitechapel” of which only one season is available from NetFlix.

Be forewarned that this excellent series (all on one disc) is gory, as in “Jack the Ripper” because the search is on for a serial killer trying to exactly duplicate the crimes of the original Ripper.

Penry-Jones plays DI Joseph Chandler who is an upper-class Brit who has been groomed to quickly climb the police hierarchy. But first he must prove himself by catching the maniac before more deaths occur. He is resented by the rank and file under his command, especially DS Miles played by Philip Davis. Philip Davis is one of those secondary actors whom you have probably seen many times. Most notable for me is his role as the husband of “Vera Drake”, another worthwhile British film. This conflict among the policemen is actually the most important theme in the series and its resolution is very satisfying.

Wonderful acting, but not for the squeamish.

2010, Child Molestation, Could Be Hard To Watch, Could Be Sad, Drama, Rape, Revenge, Sex Scenes, Wonderful acting

Trust (2010)

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From NetFlix:

After curious and vulnerable teenager Annie (Liana Liberato) falls into a trap set by an online sexual predator, her family begins to disintegrate, uncertain how to cope with such a devastating tragedy. Utterly consumed by rage, her father (Clive Owen) sets out seeking vengeance. Directed by David Schwimmer, this intensely emotional drama also stars Viola Davis, Jason Clarke and Catherine Keener.

Being a parent of a teenager in today’s world of internet chat rooms is a perilous responsibility. Perhaps this film shows what happens if the parents fail to monitor the child’s online activities, no matter how much that child will resent the interference.

Possibly this sad sequence is all too common, but that does not make it any easier to watch: young girl chats with cute boy; young girl arranges to meet with cute boy; cute boy turns out to be in his 30’s; cute boy rapes young girl. But now comes the part that surprised me: young girl, despite the entreaties of the FBI, her parents, and her psychotherapist, remains convinced that the predator truly loves her and that everyone else is just being mean in refusing to see what a wonderful person that predator is.

Meanwhile Clive Owen goes nuts. He fantasizes his revenge on the rapist. He becomes estranged from his daughter, although to be fair, she is angry and distances herself from her family. You will have to watch the film to see what happens.

Clive Owen, Catherine Keener, and Liana Liberato deliver wonderful performances.

Please pay attention to the scenes unfolding during the final credits. If you don’t understand what you are seeing, then please read the final line of the plot synopsis in the Wikipedia article.

2005, Could Be Hard To Watch, Dark, Drama, Love Story, Medical Theme, Mystery Film, Sadism, Sex Scenes, Suspense

The Jacket (2005)

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From NetFlix:

John Maybury’s masterful thriller stars Adrien Brody as Jack Starks, a Persian Gulf War veteran who has lost his memories to amnesia. When Jack is accused of a heinous killing, he realizes he must find a way to prove his innocence. Desperate to unearth clues about his past, he seeks a controversial treatment that allows him to go back in time — which turns out to be a heart-wrenching decision when he realizes he’s destined for tragedy.

Take a tablespoon of time-travel, suspense, quasi-sadism, mix together to get “The Jacket”. If you are claustrophobic, you might feel a bit squeamish watching the sadistic (but excellent) Kris Kristofferson subject Adrien Brody to some horrific “treatment” (put into a straight jacket and stuck into a morgue body compartment). Jennifer Jason Leigh plays a sympathetic nurse who can only weakly object to this treatment. While he is so confined, Jack Starks (Brody) travels in time to help and fall in love with Keira Knightley.

Details of the mystery are not too hard to follow and were for me involving enough to hold my attention. With these four such good actors this film is not a complete waste of time.

1993, Could Be Hard To Watch, Grim, Rape, Serial Killer, Suspense, Violent, Vulgar

Kalifornia (1993)

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From NetFlix:

While researching a book on serial killings, writer Brian Kessler (David Duchovny) and his girlfriend, Carrie Laughlin (Michelle Forbes), travel cross-country to the murder sites and unwittingly stumble upon strangers who know the subject firsthand. A pair of hitchhikers (Brad Pitt and Juliette Lewis) offer to share expenses for the trip, but Kessler doesn’t realize just how close he is to his subject — even as bodies pile up behind them.

Brad Pitt and Juliette Lewis steal this show. David Duchovny was a success in the X-Files, but he is not much of an actor. Michelle Forbes also did well.

But Brad Pitt was sickeningly convincing as homocidal trailer trash. His character Early Grayce was not so much a serial killer as he was a willful out-of-control monster who did whatever he felt like which was usually and often to shoot people.

Juliette Lewis almost trumps Brad Pitt. She plays Adele Corners who is Early’s live-in girl friend. Naive almost to the point of seemingly retarded, Adele remains steadfastly blind to Early’s obvious faults because she feels that he can protect her from life’s dangers. For example, when he shoots someone she just says “Early you are mean”.

Almost entirely this film is a relentless blood bath. Supposedly the conceit is that David Duchovny is researching serial killers and when he realizes just how unhinged Early really is, the author wants to delve into Early’s motivations. This conceit just doesn’t work for me.

Because I had to see Early get his comeuppance, I stuck with the film to the expected end. Only the final body count could not be predicted.

You are warned !

2009, Could be boring, Could Be Hard To Watch, Dark, Fantasy, Gloomy, Grim, Quiet, Religious Theme, Revenge, Slavery, Slow, Unusual, Violent

Valhalla Rising (2009)

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From NetFlix;

After years of slavery, Viking warrior One-Eye (Mads Mikkelsen) escapes from his captors and seeks refuge on a Norse ship bound for his homeland. When a storm throws them off course, the crew lands at a mysterious realm inhabited by invisible demons. As the bloodthirsty creatures claim one sailor after another, One-Eye rediscovers his fighting spirit but begins to wonder if they have arrived in Jerusalem or someplace much more sinister.

Slow to the point of glacial, you might want to skip this one. After reading the Wikipedia article you get the impression that this is one of those film critic’s specials, although one critic called the film “unbearably self-important”.

After waiting 93 minutes for the lead character “One-Eye” to speak, he never utters a word. Instead he telepathizes to a young boy (yes, that really is an English word).

For some reason or other there are six parts none of which make a lot of sense:

Part I Wrath
Part II Silent Warrior
Part III Men of God
Part IV The Holy Land
Part V Hell
Part VI The Sacrifice

So did I waste 93 minutes ? If nothing else the film is a quiet, mysterious, SLOW “happening”. In a “happening” you just wait to see what will “happen” next. I am still waiting.

2006, Based on true facts, Conspiracy, Could Be Hard To Watch, Cynical, Grim, Kidnapping, Latino Culture, Political statement, Rape, Serial Killer, Sex Scenes, Suspense, Violent

Bordertown (2006)

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From NetFlix:

Nearly 400 women have been murdered in the border town of Juarez, Mexico, since 1993, prompting newspaper reporter Lauren Fredericks (Jennifer Lopez) to investigate and unearth a startling cover-up by the local authorities. With the help of a colleague (Antonio Banderas), Lauren helps the only survivor find the courage to tell her story. Director Gregory Nava weaves a dramatic narrative against the backdrop of shocking true events.

Before you get all riled up after seeing this film, you should read the Wikipedia article in the sections entitled “Background” and “Critical Response”. To summarize their ideas: basically it is true that many Mexican women are raped, tortured, and murdered in Juarez. It is not clear that NAFTA has to take all the blame.

So what if critics panned the film ? From my Spanish teacher Joaquín (from Mexico) I have learned enough about to Mexico to understand just how corrupt and dangerous a place it is. Moreover, despite the film’s faults, there was more than enough suspense to keep me interested.

Perhaps some faults are preachiness and a really unnecessary and out of place sex scene between Lopez and an almost random Mexican factory owner.

Whether you see the film or not, above all else do NOT visit Mexico.

2010, Conspiracy, Could Be Hard To Watch, Cowboy, Dark, DO NOT MISS, Grim, Plot Twist, Revenge, Suspense, Violent, Western, Wonderful acting

Red Hill (2010)

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From NetFlix:

After being shot on duty, police officer Shane Cooper (Ryan Kwanten) moves with his pregnant wife to the quiet Outback town of Red Hill, where surly sheriff Old Bill (Steve Bisley) is downright unfriendly and Shane’s first day on the job turns into the worst day of his life. When killer Jimmy Conway (Tommy Lewis) escapes from jail and heads for Red Hill, the police try to track the skilled hunter, and Shane soon realizes something is very wrong.

Not a detail is out of place in this suspenseful and violent Australian cowboy sheriff film about an aborigine escaped from prison and intent on killing every single lawman in the dying town of Red Hill.

Ryan Kwanten is the only actor I will remember from this film and he was terrific. Those of you with vampire tastes will recall that Ryan Kwanten was the irrepressible Jason Stockhouse in the TV series True Blood (2008). His tender scenes with his very pregnant wife are touching. My only objection is that he is physically a bit too much of a superman, overcoming all obstacles while severely wounded. But don’t let that stop you from watching.

How dull: aborigine escapes and shoots a lot of people. Not at all ! First this killer’s hunting (he can smell his intended victims) and shooting skills and his amazingly clever instincts make him a formidable enemy. HOWEVER, the plot has an amazing and very emotional twist that holds you to the end.

In my book, this violent film is an Australian masterpiece. Don’t miss it!

2009, Could Be Hard To Watch, Drama, Grim, Horror, Occasional gore, Suspense, Violent

Carriers (2009)

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From NetFlix:

As a lethal virus spreads across the globe, brothers Brian (Chris Pine) and Danny (Lou Taylor Pucci), along with Bobby (Piper Perabo) and Kate (Emily VanCamp), seek a supposed plague-free haven. But while circumventing those infected, the travelers begin to turn against one another. Real-life brothers Alex Pastor and David Pastor write and direct this apocalyptic chiller, which co-stars Christopher Meloni.

More apocalypse than horror film, this film about the human race dying of a plague really concentrates on two brothers and the two women traveling with them and their relations with one another. These relations are challenged to the extreme by the need to follow certain rules designed to keep them plague-free. Tough choices are made throughout the film.

Among the four travelers Brian (Chris Pine of Unstoppable (2010)) is clearly the leader. Actors Pine and Pucci carry their parts well.

Christopher Meloni of “Law and Order: Special Victims” fame, has a part as the father of an infected young daughter. His role is just a bit more than a cameo, but he does it well.

Children would be frightened by the sight of the dying and dead infected blood-encrusted victims. But the film is really about choosing between survival and whatever criteria we had for good human behavior in the pre-plague past.

Never a dull moment!

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 !

2010, Conspiracy, Could Be Hard To Watch, Drama, Grim, Kidnapping, Political statement, Suspense

Buried (2010)

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From NetFlix:

While on a job in Iraq, civilian contractor Paul Conroy (Ryan Reynolds) is attacked and kidnapped, then awakens to find himself buried alive in the middle of the desert with nothing but a lighter, a candle, a cell phone and a knife. Does Paul have the instincts he’ll need to save himself? Director Rodrigo Cortés crafts a tense psychological thriller with sociopolitical undertones that doubles as an exercise in claustrophobic terror.

If you are claustrophobic, DO NOT WATCH THIS FILM !

If you read the Wikipedia article you will find rave reviews such as “Wringing a seemingly impossible amount of gripping drama out of its claustrophobic premise, Buried is a nerve-wracking showcase for Ryan Reynolds’ talent.” Here is a film in which Ryan Reynolds is anything but a handsome Hollywood star.

Incredibly spell-binding , I could not take my eyes off the screen. But this is a film with a nasty message. We are asked to believe that Paul Conroy was purposely setup by his American contractor. At the very least his company CRT weasels out of its responsibilities by concocting a reason for claiming that he was discharged from the company JUST BEFORE being kidnapped. How on earth could we know that such things have ever occurred ?

From a technical standpoint: would not Paul have exhausted the air in the buried crate a lot sooner than the film shows ?

In no way can I spoil this film for you. You will just have to suffer through the torture to see what happens.