Remember Me

I love a good horror movie. One of my favorites being Ghost Story. And I love Hitchcock. This one reminds me of combination of the two. Hitchcock was good at making us the viewer use our imagination. This does that. Now I am not one who gets scared watching horror movies, but for some reason this one made me want to watch it in the morning rather than at night before bed. Yes, it's slow paced, but the suspense would not be there if it moved too fast. After all it's only 3 episodes. I do wish Palin would appear more. This was done in 2014, but for whatever reason PBS is just airing it.

The BBC has a great history when it comes to Ghost stories, we've famously had Ghost Story for Christmas, Dead of Night, and more recently Requiem, trouble is there just aren't enough of them.

Remember Me is a smashing three part series that's guaranteed to make you jump. I really like the story, it's clever and engaging, at times it does perhaps feel a little cobbled together, but it's chilling enough to keep you engaged.

The acting is fantastic, Michael Palin and Mark Addy are excellent, but it's the young Jodie Comer who impresses the most, she is brilliant throughout, the future she will have!

Without any doubt though, the best thing about this series has to be the visuals, it is one of the most beautifully visual pieces of television I can think of, the settings, the camera work, it's almost artistic, credit to the whole production team, it turns what could have been a fairly average mini series into something genuinely good. Must have done wonders for the Scarborough Tourist Board.

Slow to start, but intriguing with a few scares along the way.

8/10.

This is a thoroughly enjoyable and atmospheric ghost story with a very Victorian feel to it, yet it takes place in the here and now. Others have described the plot, so I'll skip that part and just say each episode was fun to watch. The creepy atmosphere is kept at a steady rhythm and one is kept guessing as to the reasons for what is going on. You have to pay attention the entire time, which is perhaps why some viewers found it tiring. Clues are given in visual images of photographs and other shots, so you can't watch this program with your head buried in your cell phone. It's a quiet piece and you have to pay attention and participate as a viewer. There are several familiar faces to PBS viewers (Mina Anwar, Mark Addy, Rebekah Staton, Julia Sawalha, as well as some character actors). Michael Palin is touching as the main character, who is still tied to his nanny from a century ago (what a beautiful woman, by the way) and conflicted about the relationship. The final episode is where the pace picks up and it really is suspenseful wondering what is the meaning of that version of "Scarborough Fair" as well as wondering just how the story will end. I'm taking two stars off for the very clumsily written chief of police, who seems to serve more as a "conflict device" than an actual character. Also, Mina Anwar's character is gone after episode two without any feeling of resolution with her, considering her strong presence in the first two episodes. That said, the program is beautifully shot, well-acted, and steadily paced. One feels that one is moving forward all the time, without knowing quite what will be waiting at the end of the journey. This was a very enjoyable story and well worth watching.

I decided to watch this upon viewing the C4 show 'Gogglebox' (a show about people watching telly in their own homes, for our international friends) and seeing the people at home moving forward in their seats, with their hands over their mouths, then jumping at certain parts. I thought it looked creepy and interesting.

Having watched it - it really is!

Firstly, it is beautifully shot. The landscape shots are truly atmospheric. And the score is tense and captivating.

Then there's the cast. The three main characters (the old man - Michael Palin, the young girl - Jodie Comer and the copper - Mark Addy) are all excellently played. I was especially impressed with Jodie Comer, who was also marvelous in My Mad, Fat Diary - I'm expecting great things from her in future!

And then there's the story, which is where I have a bit of trouble (and is the only reason I didn't rate it higher). I am intrigued by it - I can't work out how it's going to end yet. I do keep seeing bits that remind me of other work, though. I can see plot elements of The Ring (original Japanese version), Dark Water (original Japanese version), the Piano, Inception... I could go on. And I'm finding this somewhat distracting: "ooh, where have I seen that before..?"

It is good, though. I will certainly be watching the final hour with interest :-)

It was great to see Michael Palin in the starring role of this mystery drama. It's quite creepy and scary. I think there's an MR James influence, as the imagery of the ghostly figure feels a bit like the ghostly entity in his 'Whistle And I'll Come to You' tale.

I don't want to spoil the story or go into detail, except to say it's an enjoyable watch and edge of seat viewing at times.

It's a little disappointing at the end I thought after a good start in the first and second parts, nevertheless, still worth watching if you enjoy creepy mystery stories that keep you guessing and wondering.

I particularly liked the realism of the drama, set in the north, and the interaction of the young girl and the elderly character played by Michael Palin.