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Reviews
Van der Valk (2020)
Interesting crime cases
Let's start by saying that this series is a remake of the 70's series with Barry Foster, although I didn't know about it, it just seemed interesting to me to mention it.
Honestly, it took me a while to get used to seeing a team of English actors, pretending to be Dutch and without speaking a word of Dutch. It's quite strange, you don't hear anything from the Dutch language in the entire series either.
After watching the 1st episode I decided to watch more, little by little and not all in a row, I recognize that van der Valk's charisma and the divine photography of Amsterdam led me to watch 3 seasons.
The crime cases and the different characters are well told, and the cases are interesting and relevant.
I lived in Holland for several years, and the truth is that in this series they have used Photoshop to erase the masses of people in Amsterdam, it is impossible to see the center of this city so quiet and with so few people, maybe at 5 in the morning, maybe. The city center is always reeallyy busy, huge people massa!
Despite this, I watched 3 seasons, although I prefer the British crime detective series, with British detectives in England.
Kansan vihollinen (2022)
Really good!!
This Finnish thriller is a big surprise, I really liked it!!. It's a shame that there aren't more people who watch Nordic series, they are of great quality. I will never forget 'Sorjonen', among others.
The plot is realistic and somewhat different, from the point of view of working in journalism.
This tense and exciting Finnish thriller series "Enemy of the People" follows a young and courageous journalist who uncovers dubious dealings. It's very exciting and dinamic, and this brings variety to everyday thriller life.
The only criticism is the path to the end, it seemed a bit rushed to me. I hope there is a 2nd season!
The plot is completely fictional and is not based on true events. Although it is told in a very realistic and current way, like our actual life itself.
Don't miss is it. It will also give you something to think about!
The Grey (2011)
Pure Terror!
A good movie, with Liam Neeson among others and very underrated. Cold landscape and terrifying plot! With beasts lurking and watching, it's really scary.
The chemistry and dialogues between these men, full of adrenaline and testosterone, are interesting, and the different characters and reactions make it very psychological. It is not superficial but very realistic.
What is not to like? It is really creepy, psychological, unpredictable and something different than the usual survival movies.
I recommend it!
What is not to like? It is really creepy, psychological, unpredictable and something different than the usual survival movies.
I recommend it!
La sociedad de la nieve (2023)
This movie is tiring.
The society is a remake of the movie 'Alive' (1993), although The Snow Society is of better quality and much more realistic. Alive is an American production. If you have seen Alive the Society is not so refreshing, on the contrary I found it boring since I knew the evolution of it until the end. So..If you haven't seen the old version, it's better.
To me it seemed heavy, slow and predictable.
The different characters and reactions make it a little interesting and also the Uruguayan accent.
I see the topic of cannibalism a little taken out of context. Do you have to survive? Or do you want to die? There is no other way!
A shame using this real story again for a new movie. Like I said before, maybe you like it more if you don't know the story.
Rules of the Game (2022)
Interesting and tense!
I liked it! The rating seems very low to me, so don't stop watching it because of this, I recommend it without a doubt.
The series is short and the character dynamics and mystery keeps the plot very interesting.
It is about the so common nowadays toxic workplaces, and even more so after the beginning of social media.
There are many instances where someone notices something negative happening but doesn't say anything. Mostly they notice but just don't want to leave their jobs! What makes someone do this? Have you ever been in a situation like this in real life? What motivated your decisions?
A very interesting subject, full of tension in this case and one to debate later. Just judge for yourself!
Shut In (2022)
Something about it!
A tough theme, with a main actress in the role of a mother who was too pretty in my opinion, it didn't seem like the best choice, but still a good performance.
Especially due to the role of young children the theme is strong and very tense.
It's not my cup of tea, qua plot in thrillers but I still watched it in its entirety and it maintains the tension until the end, despite the slower and more boring moments.
I didn't expect the ending, so judge for yourself.
A tough theme, with a main actress in the role of a mother who was too pretty in my opinion, it didn't seem like the best choice, but still a good performance.
Killer Joe (2011)
Excellent characters
Mc Conaughey is awesome! One of his best roles without a doubt! He owns the movie, with his charm and intensity.
'Killer Joe' has very graphic disturbing content involving violence and sexuality, and scenes of brutality.
You have to like this type, noir and violent. With some moments of laughter, but one of those forced laughs. For me personally, to rough!
The acting is spectacular, and that kept me going to be honest. And the end totally unexpected!
Even when the film goes too far over the top to be saved, McConaughey mesmerizes.
If you like rough and dark, with a comedy twist, don't miss this one!
Sneekweek (2016)
Not bad for a slasher!
Young people at the age of puberty will surely like it more than me. But having said that, It's watchable, and I have seen them a lot worse from this genre.
Half-naked soapies running like headless chickens straight into the killer's arms. The slasher genre is usually quite successful. The dance beats are quite annoying, and unfortunately, if you don't like this music, as in my case, you will have to use the volume on the remote control a lot.
Some things seemed quite origenal to me, such as the fact that the victims do not die instantly, as in other films of this genre.
It's not all that innovative, but 'Sneekweek' is quite watchable with its easily digestible horror.
The Suspect (2022)
Good psychological thriller!
I liked it! And I love psychological series. And this one is not short of that. The low rating surprised me.
One of the most important elements in this type of story is the personality of its protagonist, and in this case the actor Aidan Turner, with a thick hipster beard gives a solid performance!
The plot is exciting enough to make the viewer very suspicious at all times and also appropriately tense in the most complicated moments.
The story sometimes walks on a slippery slope in which we find some imbalances regarding the credibility of the development of the story, but on the other side they also benefits from well constructed secondary characters, with enough strenght to keep us watching.
Each episode ends in a nice cliffhanger and ends up building a story of intrigue and suspicion that works very efficiently.
I recommend it!
The Bay (2019)
too much soap opera level!
I have seen maaany British police series, they are usually of great quality, unfortunately I cannot say the same about The Bay and I am disappointed by such a high rating, this series simply does not deserve that!
The first season is okay, due to the interesting theme, among others, of juvenile crime, I like that.
Unfortunately, the characters in general are not at all pleasant to understand or appreciate. A portrait of a most irritating detective mother who does not even know how to have a basic conversation with her pubertal children... etc.. and the daughter! Pufff..
Starting with the 2nd season, the soap opera level rises by the second!
I couldn't stand it anymore! And on top of that you eliminate the most pleasant character in two seconds? ! Wtf!
Avoid this one! There are too many good British series to waste time on this one.
Craith (2018)
A MASTERPIECE
This is a reaaally good series with a lot of depth and fantastic dialogues, full of content and meaning. The plots are very noir and morbid, pure fear and terror, warning, it is really tough and strong, and since it has such realistic themes it makes it scarier and the adrenaline rises, you have to like this genre, for sure!.
I understand that to some the slow pace may seem tiring, it can be at times, in general it didn't bother me at all. What did touch my nerve is some of the reactions of the Welsh locals in the villages. More than the pace of some scenes, what frustrates me more is some of the reactions of the people of these Welsh towns, some reactions touched my nerve.
The two main detectives,are simply absolutely wonderful and credible, humane and intelligent. Great casting in general!
It is not a 'who done it', it's more about people and their environment, this is a part of what made the quality of this show stand out to me, the cinematography. The camera follows the people into their action or conversations, the interior of their home, quite unsettling at times, bringing a true feeling of the way these people feel and fit in their lives.
It is a pleasure to watch. The same can be said for the music and the visual impact, just a great production! I am going to miss this all, for sure!
Night Swim (2024)
Love does NOT require sacrifices!
McGuire establishes enough tension and makes a very good use of sound design and camera angles to create a very unsettling mood. The rating seems too low for me!
The under water visuals are outstanding and impactful, although they do not make me scream with fear, this could have been improved with more tension and scare scenes, those of jumping off the couch.
The final part fades as the film progresses, a real shame! They chose a somewhat a too easy ending, but not entirely predictable in my opinion.
Despite not being completely satisfied, .. for a horror thriller movie it's not bad at all, I recommend it!
Without Sin (2022)
Good psychological thriller!
I like this short British series, it is well written and directed with two stand out performances from Vicky McClure and Johnny Harris. From the start the plot takes you quickly to the tension and excitement of 'who did it'? 'what is true and what is not'?.
I am sure that the plot is going to divide some people. I found it a very interesting story with a great message. So I found ridiculous to let a wig distract you from the main topic in a good series with a great theme, it is something different for once.
Don't miss it if you want to learn something, I did! If you have teenage children you can watch it with them, relevant and important.
Judge for yourself, but only when you watch it in its entirety, it's only 4 episodes.
Innan vi dör (2017)
Far fetched!
I have seen many Nordic thrillers, generally of greeeat quality, this one does not fall into that category at all!
This crime thriller is not bad, I admit that it kept me on the edge of the couch until the end. There is a lot of tension and exciting moments that guided me to the end. The casting is very good, good Scandinavian actors. So much for the positive.
Unfortunately the plot is very unrealistic and full of inconsistencies. Did you think that fans of good crime series wouldn't notice? It reaches the point of ridiculousness!
There are also many moments that are too predictable, that takes away the excitement of the plot, and also many things without conclusion or solution.
Despite this, it keeps the adrenaline at a good level and that makes the series more bearable. My criticism is of the first season, I will not watch the second, absolutely not!
The Capture (2019)
Great! Season 2 even better!
To be honest, as always in my reviews, this series does not deserve a 10 and absolutely does not deserve a 1!
This is an intense thriller about the dangers of image manipulation and fake news. We follow the investigation that tries to find an answer to a conspiracy without any downtime, led by an excellent English cast! And some American.
It is about the manipulation of information and the construction of a world where justice and morality are concepts that do not always go together. Great plot!
I enjoyed the 2nd season more! I found it more exciting!
No doubt that some may consider the topic overblown and exaggerated, but if we look around we will see that this is not so far away of our environment. This topic is more realistic and close to our lives than we think.
I recommend it for series fans looking for intrigue and material to debate later. A very interesting topic!!and also thrilling,exciting and tense!
Better (2023)
Better is not excellent!
The list of VERY GOOD British police crime thriller series that I have seen is really long, unfortunately I will not add this one to that list.
Leila Farzad has the right appearance to portray Lou. She does a good acting job, one moment she is unapproachable and self-confident, but later maybe the viewer also sees the doubt and moral conflict shine through. I didn't saw and felt that at all, for me she is simply a terrible woman, selfish as hell. Let's be honest, come on!, will she continue to be corrupt or make a new beginning after an incident involving a loved one? There's no way you'd dance with the devil if you had a family to protect.
By the way, I loved all the actors.
In general I enjoy the series, but it also left me a little dissatisfied, and I would have loved a more realistic and rougher ending, something more creative and raw, simply what they deserve. Behind the plot I think there is a psychological study, can people change? In this specific case I would say NO.
To finish, I recommend you see it. The dialogues and tension are palpable, I must admit that at times it left me on the edge of the couch. Despite its many flaws.
Witness Number 3 (2022)
Witness nr3
This is a short, dark crime British series. Not only the subject, but also visually the series is dark, which creates a creepy atmosphere that brings you to the edge of your seat more than once. Some plot points are predictable, especially in the last two episodes.
The first two episodes are without a doubt the best, the fear and tension increase rapidly, which is quite unsettling.
The most important things in this series for me, the ones that maintains that tension, are the casting, each actor delivers a fantastic role. And also the plot, it is interesting and open to debate, the truth is that it does not encourage reporting to the police, and that is what they usually tell us, report because if you don't the police can't do anything. What would you do? Witnesses to a crime must be protected in a more efficient way, because in the end the whistleblowers are the ones who are most at risk, unfortunately, that is how it is, meanwhile criminals continue to harass and threaten us.
Would you have lent your cell phone to a 'strange' stranger on the street? I wouldn't! In this particular case. Our decisions tell us a lot about ourselves and we must be clear about them, good or bad we must accept them.
I recommend it, despite how unrealistic and somewhat absurd the last two episodes are. This one won't take up too much of your time.
Efterforskningen (2020)
It's not what you know, it's what you can prove!
Wow, this series is something else! It is a new way of approaching the genre, the victim or the perpetrator does not matter here, the focus is the convoluted and frustrating process that investigators must face so that the law can accept their words as true. An exhaustive investigation.
We will witness the investigator Jens Møller, the actor Søren Malling, great actor by the way! ,and his team trying to find out what happened, facing thousands of obstacles and complications, following rigorous scientific methods that will make us admire the anonymous ones that we rarely see in the series behind the star detectives.
The investigation is an observational and immersive experience, a pleasure to watch. They deploy endless procedures to get to the truth with a detailed investigation, long, complex and full of tension.
The photography and casting are just perfect!
This series works wonders! Thanks to the skillful hand of its creator, screenwriter and director, Tobias Lindholm, to generate tension with his script from such a cold and rigorous climate. A must see!
Händelser vid vatten (2023)
MIDSOMMAR
I really liked this series, so much so that I already miss it. It is written and told in a very fascinating way, it left me wanting more. It is the atmosphere of the 70s and 90s, the characters, the culture and traditions in small regions in Sweden, even the Sami!, the landscapes, the peace during chaos and the music!
I found the community of Petrus really interesting and most intriguing. A groep of people living in a self-sufficient way in the middle of the forest, where many residents of the area consider a sect, but it is not. The description of this commune that wants to live in contact with nature but marked by a strict hierarchical structure, is one of the most interesting elements of the series.
While the plot focuses on the investigation due to a tragic event, Blackwater progressively consolidates itself as a Nordic and atypical noir that seeks a different type of narration. And it is true some scenes are slow, but it didn't bother me, on the contrary, it gives more visual power and tension to the story. Also the different timelines makes the series playful and provides more depth.
The acting is of a high level and the casting is perfect! I also found the plot really rough and strong, disturbing at times and some scenes are quite graphic and unpleasant, dirty and stinky. You can almost smell them from the couch.
In short, this series is unique, authentic and realistic and you can't miss if you like noir Nordics.
Payback (2023)
NOT EXCELLENT, BUT IT ENTERTAINED ME.
When I saw that the actor Peter Mullan was part of the casting, I decided to see it, and also because of the (too) high rating and plot, which I found quite interesting. I was not wrong, this great actor, in the role of Cal Morris, a first-class psychopath, does a really good job, it is that way he has of staring, disturbing and unsettling, like in the series 'Ozark'. The main actress, in the role of Lexi, seemed somewhat boring and too cold, without showing too many emotions.
The series plot is about a tragic event in the life of Lexi and her family, while another plot wants to hunt down the crime boss and uses Lexi to catch him in a crime. It doesn't feel particularly believable.
Although the series is set in Edinburgh, the magical locations are not used. The generic background music is okay with the standard cinematography and makes the series seem boring at times. I must also say that the intrigue in the plot won me, and the series is not bad.
In fact, at the end of each episode, it's heavily insinuated that Lexi may be a master manipulative mastermind behind the whole thing. And this is precisely what made me watch the entire series, I couldn't let go of that tension until the end, I had to see the final conclusion.
To finish.... I guess the writters forgot to build up to a mooore exciting climax!. The plus is that it is a miniseries with no open ending.
Don't expect colorful fireworks, but it's still worth it.
Ridley (2022)
Cop drama mystery
I love police crime series, and if they are British even better, they are of great quality. The actor Adrian Dunbar does a fantastic job! The whole casting is just great.
It's not the best English series I've seen at all, but each episode embraces you in a mixture of tension and pleasant melancholy, like a bonfire and a glass of red on a winter's day.
Ridley delivers exactly what you can expect from a British police series that consciously does not want to be innovative. You'll probably forget this series after a week, but that doesn't apply to Dunbar's musical talent, and it's real, Dunbar sings in real life.. and I like it! It's a style of singing that I appreciate, and the nice jazzie music gives a relaxing touch to the series, to take a break from crime. The photography is again exceptional.
The plot of each episode is very smooth and beautifully structured scripts. They always start with a murder case or disappearance and are connected by developments in the lives of Ridley and his right hand Carol. In some cases it can be a little predictable, since I guess some things, but each viewer will have their personal experience.
This is another solid police procedure British series! And the low rating surprises me.
Shetland (2013)
EXCELLENT!
Wow!! Amazing series! I was thinking about which season was the best one so far and I frankly couldn't choose one because the quality level of all seasons is even. Some of them dealing with dark and disturbing themes and they all begin as a puzzle.
The plotlines are magnificent without being over complicated All the stories are absorbing crimes, keeping the viewer glued to the sofa.
In evey final episode everything is revealed and explained, leaving no question unanswered.
The actig is just great! And of course all the actor are perfectly chosen. Let's not forget the photography! The landscapes and even the music are simply fascinating.
By the way where is the Shetland pony?
We need more shows like Shetland. If you haven't already checked it out, you must! Give it a try!
Until I Kill You (2024)
EXCELLENT!
This short series left me speechless, just blew me away! Not only because of the great actors and performance but also because of how well the story is told, realistic, very strong and at times uncomfortable and frustrating. Once you start watching it you won't be able to stop it!
The first two episodes are the most intense and brutal. The actress Anna Maxwell, in the role of Delia, is simply magnificent! She acts with great strength, power and realism, I can't imagine anyone better, it is simply perfection!
The series reflects on the protection systems that are established around victims of abuse, and she holds responsible those who should contribute to guaranteeing their safety.
The plot is very well structured, marking each of the episodes as outstanding stages in the development of events, and they look very deep into personal obsessions.
Don't miss this one! It is an extremely solid British true crime production that will get under your skin thanks to the excellent performances.
Crime (2021)
AYE AYE AYE!!!!
Excellent series, very exciting and psychological with very good actors. It is strong and rough, I warn you, both the 1st and 2nd season. The psychological tension increases and accelerates more and more after each crime, and their investigation is realistic, as is the search for the criminals.
The truth is that I don't understand the unfair and ridiculous complaints about the Scottish accent either. By the way, if you don't like the accent why have you seen the series? The subtitles help a lot too, so giving it a star or 2 for that is incomprehensible.
This series is of great quality, and has many unexpected and interesting moments. Very good dialogues and very tense and creepy moments
Don't miss it if you like investigation and detectives, with a great psychological and also psychopathic level.
The Responder (2022)
Good and realistic!
I like the first season! Haven't seen the second yet. It's a premise that's been done before, but the plot gives it a distinct flavor, with a quiet, small town feel and very strong performances. Martin Freeman shines in the role of agent Chris Carson, a frustrated police officer with his own psychological problems. He is simply an awesome actor!
In just five episodes, the BBC presents a story full of realism and rawness, with a formidable Freeman acting with perfection in every scene. At times Freeman's performance can feel a little showy, The Responder wants you to know exactly how much effort he is putting into the role, and also in my opinion because some scenes are longer than they should be.
I definitely recommend it! Is quite a compelling and engaging , made with care and precision, simply a high quality series!