Too much of everything

hyped garbage

I cannot think of one single thing that I would change about this film. The acting is incomparable, the directing deft, and the writing poignantly brilliant.

It’s not bad or unwatchable but despite the amplitude of the spectacle, the end result is underwhelming.

To me, when I first learn't about who Myra Hindley was, when she died back in 2002, I was again convinced that there are people out there who are just pure evil. To do what she did, the heaviest penitence is irreversible. Her and her partner, Ian Brady who unfortunately is still with us, sent chills through my imagination of what those poor kids suffered at the hand of these two monsters. This killer couple I've found the most disturbing in crime history, more so than the Wests. One reason, especially when you consider, one of the victims (a little girl) was asked to perform a horrendous sexual act for the sick gratification of these two scumbags, recorded on a tape seized, when found in a suitcase, amongst some other items that a proved a freaky find. The torture of this poor little girl, ran for sixteen minutes, played in court. I just recently read the actual transcript that was disturbing, even though I thought the dialogue was gonna be much worse. I know I would be much more disturbed if I heard the actual tape, where there's nothing worse than hearing a little girl, crying out for her mother. The 138 minute movie here, takes off, just before Hindley's sister's husband, Dave Smith, is introduced to Brady, at the invitation of Myra. Smith, the supposed third party in the murders, really got the short end of the stick, subjected to verbal and physical abuse, from angry crowds. Soon Brady and Smith are really buddying it up, where Dave, struck for cash, is thrown an offer by Brady to knock over a young guy. But that night, Smith really sees Brady's true colors, where he goes radge on the victim Edward Evans, a homosexual with an axe. This scene is violently confronting, but is sufficient to the rest of the movie, where other parts could of been bloody but were wisely held back, as Snowtown smartly did. We should be praising Smith who went to the authorities the next morning, where if he didn't, these two monsters could still walking among us. When Hindley and Brady are taken in they, they stick with their stories, making Smith to be the bad guy. When finding a notebook with a victim's name, amongst many movie stars, and that infamous suitcase, this is when the real horror was discovered, and these two became the most hated couple in Britain. In my opinion the story structure was so well formulated here. You can see it was done with care, as the writer honed in on all the important parts of this atrocity, you never hope in any lifetime you'll see an exact repeat of. In the roles, of Hindley and Brady, Peake's fantastic as Myra, showing a manipulative menace, as a normalcy that masked true evil, only Harris is better as the psychopathic nut, Brady. This fantastic British actor that you better watch out for, nailed it. A truly flawless performance, if I ever saw one. Harris truly sent chills down my spine, every moment he was on the screen, as I really got to know the face behind this evil monster, who personally, his death won't come soon enough. One point the nut, and Smith, were taking a slash outside, as Brady openly admits, "I've killed four people, I haven't finished yet". And of course, Smith didn't believe him, like most acquaintances of serial killers wouldn't. We are put through the horror with all the legwork on the Moors, where a couple of victims surfaced, plus the trial, Smith pleading his innocence to the victim's families to no avail. In the end he was acquitted, where a violent brawl years later, ended him one in the nick. And then there's the aftermath of Smith's wife, alone, who's really broke down and had sunk into an abyss of depression. It's just so terrible and unfair, how the surrounding family members cop it, over one evil doer, that happens to be related. I couldn't by it, how when Maureen, the sister, went to visit Myra with her mother in prison, how innocent Hindley seemed, her act of redemption, where she had cut of contact from Brady altogether. But we too remember Hindley was a manipulative SOB, better put to rest 12 feet under. Apparently 12 people showed up at Hindley's funeral. That many, hey. Smith, (who's kids had grown, forgetting one loss at birth, earlier) and Maureen had reunited years later, but I guess the past was all too much for her. The two players of these characters were convincingly good, no more than the impressive Froggart who really brought the helplessness of Maureen, at times almost too good, not that there's anything wrong with that. They just weren't up to the main players standard. This movie, that could of of had a better title, is involving, absorbing, and for some I can imagine disturbing, and even more so, to the British public, with ground knowledge of this terrible sixties shock event, worse than any horror movie, you'd rent instead.

I watched this when it came out and found it an amazing piece of work and kudos to Maxine Peake for shedding her comedy typecast and putting in a truly excellent performance. This programme was not graphic, quite the opposite. What the producers did was concentrate on the everyday lives of Brady and Hindley, showing them to be, (Hindley on face value at least), normal people living normal lives. However, what chills you is that whilst they are going about their routine lives, the viewer knows that behind the scenes they are committing the most appallingly wicked crimes. This is highlighted by conversations held throughout the programme such as a discussion about a newspaper article that Maureen Smith had with her sister regarding the disappearance of Lesley-Ann Downey. One of the slightly controversial aspects of this programme, was the decision to include real photographs within the scenery of the actual children who suffered at the hands of this evil pair. However, this was a clever move because it constantly brought home the very real and shocking subject of the programme. In cases as hideous as this we, quite rightly, hear about the suffering of victims relatives, however See No Evil focused primarily on the destruction of the lives of Hindleys sister and brother-in-law, and God were their lives wrecked. Brady and Hindleys wicked cruelty destroyed many lives and I'm glad this programme was shown because it will all make us pray that Hindley will rot in hell and Brady won't be far behind.

This is the first known dramatisation of the infamous Moors Murders around the Northern English city of Manchester in the 1960's.Even four decades on,the case still provokes utter revulsion at such evil and depraved acts of murder.It was apparently made with full co-operation of the victims' families,which in hindsight was a sensible and sensitive decision by the filmmakers involved.It could quite easily have lapsed into sensationalism and exploitation;that it doesn't is a tribute to all involved;it is very well made with excellent performances all round;Sean Harris and Maxine Peake(previously better known for her comedic roles)are chilling and believable as the callously evil Brady and Hindley;newcomer Michael McNulty gives a very fine performance as the naive,easily-led David Smith,but Joanne Froggatt is outstanding as Hindley's sister Maureen Smith.In a part that could easily have turned into rampant hysteria,Ms Froggatt is very moving and heartbreaking as the decent-minded young woman whose life is more or less ruined by the horrific actions of her sibling.It is arguable that the stress involved led to Maureen's early death aged only 34.The one large problem with the production is with the story being so unremittingly harrowing and unpleasant,one is somewhat confused as to what to say in conclusion.That it is very well made,acted and produced,certainly.That we do not see the killings themselves(with the savage exception of Edward Evans,very brutal and in semi-darkness),and none of the gruesome details related to them is praiseworthy;but the extreme nastiness surrounding the whole case still makes for a very dubious and disturbing cumulative effort despite it's considerable technical quality.In my view,a more documentary approach to the subject would've been the correct way to dramatise such a story,but nevertheless full marks to cast and crew for their sensitivity in handling such a dreadfully grim subject.

STAR RATING: ***** The Works **** Just Misses the Mark *** That Little Bit In Between ** Lagging Behind * The Pits To mark the 40th anniversary of Ian Brady and Myra Hindley's convictions for the horrific 'Moors Murders', ITV1 has produced this dramatization of their hunt, capture and conviction, charting their friendship with Dave Smith (Michael McNulty), boyfriend of Hindley's sister, whom Brady tried to warp into his twisted little world. It was only when he saw Brady butchering 17 year old Edward Evans to death that it all came out and the pair were caught.People reacted to this production with the expected mixed emotions. It was always going to be one of the most controversial productions the station had ever green-lighted, and there was understandable out-rage, offense and shock from some when it went ahead. But the families of the victims were okay with it and this drama does manage to be as realistic yet sensitive as it could possibly be.This can hardly be described as 'entertaining', but by telling the dark true story that it is, it does play out with the required haunting gusto, with some dark camera shots and a few quiet, reflective scenes.Performances wise, Sean Harris and Maxine Peake as the two main characters are highly effective, as are some of the supporting cast including George Costigan as the detective who lead the investigation that brought the pair to justice. Some of the others might need to brush up on their craft a bit, but they do not stop what is generally a well made and very effective timely re-telling of events nobody wanted to know but had to hear. ****