Slime-3

Popular opinion seems to be that the THRILLER series, of which this is the final instalment, went downhill in it's last season and reviews of this episode in particular are rather Luke-warm. I disagree. But then I find I disagree with the same general opinion on which episodes in the series 'worked' and which fell short. Some of the most popular leave me cold and vice verse.

I thought DEATH IN DEEP WATER was not only one of the very best but contained some of the best acting and most strikingly memorable images. Suzan Farmer's character, invariably dressed in a tight blue bikini, is both physically and intellectually attractive. She's no teenage bimbo draped across the scenery to be sacrificed once enough has been seen of her heaving bosom. She's a mature, scheming, beguiling, strong minded and very pretty temptress with a plan. And what a plan! The twist in the tale is very clever and well worth waiting for.

Bradford Dillman as the underworld hit-man in hiding is suitably frustrated and bored by his situation and one can see the whole scenario falling nicely into place. There is a bit of chemistry going on between the actors here and as a team they work together well.The acting is excellent.Ian Bannen seems a little out of place and his character is a cliché but everyone else is well cast.

The seaside locations in Devon are delightful & very well chosen while the set designs are quite elaborate for what is, by today's standards, a low-budget series (it wasn't in the mid 70s, but things have moved on a great deal on that score since).

As ever, given the compact running time there are some small plot holes that don't have time to be filled and some perfunctory moments that given another 30 mins would have been more convincing and. It's a story line that could be reworked into a good 90 minute movie and would still remain taut and brisk.

So don't give up on that final series of THRILLER, it pays off at the end!

An immediate and perfect antidote to the misfiring previous THRILLER episode "K IS FOR KILLING" , this has all the right elements that "K" misses : Taught story-line, dynamic direction, snappy editing, superb casting, brilliant acting, some choice little twists and no half baked attempt at comedy. This is just a proper chiller from the very start. Francesca Annis as the plotting secretary is both captivating (those eyes!)and disturbing.While Patrick Allen as the high-powered businessman reminds us what a good actor he could be when not simply providing his distinctive vocal talents to commercials and public information shorts. The supporting cast are mostly spot-on for their roles. As ever in this series the look is now very dated with 16mm location sequences visually jarring with the inter-cut studio scenes shot on video, the lack of blood (despite numerous stabbings)and the often gloriously outlandish hairstyles and clothes of the era - but they all add greatly to the period charm of the series. This episode boasts a strongly character- driven story and if some elements of it seem a little comical today it's just a reminder of how much the world has moved on in the four decades since the series what first shown and become increasingly cynical and complex.