Reviews

A dark surreal comedy drama with an awkward start that eventually finds its tone and structure once the half-brothers (perfect teaming of Hawke and McGregor) arrive in town to deal with their father's funeral arrangements. A father who was a tormentor, causing affliction of all sorts that pretty much screwed up their lives in no uncertain terms. During the process they meet the town folks who contradict the brothers memory of their father with many a kind word.

The magic occurs at the graveyard that plays out like a Fellini movie infused with a David Lynch nightmare, filled with circus acrobats, overabundance of brothers(!) and outpouring of grieve in the most hilarious - and sometimes heartfelt way. It is absolutely bonkers, but director, Rodrigo García, seemed to be in his element during this large portion of the film.

A movie at odds with itself, but somehow it all fell into place in the most delicious macabre way.

An intriguing premise that unravels slowly, creeping up on you with the many shrouded mysterious elements that one hopes will all fall into place in this artful French version of Natural Born Killers (without the media sensationalization).

To add to the mystic is a one-time successful author with writer's block as the pressures mount for his next book. Landing on the writer's lap is a story offered by an elderly man of guilt, Albert (effective portrayal from Niels Arestrup), who tells of his secret violent life in being part of a serial killing couple that had a strange fetish! To add to the thrills, a police officer has all his life been on the hunt, and is getting closer.

What draws the viewer in is the sense that there may be a similarity between author and subject. How this affects the author, and will he spiral out of control, creating turmoil and afflicted memory pains. It becomes more addictive with each episode as more characters are thrown into this twisted cocktail.

These elements has ones interest, as does the cinematic style of storytelling that is at sometimes refreshing compared to the many overblown budget TV series's at present. The "present-scenes" are dark and moody, while the "past-scenes" (revealing the murders) play out like a bad hip 70's French film, reminiscent of Chabrol, Vadim and Clément all rolled into one.

Not for all tastes with the dark undertones, but still worth the watch if you want to be morally challenged and enjoy the twists and turns of a good psychological mystery thriller.

An expansion on the original mystic Swedish version, but this TV-Series digs deeper into the love, protection and devotion from a parent over their child. Either that child be a social outcast and bullied (like the detective's nerdy son, Isaiah, who loves his magic), or neglected (as with the case of Claire Logan who discovers dark family secrets hidden by her wealthy selfish father). But Claire's dilemma is that she was the mother figure for her dying brother, and sets out to find a cure from his vampirism.

Most important of all is the case of the protagonist, Eleanor Kane, a child vampire protected by her father, Mark Kane, from committing evil acts that he instead performs himself - the true test and love of a parent. It is this relationship that the series will hinge on, and already you can sense the tension between daughter and father, as the young one yearns to hunt and kill for her human meal.

In the gothic urban setting of NY, this series has set-up the premise of two outcast children out to make a connection through their loneliness and pain. While the third older child, Claire, seems to be on a quest to find a cure for the blood lusting disease, and in turn might help Eleanor's plight.

At present I am not convinced with the forced-like set-up, and the too many coincidences that link the characters. But I will forgo that minor discrepancy as the eeriness and urban gothic visuals have drawn me in and left me wondering what is in store for Eleanor Kane - and how far will a parent protect their loving child.