Category Archives: Emotional child abuse

2021, Acceptable for teenagers, Alcoholism, Antique Cars, Based on a Book, Based on true facts, Bloody scenes, Brother-Brother relations, Bullying, Clever Plot, Could Be Hard To Watch, Dancing, DO NOT MISS, Drama, Embarrassing episodes, Emotional child abuse, Erotic Tension, Family Conflict, Gay theme, Homophobia, Netflix Streaming, Nudity, Period Piece, Puzzling Conclusion, Sexual Tension, Suicide, Suspense, Uncle-Nephew relations, Western

The Power of the Dog (2021)

From IMDB:

Charismatic rancher Phil Burbank inspires fear and awe in those around him. When his brother brings home a new wife and her son, Phil torments them until he finds himself exposed to the possibility of love.

From Netflix:

A domineering but charismatic rancher wages a war of intimidation on his brother’s new wife and her teen son — until long-hidden secrets come to light.

From Netflix you can stream this stunning 2 hour 8 minute film.

Filmed in New Zealand (and supposedly taking place in Montana), Jane Campion’s mystery film ended with my saying “Whoa! What just happened?”  After sitting for awhile in a daze, I thought I finally figured out what was going on in the story.  To check my conclusion I googled for “The Power of the Dog” and discovered that my own reaction was typical for the film.  There are lots of discussions and explanations concerning the plot. To my satisfaction, I had correctly solved the whodunit. And not a word more from me about the details. (Out of desperation, you might read a review.)

Needless to say Benedict Cumberbatch (as the villain Phil Burbank) shows off his consistently amazing skill as an actor-chameleon.  Note that his American English is pitch perfect.

But credits are due also to:

  • Kirsten Dunst as Rose Gordon, the fragile wife of George Burbank.
  • Kodi Smit-McPhee as her son Peter Gordon.
  • Jesse Plemons as Phil’s soft-spoken but steady a rock brother George Burbank.

Be prepared for Phil’s nasty cruelty. Let me know if you solved the puzzle.

DO NOT MISS!

2021, Abduction, Abuse of Women, Bloody scenes, Brother-Sister relations, Child abuse, Danish, Danish Detectives, Danish Police, Danish Politics, Danish TV series, Disturbing Image, Emotional child abuse, Failed Mother, Foster Care, Missing Person, Mother-daughter relations, Murder, Netflix Streaming, Occasional gore, Orphans in Foster Care, Police Culture, Political Campaigning, Politicians, Psychopath, Serial Killer, Suspense, Thriller, Torture, Violent

The Chestnut Man (2021)

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From IMDB:

A young woman is found brutally murdered in a playground and one of her hands is missing. Above her hangs a small man made of chestnuts.

From Netflix:

At a grisly murder scene sits a figurine made of chestnuts. From  this creepy clue, two detectives hunt a killer linked to a politician’s missing child.

From Netflix you can stream the 6 episodes of this Danish serial killer series. Each episode runs a bit less than one hour.

“Seen one, seen them all” is almost a truism about serial killer series. Each such story involves detectives and victim families, many of whom have their own problems. But it is these individual personal touches that distinguish one series from another.  For that reason “The Chestnut Man” is not boring and not a waste of time. Nor is the production anything special.

2009, Abandoned child, Abduction, Abuse of Women, Amazon Prime, Bad Acting, Bloody scenes, British, British Mystery Series, Bullying, Child abuse, Could Be Hard To Watch, Emotional child abuse, Father-son relations, Grim, Grisly, Narcissistic Personality, Occasional gore, Pedophilia, Psychopath, Rape, Sadism, Serial Killer, Suspense, Unloved Child, Violent

Above Suspicion (2009)

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From Amazon Prime:

Does rookie detective Anna Travis have what it takes to succeed in what is still mostly a man’s world? Based on the bestselling novels by Lynda La Plante, this hit British police drama is a “younger, sassier successor to Prime Suspect” (The Telegraph, U.K.)

From Amazon Prime you can stream seasons 1 and 2 of the 4 existing seasons. Season 1 consists of 2 episodes lasting roughly an hour each. Season 2 consists of 3 episodes each lasting about 45 minutes.

“Grim” is the word that immediately comes to mind.  An effort was made to present some really gory scenes.  Fortunately the two stories offer plots that are good enough to warrant watching. Fortunately, I say, because the lead detective DCS James Langton is played by Ciarán Hinds who as a loud ham of an actor is a bit hard to take.  His sidekick opponent Anna Travis learns to stand up to Langton’s offish bullying.

Gory but watchable.

2017, Abandoned child, Abduction, Abuse of Women, Bloody scenes, Bullying, Character Driven, Child custody, Conspiracy, Controlling personality, Cult, Cult Brainwashing, Detective, DO NOT MISS, Drugs, Eccentric Detective, Emotional child abuse, Ethical struggles, Lesbian Theme, Mental Illness, Missing Person, Mother-son relations, Murder, Murder by poison, Murder Investigation, Netflix Streaming, Police Investigation, Rape, Serial Killer, Small Town, Suspense, Trial Scenes, Violent

The Sinner (2017)

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From Netflix you can stream 4 seasons of this intense series centering on the central detective character Harry Ambrose.

Each season consists of 8 episodes, each about 42 minutes.

  • Season 1: “Cora”  Cora is a young mother that inexplicably stabs and kills a young man during a family beach outing.   Detective Ambrose must discover why she killed in order to defend her.
  • Season 2: “Julian” Julian is a young boy who confesses to murdering his parents. Ambrose has to investigate the cult to which the boy belongs in order to defend the boy.
  • Season 3: “Jamie” Jamie is the father of a family and is also a serial killer. Ambrose needs to understand Jamie in order to stop his killing and prove his guilt.
  • Season 4: “Percy” Percy is the troubled daughter of the Muldoon fishing family.  In the start of the story Harry thinks he sees Percy commit suicide.  Alongside personal relationship  problems, Harry must once again put himself in danger to get to the bottom of a serious corruption scheme.

As Harry Ambrose the actor Bill Pullman plays a stubborn detective with a very unique personality.  Quiet, always with a knowing shy smile on his face, Harry is his own mystery.  With the other “criminals” he shares a tortured past which we learn bit by bit. Harry takes some remarkable chances in order to solve a mystery.

As far as detective series are concerned:

DO NOT MISS!

2020, Acceptable for teenagers, Alcoholism, Amazon Prime, America of the 1970s, Coming-of-age, Could Be Sad, Drama, Emotional child abuse, Family Conflict, Father-son relations, Gay theme, Good Acting, Homophobia, Mother-son relations, Small Town Atmosphere, Thought provoking

Uncle Frank (2020)

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From IMDB:

In 1973, when Frank Bledsoe and his 18-year-old niece Beth take a road trip from Manhattan to Creekville, South Carolina, for the family patriarch’s funeral, they’re unexpectedly joined by Frank’s lover, Walid.

From Amazon Prime you can stream this 1 hour 34 minute Amazon produced film.

In the American South of 1973 being gay was difficult, to say the least. Frank Bledsoe, a gay man,  has long ago left his southern family in small town Creekville and moved to Manhattan where he could live his life as he wanted. His lover Walid can never return to his native country Saudi Arabia (or risk being beheaded.)

Start by assuming that everyone in Creekville is homophobic.  One of the worst offenders is Frank’s father, Daddy Mac,  whose explicit denunciations helped drive Frank away from home.  When Daddy Mac dies suddenly Frank has some touch decisions: Should he go to the funeral?   Should he out himself?  Should he take Walid?

Frank’s trip back home is interwoven with tragic childhood flashbacks and enlightening discussions with his niece Beth. In addition the stressful situation prompts Frank to return to his former alcohol problem.

Needless to say Frank’s treatment during the funeral is traumatic and cruel. In a very natural way the relatives express their culturally ingrained homophobia, the usual refrain being “You will burn in hell!”

Beautifully acted, thought provoking, and tough to watch.

2017, Adopted child, Amazon Prime, Amazon Prime Brit Box, Bloody scenes, Boarding school, British Mystery Series, Brother-Sister relations, Child abuse, Could Be Hard To Watch, Crime, Dark, Disturbing Image, DO NOT MISS, Drug Dealers, Dysfunctional Lives, Emotional child abuse, Family Conflict, Forensics, Grim, Incest, Medical Theme, Murder, Murder Investigation, Personal Betrayal, Physical child abuse, Plot Twist, Police Corruption, Prison, Psychological Thriller, Psychopath, Revenge, Sadism, Sociopath, Surprise Ending, Suspense, Thriller, Unjust crime conviction, Valium appropriate, Violent, Wrongful Arrest

Bancroft (2017)

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From IMDB:

A dark thriller centering on Detective Superintendent Elizabeth Bancroft, a female detective with an explosive secret.

From Amazon Prime you can stream the four 45 minute episodes of season 1 of this nail biter.  If you subscribe to Amazon’s Brit Box you can stream season 2 which we have not done yet.

Season 1 was so cleverly tense that I labeled this story “valium appropriate.”  Soon you discover how damaged Elizabeth Bancroft (played by Sarah Parish) really is. She will stop at nothing to clear her son Joe (played by Adam Long) of a false murder charge. One of her  nemeses is the super intelligent sociopath Annabel Connors (played to perfection by Charlotte Hope) who has bewitched Joe.  Her other nemesis is the detective Cliff Walker (played by Adrian Edmondson ) who knows how broken Elizabeth is, but so far cannot prove anything.

Stayed tuned for a battle of corrupt wits whose season 1 ending is a satisfyingly twisted turn of events.

DO NOT MISS!

 

 

2018, Abandoned child, Abuse of Women, Addiction, Amusing banter, Bloody scenes, Child custody, Clever Plot, Creepy, Disturbing Image, Drugs, Emotional child abuse, Erotic Thriller, Family Conflict, Flirting, Jealousy, Mother-daughter relations, Mother-son relations, Murder, Netflix Streaming, Psychological Thriller, Revenge, Self-Deception, Sex Scenes, Stalker, Suspense, Unusual, Violent, Vulgar

You (2018)

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From IMDB:

A dangerously charming, intensely obsessive young man goes to extreme measures to insert himself into the lives of those he is transfixed by.

From Netflix you can stream two seasons of this somewhat creepy series. Each season contains 10 episodes each of which lasts about 45 minutes.

Joe Goldberg (played by Penn Badgley) at first seems just to be an obsessive stalker.  But harmless he is not. Joe spends 20 episodes talking silently to himself and rationalizing his behavior by somehow letting himself believe that everything he does is for love.  Along the way he manages to kill an awful lot of people in the name of love.

Is Joe mentally ill or just some kind of narcissist that chooses murder as a way to continue  his quest for love?  In any case he is not a serial killer in the accepted sense of the word.

Why watch Joe’s lethal progress?

  •  All along we expect Joe to be killed or caught.  But cleverly unexpected events constantly occur to save Joe’s skin.
  • Trendy dialog rules the day, especially in LA.
  •  In face to face conversations, no matter what tight spot he is in, Joe always manages to manufacture a spin response.
  • Good acting enhances a story that is never boring (although the very end seems to drag a bit).
  •  Segments of Joe’s history as a sad, traumatized child are injected often to explain his current behavior.

Curiosity (as to how on earth this story ends) more than anything kept me hooked to these 20 episodes.

2018, Amazon Prime, Basically Sad, British, Brother-Sister relations, Child abuse, Child Molestation, Dark, Dog episode, Emotional child abuse, Farm Life, Incest, Sheep Farmers, Tragedy, Violent

Dark River (2018)

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From Amazon Prime:

Following the death of her father, Alice (Ruth Wilson, “The Affair”) returns to her home village for the first time in 15 years to claim from her estranged brother (Mark Stanley, “Game of Thrones”) the family farm she believes is rightfully hers. From acclaimed filmmaker Clio Barnard, one of the premier new voices in British cinema, “Dark River” is a taut and powerful psychological drama.

From Amazon Prime you can stream this 1 hour 29 minute complete film.

In the TV series Luther the British actress Ruth Wilson played the diabolically clever villain Alice Morgan.  However, in “Dark River” as the daughter Alice Bell she takes on a diametrically opposite character which lets her show another side of her considerable acting ability.

Just as credible acting job is performed by Mark Stanley as Alice’s brother Joe Bell.  Joe and Alice are in conflict for the entire story.

However the most important and motivating theme is the reason why Alice fled the farm years ago. You learn early in the film that her father Richard Bell (played by Sean Bean of “Game of Thrones”) serially sexually molested her. Upon her return to the farm she can hardly bring herself to step into the house, let alone go upstairs where the abuse occurred.

Make no mistake, this story is a tragedy which means that you should not expect a happy ending.

But it is a really well done film.

2015, Amazon Prime, Basically Sad, Complicated, Dark, Divorce, Emotional child abuse, Failing Marriage, Mental Illness, Mother-son relations, Narcissistic Personality, Psychiatrists, Psychological Drama, Tragedy, Unloved Child, Wonderful acting

Elephant Song (2015)

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From Amazon Prime:

When a psychiatrist goes mysteriously missing from a hospital that has recently been plagued by scandal, Dr. Toby Green (Bruce Greenwood) is called in to investigate before the news goes public.

From Amazon Prime you can stream this 1 hour 39 minute film.

Bruce Greenwood  (who played Batman in Batman: Gotham by Gaslight) plays the psychiatrist who is unwittingly drawn deep into the disturbed life of the young man Michael Aleen.  Catherine Keener plays the nurse Susan Peterson.

Think of this film as a complicated mystery story. What is really going on? Michael plays so many mind games with Dr. Greene that we often take wrong turns in the puzzle.

Superb acting, clever plot, and surprise turns make this one very worthwhile adventure.  Even now I hope I understood the story.

DO NOT MISS!

2019, Abuse of Women, Acceptable Trash, Bad high school, Career Competition, Child abuse, Cold Cases, Complicated, Corny at times, Dancing, Detective, DNA, Drama, Emotional child abuse, Ethical struggles, Extramarital Affair, Fashion, Gay theme, Illegitimate Child, Mediocre, Melodrama, Mother-daughter relations, Murder, Narcissistic Personality, Netflix Streaming, Psychopath, Sex Scenes, Sociopath, Suspense, Uncategorized, Unscrupulous drive to power, Violent, Womanizing

What/If (2019)

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From IMDB:

An anthology series which tackles a different morality tale, and the ripple effect of a single decision that changes the trajectory of an entire life.

From Netflix you can stream 10 episodes of this soap opera. Each episode lasts between 40 and 60 minutes.

Anne Montgomery is the villain and most prominent feature of this acceptable trashy melodrama. She is played by Renee Zellweger (Bridget Jones) who looks awfully good for her 50 years. Of course it does not hurt her appearance to wear not only tons of makeup but to wear in each new appearance an astounding designer creation. Best of all you can hear her lisp for all ten episodes.

Harlequin Books, the leaders in trashy bodice-rippers, will send you a story plot and will pay you to fill in the details. Suppose, in similar fashion you want to write a Netflix Original screenplay. What should be in the plot to be current in 2019?  Here are some suggestions (where we were motivated by this marvelous series):

  • In each couple, one of the partners must be hiding some terrible, guilty secret which prevents that person from being truly open with the other person.
  • One of the couples must be a gay couple. They should engage in least some filmed threesome sexual activity.
  • For each couple there must be a third party who has some destructive relation to one of the partners.
  • Some character must be a homicidal sociopath.
  • Financial dealings must complicated by the fact that you can never know whom to trust.

Probably I could extend the list, but those selling points should be enough to tempt you to watch almost 10 hours of acceptable trash. As a further inducement to wasting all that time, I am happy to reveal that by the end of episode ten, all problems have been resolved. Moreover, the plot leaves an opening for another thrilling set of trashy episodes.

Thanks to former colleague Kellie Trainer for suggesting this binge-worthy series. She and I have a motto:

WE LOVE TRASH!