This Movie Can Only Be Described With One Word.

it is the rare 'crazy' movie that actually has something to say.

Blending excellent reporting and strong storytelling, this is a disturbing film truly stranger than fiction

The story, direction, characters, and writing/dialogue is akin to taking a tranquilizer shot to the neck, but everything else was so well done.

This detail movie about the true and absolutely sensational murder mystery that occurred in England in the 1860s gave birth to Sir Arthur Canon Dolye's "Sherlock Holmes". The life of Constance Kent was a was disgrace by murdering her half brother but was reborn after becoming a Christian and seeking forgiveness. Queen Victoria forgave her to a life in prision. After which she join her brother in Austrailia and led a life of nursing. She died at the age of 100. She was still in the newspapers although in the obituaries. Could God forgive this murderess ? I think so. She led a good life in Austrialia. I saw the Road House in Wilshire, its the same at pictured in the movie. Which leads me to believe that Kate Summerscale had a lot to do with this movie. I even prayed over the grave of Saville Kent after I talked to a few people in Rode, Wiltshire, England. I imagine that after the movie, there is alot of tourists looking at the house. Just like the movie "Bagdad Cafe", although there is nothing left of the small area now.

I did not read the book - so went into this first episode devoid of expectations and was very pleasantly surprised. I was also a bit surprised by what seemed to be a lower than expected rating for this title on IMDB - this show, in my opinion, was a very unique and welcome addition to like Whodunits and Murder mysteries - the acting is very well done, casting fantastic, costume and set design magnificent, and the storyline is doled out in such a way as to pull you along, unwary to the end, when the fish is landed and the lines tied up. No hint of low budget here, and some fine camera work to boot. As a period piece - I find it solid and extremely absorbing - I have thus far seen 3 of the 4 shows and have been enthralled. Mr Whicher is not to be confused with Sherlock Holmes - he is a very genuine and fallible human being - he has a knack for the occupation and a natural talent for it - plus his own demons that drive him on. I think it makes for a great watch - can't help but hope that another installment may be on the horizon. Such a shame that there were only 4 episodes made.

I'm surprised by the generally negative reviews for this production. Some reviewers seem to want the writers to re-write history to replicate an Agatha Christie story. The fact is, this story was based on reality, not on Christie's tropes and formulas. The fact is, sometimes crimes work out as this one did, with an unsatisfying ending. The detective doesn't call all the suspects to a meeting where he reveals his genius at deduction, or cause the suspect to reveal him/herself in dramatic fashion.I found this well acted and well written. Not great, but quite good, and well worth the watching. Maybe if Captain Hastings' grandfather had showed up for comic relief, more people would have liked it. Personally, I found the straight drama well done and satisfying.

Based on the best-selling novel, which I've not read, this was high-end costume-drama based on a true-life child murder in the mid-Victorian era. Thus we get expensive production values in casting, sets and costumes so that the piece doesn't lack in atmosphere.What it did lack though was suspense as the to all intents forced-looking circumstantial suspicions of crack Metropolitan detective Whicher somehow turn out some five years after their initial dismissal (leading to the end of his career and descent into penury) to be true after all. This is probably why so much prominence was given to the examination of Whicher's character as he is beset by the obstructive local count police force, an unsympathetic local public, jeering local press and yet urged to "get a result" by a combination of parliamentary pressure, the local judiciary (at least initially) and his own over-confidence. Given that miscarriages of justice still occur today, often for some if not all of the same reasons as stated above, the plot has some relevance to today but is weakened by the act that Whicher's hunches largely come true. The acting was largely acceptable for TV drama if not exceptional. Somehow though, Addy Considine didn't convince me that he was as driven as his character's actions would indicate and similarly Peter Capaldi failed to bring passion to his part as the philandering father figure who recoils from the unpleasant home-truths he's forced to face.For me it was crying out for either a dramatic courtroom finale or major plot-twist and delivered neither. If that's because that's how this true-life adaptation actually played out, then fair enough, but as latter-day TV drama, I felt it missed its mark.