Murder mysteries

Beren · Mon, 9th Jul '12, 4:22am

I'll try to start this thread as an open-ended thread about murder mysteries in a film or TV medium. Maybe about the genre specifically, or one that you like in particular.

I guess I have an occasional thing for murder mysteries. I like my share of feel-good stories with happy endings, but not all the time. There isn't really any happy endings in murder mysteries, cause it was obviously too late for the victim, who even then isn't always particularly sympathetic. But it does sometimes make for refreshing and interesting storylines.

Anyway, I heard good things about a series 'The Killing', which is an American adaptation of a popular Danish series. So, I decided to buy the first season DVD and give it a try.

I must say that I'm impressed so far. There is the obvious resemblance to Twin Peaks. It's based in a perpetually rainy Washington state. You have your teenaged murder victim who, like Laura Palmer, had on the surface a charmed life that belied secrets that the police have to find out about before her family or her friends. And everybody's got a secret, probably the cops themselves I wouldn't be surprised. I have to say this one does Twin Peaks one better. Don't get me wrong, David Lynch has a certain style that works for him and audience members who can keep up with him. But with Lynch, I have to make a more conscious effort to suspend disbelief. In The Killing, I find the characters much more believable, nuanced, and sometimes both despicable and yet sympathetic or tragic at the same time.

I haven't finished yet, so no spoilers pleased for anyone who's watched the entire series. I just might go on to watch the Danish original series, "Forbrydselen", once I finish this one.

Blackthorne TA · Mon, 9th Jul '12, 4:36am

If I'm ever flipping through channels on a weekend and come across Poirot, I'll always stop and watch it

David Suchet is just great.

T2Bruno · Mon, 9th Jul '12, 4:40am

Nothing beats Hitchcock. He had so many great ones ... Vertigo, Rope, Rear View, North by Northwest ... awesome.

Dice · Mon, 9th Jul '12, 6:05am

I always liked the paranormal mysteries which sometimes had murder in it, like the X-files.

LKD · Mon, 9th Jul '12, 6:11am

I love murder mysteries because you are talking about the highest possible stakes -- can someone get away with committing the most heinous crime imaginable -- the ending of another's life for no valid reason? I love the stories!

I need to buy the Killing -- waiting from week to week sucks and I gave up 3 episodes in, but I was really impressed with all elements of the story.

I'm a huge Columbo fan. The writing, Falk's portrayal of a deceptively simple looking (yet deeply complicated) detective, the guest stars, the cat and mouse, it all rocked. It's a nice change of pace from the gritty violent stuff, which is also good but sometimes can get too much. I'm referring to stuff like "Silence of the Lambs" and the more horrendous episodes of "Criminal Minds".

joacqin · Mon, 9th Jul '12, 1:55pm

Isn't the market extremely over-saturated with murder mysteries? I am sick of it, you can't turn on your TV without coming face to face with some psychopathic maniac or housewife murderer. Are people really that interested in stories about murder? Don't even get me started on the books, any retard who can string four words together in a sentence writes a best selling murder story for the masses to devour.

Murder mysteries are the Justin Bieber of the TV and literature industry.

I did like Columbo and truth be told I have liked quite a lot but there is no end to it. Soon the only thing on TV and the only books published will be murder mysteries.

Blackthorne TA · Mon, 9th Jul '12, 4:35pm

Yeah, Columbo is great too. I haven't seen an episode for a while now though; I'm not sure when/if it still plays where I am.

Dice · Mon, 9th Jul '12, 6:18pm

Add me to into the Columbo fan club

. That character had style!

T2Bruno · Mon, 9th Jul '12, 8:24pm

Wow BTA, I would've thought you were more of a "murder She Wrote" kind of guy.

Mesmero · Mon, 9th Jul '12, 9:49pm

I quite like the new, modern Sherlock Holmes. Only six episodes so far (as far as you can call a 90 minutes an episode

) and I can't wait for more

Blackthorne TA · Mon, 9th Jul '12, 11:45pm

Quote:

Wow BTA, I would've thought you were more of a "murder She Wrote" kind of guy.

Ha! Or Matlock! My mom loved both of those

Dice · Mon, 9th Jul '12, 11:51pm

Are you sure you don't think you are older than you are BT?

Blackthorne TA · Tue, 10th Jul '12, 12:50am

Oh, I'm old... no doubt about it! I've got the grey hairs to prove it!

Dice · Tue, 10th Jul '12, 7:07pm

Ha! I've got some grey hairs as well BT but I'm not old at all. I don't think I ever will be.

I used to watch Murder She Wrote when it was kind of a popular TV show. I'm more interested in true crime murder mysteries. Occasionally I'll watch CSI or Law and Order or any number of random crime-investigation shows which is equivalent to murder mysteries because usually someone dies.

Taluntain · Wed, 18th Jul '12, 1:07am

Midsomer Murders, anyone? Honestly, I don't bother with them any more because an hour in they usually get so hopelessly convoluted I don't know what's going on any more. I guess they're made for those fanatics who watch each episode 10+ times and dissect every minute detail.

joacqin · Wed, 18th Jul '12, 12:43pm

Isn't that the problem in all murder mysteries? Getting the balance right. In the ones I have seen and especially the ones I have read I have either been able to figure out the twist and mystery half way through the story or the solution was so convoluted and implausible it would have been impossible to figure it out. As I see it they should keep you guessing, maybe giving you a few options but always leave you uncertain but not so uncertain that you have no clue whatsoever. Very few get that balance right.

Taluntain · Wed, 18th Jul '12, 6:17pm

It's more of an issue with British ones because they usually introduce far too many characters and you can't keep tabs on who's who and who did what when (especially since they also love putting in flashbacks going 50+ years back). American ones tend to be far easier to follow because the convention there is to keep the characters to a minimum (most of the time anyway) and to reuse a lot of characters regularly, so you get all the standard types down and only have to follow a relatively small variable number of suspects. And sure, you could say it's dumbed down... but when you've got a choice between that vs. watching something you then need to read the original book of to make full sense of, I know what I'll pick.

Beren · Tue, 7th Aug '12, 4:31am

Well, I just finished The Killing, and I have to say that I was pretty blown away by the ending ...

Spoiler!

Well, I've heard the first season of Forbrydelsen is very similar, but quite a different story in its own right. Now I'll have to check that out as well.

Mon, 9th Jul '12, 4:22am	#1
Beren SPS Account Holder Moderator\|Writer Lovesick and Lonely Wanderer Join Date: Jun 2002 Location: Canada Posts: 2,259 Like: 1 Liked 9 Times in 9 Posts vBActivity - Stats XP: 6,819 Level: 25 vBActivity - Bars Level Completion: 32.77% Daily Activity 3.31% Weekly Activity 30.32% Monthly Activity 27.6% Achievements Awards	Murder mysteries I'll try to start this thread as an open-ended thread about murder mysteries in a film or TV medium. Maybe about the genre specifically, or one that you like in particular. I guess I have an occasional thing for murder mysteries. I like my share of feel-good stories with happy endings, but not all the time. There isn't really any happy endings in murder mysteries, cause it was obviously too late for the victim, who even then isn't always particularly sympathetic. But it does sometimes make for refreshing and interesting storylines. Anyway, I heard good things about a series 'The Killing', which is an American adaptation of a popular Danish series. So, I decided to buy the first season DVD and give it a try. I must say that I'm impressed so far. There is the obvious resemblance to Twin Peaks. It's based in a perpetually rainy Washington state. You have your teenaged murder victim who, like Laura Palmer, had on the surface a charmed life that belied secrets that the police have to find out about before her family or her friends. And everybody's got a secret, probably the cops themselves I wouldn't be surprised. I have to say this one does Twin Peaks one better. Don't get me wrong, David Lynch has a certain style that works for him and audience members who can keep up with him. But with Lynch, I have to make a more conscious effort to suspend disbelief. In The Killing, I find the characters much more believable, nuanced, and sometimes both despicable and yet sympathetic or tragic at the same time. I haven't finished yet, so no spoilers pleased for anyone who's watched the entire series. I just might go on to watch the Danish original series, "Forbrydselen", once I finish this one.

Mon, 9th Jul '12, 4:36am	#2
Blackthorne TA SPS Account Holder Administrator Master in his Own Mind Attack of the Tweety Zombies Champion! Balloon Bomber Champion! Barrel Jumper Champion! Belter Champion! Birdy Champion! Blast the Enemy Champion! Bubbles Champion! Color Boxes Champion! Counterstrike Champion! Emergency Champion! Fishy Champion! Galagon 2004 Champion! Grand Slam Shredder Champion! Helicopter Champion! Home Run Champion! Jackhammer Rampage Champion! Micro Machines Champion! Moon Lander Champion! Odd World Champion! Pingu Sports! Champion! Sheep Dash Champion! Snake Champion! Space Rescue Champion! Ten Pin Bowling Champion! The Viking Champion! Tiny Pinball Champion! Reaction Game Champion! Wilie Coytes Rocket Factory Champion! Storm The House Champion! aim and fire Champion! Batting Champ Champion! Join Date: Oct 2000 Location: San Pedro, CA, USA Posts: 9,726 Blog Entries: 18 Like: 19 Liked 45 Times in 32 Posts vBActivity - Stats XP: 22,012 Level: 41 vBActivity - Bars Level Completion: 38.7% Daily Activity 69.54% Weekly Activity 58.74% Monthly Activity 62.36% Achievements Awards	If I'm ever flipping through channels on a weekend and come across Poirot, I'll always stop and watch it David Suchet is just great.
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Mon, 9th Jul '12, 4:40am	#3
T2Bruno SPS Account Holder The only source of knowledge is experience Join Date: Nov 2004 Location: Chicago -- far west suburbs. Posts: 9,318 Like: 20 Liked 82 Times in 62 Posts vBActivity - Stats XP: 22,274 Level: 41 vBActivity - Bars Level Completion: 58.58% Daily Activity 301.32% Weekly Activity 91.9% Monthly Activity 56.21% Achievements Awards	Nothing beats Hitchcock. He had so many great ones ... Vertigo, Rope, Rear View, North by Northwest ... awesome.
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Mon, 9th Jul '12, 6:05am	#4
Dice Gems: 31/31 Latest gem: Rogue Stone Join Date: Jun 2002 Posts: 4,478 Blog Entries: 35 Like: 32 Liked 51 Times in 30 Posts vBActivity - Stats XP: 11,394 Level: 31 vBActivity - Bars Level Completion: 51.14% Daily Activity 69.54% Weekly Activity 30.32% Monthly Activity 33.48% Achievements	I always liked the paranormal mysteries which sometimes had murder in it, like the X-files.
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Mon, 9th Jul '12, 6:11am	#5
LKD Gems: 31/31 Latest gem: Rogue Stone Join Date: Aug 2002 Location: Winterfell Posts: 6,204 Like: 20 Liked 31 Times in 22 Posts vBActivity - Stats XP: 16,659 Level: 36 vBActivity - Bars Level Completion: 92.64% Daily Activity 3.31% Weekly Activity 11.37% Monthly Activity 24.92% Achievements	I love murder mysteries because you are talking about the highest possible stakes -- can someone get away with committing the most heinous crime imaginable -- the ending of another's life for no valid reason? I love the stories! I need to buy the Killing -- waiting from week to week sucks and I gave up 3 episodes in, but I was really impressed with all elements of the story. I'm a huge Columbo fan. The writing, Falk's portrayal of a deceptively simple looking (yet deeply complicated) detective, the guest stars, the cat and mouse, it all rocked. It's a nice change of pace from the gritty violent stuff, which is also good but sometimes can get too much. I'm referring to stuff like "Silence of the Lambs" and the more horrendous episodes of "Criminal Minds".
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Mon, 9th Jul '12, 1:55pm	#6
joacqin Confused Jerk Join Date: Apr 2001 Location: Helsingborg, Sweden Posts: 6,043 Like: 7 Liked 12 Times in 11 Posts vBActivity - Stats XP: 14,078 Level: 34 vBActivity - Bars Level Completion: 43.16% Daily Activity 69.54% Weekly Activity 11.37% Monthly Activity 45.78% Achievements Awards	Isn't the market extremely over-saturated with murder mysteries? I am sick of it, you can't turn on your TV without coming face to face with some psychopathic maniac or housewife murderer. Are people really that interested in stories about murder? Don't even get me started on the books, any retard who can string four words together in a sentence writes a best selling murder story for the masses to devour. Murder mysteries are the Justin Bieber of the TV and literature industry. I did like Columbo and truth be told I have liked quite a lot but there is no end to it. Soon the only thing on TV and the only books published will be murder mysteries.

Mon, 9th Jul '12, 4:35pm	#7
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Mon, 9th Jul '12, 6:18pm	#8
Dice Gems: 31/31 Latest gem: Rogue Stone Join Date: Jun 2002 Posts: 4,478 Blog Entries: 35 Like: 32 Liked 51 Times in 30 Posts vBActivity - Stats XP: 11,394 Level: 31 vBActivity - Bars Level Completion: 51.14% Daily Activity 69.54% Weekly Activity 30.32% Monthly Activity 33.48% Achievements	Add me to into the Columbo fan club . That character had style!
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Mon, 9th Jul '12, 8:24pm	#9
T2Bruno SPS Account Holder The only source of knowledge is experience Join Date: Nov 2004 Location: Chicago -- far west suburbs. Posts: 9,318 Like: 20 Liked 82 Times in 62 Posts vBActivity - Stats XP: 22,274 Level: 41 vBActivity - Bars Level Completion: 58.58% Daily Activity 301.32% Weekly Activity 91.9% Monthly Activity 56.21% Achievements Awards	Wow BTA, I would've thought you were more of a "murder She Wrote" kind of guy.
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Mon, 9th Jul '12, 9:49pm	#10
Mesmero How'd an old elf get the blues? Join Date: Mar 2001 Location: The Netherlands Posts: 1,956 Like: 2 Liked 3 Times in 2 Posts vBActivity - Stats XP: 3,319 Level: 18 vBActivity - Bars Level Completion: 53.67% Daily Activity 3.31% Weekly Activity 1.89% Monthly Activity 2.46% Achievements	I quite like the new, modern Sherlock Holmes. Only six episodes so far (as far as you can call a 90 minutes an episode ) and I can't wait for more
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Mon, 9th Jul '12, 11:51pm	#12
Dice Gems: 31/31 Latest gem: Rogue Stone Join Date: Jun 2002 Posts: 4,478 Blog Entries: 35 Like: 32 Liked 51 Times in 30 Posts vBActivity - Stats XP: 11,394 Level: 31 vBActivity - Bars Level Completion: 51.14% Daily Activity 69.54% Weekly Activity 30.32% Monthly Activity 33.48% Achievements	Are you sure you don't think you are older than you are BT?
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Tue, 10th Jul '12, 12:50am	#13
Blackthorne TA SPS Account Holder Administrator Master in his Own Mind Attack of the Tweety Zombies Champion! Balloon Bomber Champion! Barrel Jumper Champion! Belter Champion! Birdy Champion! Blast the Enemy Champion! Bubbles Champion! Color Boxes Champion! Counterstrike Champion! Emergency Champion! Fishy Champion! Galagon 2004 Champion! Grand Slam Shredder Champion! Helicopter Champion! Home Run Champion! Jackhammer Rampage Champion! Micro Machines Champion! Moon Lander Champion! Odd World Champion! Pingu Sports! Champion! Sheep Dash Champion! Snake Champion! Space Rescue Champion! Ten Pin Bowling Champion! The Viking Champion! Tiny Pinball Champion! Reaction Game Champion! Wilie Coytes Rocket Factory Champion! Storm The House Champion! aim and fire Champion! Batting Champ Champion! Join Date: Oct 2000 Location: San Pedro, CA, USA Posts: 9,726 Blog Entries: 18 Like: 19 Liked 45 Times in 32 Posts vBActivity - Stats XP: 22,012 Level: 41 vBActivity - Bars Level Completion: 38.7% Daily Activity 69.54% Weekly Activity 58.74% Monthly Activity 62.36% Achievements Awards	Oh, I'm old... no doubt about it! I've got the grey hairs to prove it!
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Tue, 10th Jul '12, 7:07pm	#14
Dice Gems: 31/31 Latest gem: Rogue Stone Join Date: Jun 2002 Posts: 4,478 Blog Entries: 35 Like: 32 Liked 51 Times in 30 Posts vBActivity - Stats XP: 11,394 Level: 31 vBActivity - Bars Level Completion: 51.14% Daily Activity 69.54% Weekly Activity 30.32% Monthly Activity 33.48% Achievements	Ha! I've got some grey hairs as well BT but I'm not old at all. I don't think I ever will be. I used to watch Murder She Wrote when it was kind of a popular TV show. I'm more interested in true crime murder mysteries. Occasionally I'll watch CSI or Law and Order or any number of random crime-investigation shows which is equivalent to murder mysteries because usually someone dies.
	__________________ Let the chips fall as they may - except for the ones that I catch and throw where I want them.

Wed, 18th Jul '12, 1:07am	#15
Taluntain SPS Account Holder Founder Resident Alpha and Omega Join Date: Jun 2000 Location: Cori Celesti Posts: 20,801 Blog Entries: 13 Like: 158 Liked 122 Times in 79 Posts vBActivity - Stats XP: 53,151 Level: 58 vBActivity - Bars Level Completion: 49.38% Daily Activity 135.76% Weekly Activity 77.69% Monthly Activity 81.08% Achievements Awards	Midsomer Murders, anyone? Honestly, I don't bother with them any more because an hour in they usually get so hopelessly convoluted I don't know what's going on any more. I guess they're made for those fanatics who watch each episode 10+ times and dissect every minute detail.
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Wed, 18th Jul '12, 12:43pm	#16
joacqin Confused Jerk Join Date: Apr 2001 Location: Helsingborg, Sweden Posts: 6,043 Like: 7 Liked 12 Times in 11 Posts vBActivity - Stats XP: 14,078 Level: 34 vBActivity - Bars Level Completion: 43.16% Daily Activity 69.54% Weekly Activity 11.37% Monthly Activity 45.78% Achievements Awards	Isn't that the problem in all murder mysteries? Getting the balance right. In the ones I have seen and especially the ones I have read I have either been able to figure out the twist and mystery half way through the story or the solution was so convoluted and implausible it would have been impossible to figure it out. As I see it they should keep you guessing, maybe giving you a few options but always leave you uncertain but not so uncertain that you have no clue whatsoever. Very few get that balance right.

Wed, 18th Jul '12, 6:17pm	#17
Taluntain SPS Account Holder Founder Resident Alpha and Omega Join Date: Jun 2000 Location: Cori Celesti Posts: 20,801 Blog Entries: 13 Like: 158 Liked 122 Times in 79 Posts vBActivity - Stats XP: 53,151 Level: 58 vBActivity - Bars Level Completion: 49.38% Daily Activity 135.76% Weekly Activity 77.69% Monthly Activity 81.08% Achievements Awards	It's more of an issue with British ones because they usually introduce far too many characters and you can't keep tabs on who's who and who did what when (especially since they also love putting in flashbacks going 50+ years back). American ones tend to be far easier to follow because the convention there is to keep the characters to a minimum (most of the time anyway) and to reuse a lot of characters regularly, so you get all the standard types down and only have to follow a relatively small variable number of suspects. And sure, you could say it's dumbed down... but when you've got a choice between that vs. watching something you then need to read the original book of to make full sense of, I know what I'll pick.
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Tue, 7th Aug '12, 4:31am	#18
Beren SPS Account Holder Moderator\|Writer Lovesick and Lonely Wanderer Join Date: Jun 2002 Location: Canada Posts: 2,259 Like: 1 Liked 9 Times in 9 Posts vBActivity - Stats XP: 6,819 Level: 25 vBActivity - Bars Level Completion: 32.77% Daily Activity 3.31% Weekly Activity 30.32% Monthly Activity 27.6% Achievements Awards	Well, I just finished The Killing, and I have to say that I was pretty blown away by the ending ... Spoiler! Ok, I knew it had something to do with a political cover-up, and that slimy aide to Darren Richmond was no surprise beating Rosie and putting her in the back of the trunk. But damn ... It was "Cool Aunt Terry" who actually drove the car into the lake in order to protect her boyfriend's secret. That is ****ed! I was floored when she tried telling Rosie's Mom, "I didn't know it was Rosie! I didn't know it was Rosie!" C'mon, you still deliberately killed somebody that you knew was an innocent teenage girl who didn't do anything other than be at just the wrong place at just the wrong time. Well, I've heard the first season of Forbrydelsen is very similar, but quite a different story in its own right. Now I'll have to check that out as well.